POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13160, 25 April 1906, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

WIFE'S APPLICATION FOR MAINTENANCE. ALLEGATION OF BIGAMY. Counw.i r;s Euan was charged, before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M.. at the Police Court yesterday, with failing to contribute towards the maintenance of his wife, Mary Kgan. Mr. J. I!. Lunduii appeared for the complainant, and the defendant, who resides at l'irongia, did not appear. The complainant, on oath, said that showas married to the defendant at Pembroke, Wales, 50 years ago, and they and the children subsequently came out to New Zealand. She lived with her husband until 12 years ago, when he left her and afterwards married another woman. During lie last 12 years her husband had never contributed towards her support. Mr. London said that in a letter, received by the defendant's solicitors, lie (defendant), stated that he had never been married to the complainant. Mr. Kettle: You swear that you are the defendant's lawful wife? Witness : es. I have a copy of the marriage certificate. Mr. Lundon said that the ntatriage certificate was said to have been burned bv the defendant, but after searching from time to time over a period of five years, a ■ <ei t iticate was found. The certificate was now in the possession of Mr. Northcroft S.M. Mr. Kettle said he was satisfied, on Mis. Kgan's evidence, that' she was the lawful wife of the defendant, and ordered him to contribute 7.s 6d per week towards her maintenance. DRUNKEN MAN'S ADVENT A young married man, named Richard Williams was charged with drunkenness, with being found by night without lawful excuse on the premises of James Glass, and with stealing seven glasses, valued at 3s 6d, the property of John (inlander, licensee, of the Newmarket Hotel. The accused pleaded guilty to drunkenness and not guilty' to the. other charges. Sub-Inspector Gordon prosecuted and Mr. J. R. Lundon defended. James Glass, ail Epsom gardener, stated that on the 20th inst. he saw the accused coming out of his premises at halfpast ten p.m. He asked the accused what ne had been doing on the premises, and accused replied that he had been to see "the man inside." Witness told the ac-' f used that he was the man. and after some little argument, a constable came, along and arrested the accused. Williams, who is,in the employ of the Railway Department, admitted being on the premises, but said he had no ill intent. He was under the influence of liquor, and lost his way. The charge of stealing the glasses was then heard. Constable Annison said that on the night in question he heard a, man calling out. " What are you doing in my place?" Witness visited the spot and found the accused wrangling with Mr. Glass. When witness arrested the accused he appeared to ba very drunk, but subsequently " sobered up." On searching the accused, witness found glasses in all of his pockets, and had some trouble in extracting them. Nine glasses were missed from the Newmarket Hotel. Several witnesses were called to attest to the accused's previous good character, and others to show that, he was under the influence of liquor at the time of the alleged theft. Tire Magistrate, said that he did not believe that the accused deliberately stole the tumblers; lie was evidently so drunk that he did not know what he was doing. The accused had no business to have been on the premises. On the charge of drunkenness, Williams was fined 5s and costs, or in default 24 hours' imprisonment, and on the second, was convicted and discharged. The charge of theft was dismissed. ...... ASSAULT WITHOUT PROVOCATION. A fireman named Patrick Sullivan, employed on the 5.6. Rakaia (lying at Queenstreet Wharf), pleaded guilty to assaulting Edward Dougherty and Max Neson, belonging to the same steamer, on Monday night. The evidence was to the effect that the accused was under the influence of drink and knocked Dougherty down, while he (Dougherty) was in. his cabin. He struck Neson a severe blow in the eyes. The men did not give the accused any provocation to assault them. The captain of the steamer informed the Bench that the accused struck another member of the crew, who defended himself with a knife. The accused was fined £2, and costs, or in default seven days imprisonment, on both charges. The magistrate ordered £1 each to be paid over to the complainants out of the fines. ALLEGED ARSON. An elderly woman named Mary Steventon was charged with wilfully setting fire to the dwelling of John Steventon, ill Neal's Lane, Grey-street. Sub-Inspector Gordon, who prosecuted, applied for a week's remand, stating that the alleged offence took place on Monday morning, and that he did not think the woman was in her right senses. A remand was granted. MISCELLANEOUS. A young man named Ernest Hutchison pleaded guilty to being found by night without lawful excuse on the premises of Robert Keenan. Sub-Inspector Gordon, who prosecuted, said that the accused was found asleep in a eab on the complainant's premises. Hutchison was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment. Gustave A. Pederson was charged with drunkenness (a third offence), and with having liquor in his possession during the currency of a prohibition order. On the first charge the defendant was sentenced to 11 days' imprisonment, and on the second was fined £2, or in default seven days' imprisonment. For disobeying an order of the Court for the maintenance of his illegitimate child, Joseph Boles was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, the order to be suspended provided the defendant pays half the arrears within a fortnight, and the other half within a month. A voting woman named Martha D. Lyons was remanded until to-day on a charge of deserting her child. William Olive, who did not appear, was sentenced try three months''imprisonment for disobeying an order of the Court for the maintenance of his wife. The arrears amounted to £17. A young man named Bert Sylvador was charged with intending to leave Auckland without providing adequate means for the maintenance of his illegitimate child. The evidence for the prosecution went to show that the defendant left Auckland, and went to Mercury Bay. The defendant admitted going to Mercury Ray, but said that he had no intention of leaving Auckland without providing for the child. He was ordered to contribute 5s per week for its maintenance. Mr. Rrookfield prosecuted on behalf of the Society .for the Protection of Women and Children. Mr. J. R. Lundon defended. Sydney Nash was fined £2 for disobeying an order of the Court for the maintenance of his illegitimate child. For disobeying an order of the Court, for ' the maintenance of her husband, Andrina G. Moncrieff was fined £2. Michael Breen, jun.. was charged with ,• disobeying an order of the Court for the maintenance of his mother. He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, the order to be suspended for seven days, in order to allow the defendant an opportunity oi paving off the arrears, amounting to £6 ss. Prohibition orders were issued against Edward Mofelen and George Keenan for 12 months. Michael Jordan, charged with a third offence of drunkenness, was remanded for a week for medical treatment. A first 0.fender (a woman) was fined ss, and costs, or in default 21 hours' imprisonment, for a similar offence. ■