POLICE COUET NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13171, 8 May 1906, Page 7

POLICE COUET NEWS.

NEGLECTING TO CANCEL . A STAMP.

At 'the- Police Court yesterday, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., Thomas Bray pleaded guilty to neglooting to cancel ft stamp on a receipt given to William Griffiths, by failing to write his name or initials and the true dato on or across tho stamp. William Griffiths pleaded guilty to assisting Bray, by not seeing that tho stamp was properly cancelled. Mr. Martin appeared for Griffiths. Sub-Inspector Gordon, who prosecuted, said that a transaction took place between Bray and Griffiths iii 1901, but the receipt was not made out until 1905. Tho stamp was then dated 190*. ■ The matter was submitted to tire Commissioner of Stamps, who directed a prosecution. V Bray said it was merely a mistake. So far as Griffiths was concerned the revenue had not been defrauded in any way. A wrong date had 'been placed upon the stamp. A sale of horses took place between the parties, but no receipt was given at the actual sale. The ownership of the horses came into dispute, and Griffiths, the purchaser, wanted a receipt to show the people. Bray gave tho receipt, but dated it to 1904. The matte; was a subject of civil litigation when the question arose.

A fine of £1 and costs was infilled in each case.

IDLE AND DISORDERLY GIRLS. Two young girls named Bessie Andrews and Ettle McWilliam were charged with being idle and disorderly persons and having no means of support, and Ethel Chappell was charged with being a rogue and vagabond. Andrews pleaded not guilty, and tho other two guilty. Detective Henderson prosecuted. Evidence was given by Detective McMahon that the three defendants were arrested, in the Domain. They were smoking cigarettes and had some bottles of beer behind them. The girl. Chappell was one of the worst characters in Auckland. She acted as a decoy to other voting girls, and was almost incorrigible. The girl William had been running about the streets with reputed ' thieves for some time. Andrews had been "in the company of the other girls. In reply to Mr. Riddell, Andrews said she had work to go to on the East Coast, and was only in Auckland for a holiday. Mr. Riddell discharged -Andrews, on her promising to go away. The case against Chappell was a very bad one. She was convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Chappell laughed on hearing the. sentence. The Salvation Army authorities said they were prepared to "take Mc.William under their charge. She was convicted,' and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, the warrent tc be suspended on defendant remaining at. the Salvation Army Home for three months. v- - .

; FEMALE OFFENDERS. Selina Potts, alias Wilson, pleaded not guilty to being a rogue and vagabond. She stated she had just come out of the Salvation Army Home. She pleaded guiltv to being found with whisky in her possession. during the currency of » prohibition order. She said it did not belong to her. Constables Ross and McKenzio gave evidence that defendant, did not do anv work, and war always about the town. For being a rogue and vagabond a sentence of three months' imprisonment was inflicted, and for having liquor in her, possession she was fined 40s and costs.

Mary Conn, a middle-aged woman, pleaded guilty to being a rogue and vagabond. She admitted having been convicted for vagrancy and drunkenness-. The Salvation Army authorities declined to tako Conn into tho home Detective Henderson said defendant Jiacl the credit of leading young girls astray. She was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. Barbara Craigie, a young woman, pleaded guilty to being an incorrigible roguo and vagabond. Sub-Inspector Gordon said she. had previously been convicted. A sentence of three months' imprisonment with hard labour was inflicted. •;, THE SYMONDS-STREET BURGLARY. Henry Samuel Peak and George Widdieombe, who were arrested on. Saturday on the. charge of breaking and entering the . dwelling of . Isidore Alexander, in . Lower Symon'ds-street, and stealing clothing and ; jewellery to the value of £50, were, on the application of Iteteetive Henderson, remanded for a week tor the preparation of the evidence. , AN UNDESIRABLE PAIR. Two young men, Alfred Chappell and Oeorge Paul, abas Stanley Edwards, alias George Harrison, pleaded not guilty to being idle and disorderly and having consorted with reputed thieves. Sergeant Ramsay, said for the past fortnight defendants had done no work, and had been in the company of prostitutes and known thieves. Three "girls had a house /in Newton Road, and the defendants were arrested there. One of the women was a sister of Chappell. Constable Scott corroborated'. Paid had done no work for a month. Constable Boag said Paid had boasted that he had done a month in Wellington in lieu of a £20 fine. Detective Macartney had seen defendants in company with thieves, whom lie named. Chappell said he had been in the King Country for three or four months, and had been in Auckland only a month, one week of which lie had done in gaol for fighting. He had money due to him. Sub-Inspector Gordon said both defendants had been several times beforo the Court for various offences. Mr. Riddell said the evidence was very strong. Both i men were convicted. Paul was sen-

tenced to three months' and Chappe-11 to «#fcwo J months' imprisonment with hard labour. \ i

f ASSAULTING A WOMAN.

A middle-aged man named Patrick Sullivan pleaded not guilty to assaulting Elizabeth Eggerton, an old woman, and causing her actual bodily harm. Sub-Inspector Gordon prosecuted. Elizabeth Eggerton said that on April 27. about six o'clock, witness and her husband were in : a restaurant in Albert-street, when accused came in under the (influence of liquor. Accused began swearing inside the restaurant, and when the husband of witness remonstrated accused said' he would wait outside and "knock the stuffing out of him." When they went outside accused rushed at her husband, and she went between them, and the accused shoved her.' Sho fell against tho kerbing, and her head was severely cut and she was rendered unconscious. She was taken to the hospital. In reply to accused witness said she went between him and her husband because she did not, wish them to fight, as "I have known you for so long, Paddy." 'Witness had been before the Court years ago. Walter Eggerton, husband of the last witness, gave similar evidence. Witness domed shoving his wife. Catherine Hardwicke also gave evidence. Dr. Marchant, house assistant at the Auckland Hospital, said Mrs. Eggerton was Buffeting from a deep scalp wound when taken to the hospital.' She was also under the, influence of liquor. "lho wound could have been caused by the woman falling against the kerbstone. Sergeant Marshall said when first arrested accused denied the offence, and asked if the woman was dead. Sullivan pleaded guilty to common assault ot an aggravated nature, to - which the charge was altered. He explained there was a long-standing fued between Eggerton and himself, and the former agreed to fight him in the street to settle the matter. The woman went between them when they were fighting, although lie told her to keep awry. He would not bo such a coward as to strike a woman..He had already waited ten. days in gaol for the -sase. . Mr. Riddcll said the assault ended seriously, although the accused may not have meant to do what he did. Drink apparently was at the bottom of. the whole trouble. A sentence of four months' imprisonment with hard labour was inflicted.

FRACAS AMONG CABMEN.

An incident of the searchlight carnival, held atDevonnort in March, was revived. *"■ Three brothers, named Curtis, 'bus drivers, were charged with assaulting opposition bus drivers. The charges were taken singly against each defendant. Arthur Curtis pleaded not guilty to assaulting Alexander Parsons, Andrew Parsons, and George Scarborough on the evening of March 28. Mr. T. Cotter appeared for Parsons and. prosecuted,.and Mr. Martin defended Mr. Cott"r explained the parties were 'bus proprietors at Devonport.,',. the evenmg of March 28 Curtis was driving a bus to the cricket ground when he pulled ;up sharply ad Pardons' 'bus ran into it, the pole£>inj : into the back door:of the. bus. l**i/% • turned to the stand, and the assault took L place there., . •. • ~ , j„„c„„ D For the prosecution Alexander Parsons, 'bus driver at' Devonport said that on . March 28 1h« accidentally collided with the • rear of defendant's 'bus. fHe returnee[to the 'bus stand, at the wharf. Arthur Curt s • wont up to witness and referred to the incident, and then struck witness ;• wfofc °» the 'bus. Witness gave defendant no pro vocation. ■ Passengers , were on the., h«s. "Witney was assaulted by Arthur Curtis a

second time, and the latter also assaulted Andrew Parsons. George Bell corroborated. He added that he saw a fight near the hotel, and when witness reached the spot .Scarborough was on the grourid, and ho saw defendant kick him. Annie Armitago, a married Woman, who was on the 'bus, said some person whom she could hot recognise went up to Alexander Parsons and without apparent provocation struck him. Dr. Guinness said he examined Scarborough, who had bruises which might have been caused by a fall or a blow. Andrew Parsons had a. cut under his eve and was bruised. His head and body were swelled in places. He had attended him tip to date, and Andrew Parsons had lost weight. Ho was still giddy.: In reply to Mr. Martin, witness said he had only Andrew Parsons' statement as to the cause of the injuries. James Robert Whitclaw said ho saw Arthur Curtis deliberately kick Soarborough on the head during a light near the Esplanade Hotel. Scarborough got up off tho ground, but fell down after walking a, short- distance-. .John Henry Watts described, the fight, but could not say who the persons were. For remarking that the kicking of Scarborough was a cowardly thing, ho received' * a hit on tho nose. David Whitelaw said he saw Scarborough and Ernest Curtis fighting. They fell, and Ernest Curtis hit Scarborough while on the ground, and Arthur Curtis kicked him. Andrew Parsons corroborated, and described his injuries. Ashmore Curtis knocked him down between the 'buses and kicked him. George Scarborough also corroborated the evidence. .Ho received the kick on the jaw. Arthur Curtis said he had not recovered from a severe operation. Witness was not driving the 'bus on the evening complained of, nor did he take part in the fight. Witness saw the 'buses tilled and was. walking between them when he received a punch on the jaw from some unknown person, and he was knocked unconscious - . lie did not recollect the disturbance nor anything that occurred after he was knocked down. James William Willotsen said just, as he was leaving the wharf he found Arthur Curtis lying near the footpath in a dazed condition. He picked him up and told him to go home. Witness saw Ernest Curtis and Scarborough fighting, but as he had his 'bus full ha could not stay. This was all tho evidence. Mr. Riddell said the disturbance no doubt was between the rival 'bus proprietors. The evidence for the prosecution was pretty strong, although there were some discrepancies in it; but it was to a large extent consistent. He considered the charges proved. For the assault on Scarborough, which was of an aggravated nature, a, fine of £3 and costs was imposed ; for assaulting Alexander Parsons a fine of £2 and costs, and for assaulting Andrew Parsons £1 and costs, or a total of £10 15s 6d. A week was allowed to pay the fine. ■ ':•''..' Ernest Curtis pleaded not guilty to assaulting George Scarborough, and Ashniore Curtis not guilty to assaulting Andrew Parsons. ,/-. •• ■--..; In defenco Ashmore Curtis said while at the front of the horses he heard a noise behind the 'bus, and going round found Ins brother Arthur on the ground, having been assaulted by Andrew Parsons. The latter then rushed at witness, who had to fight to get free from him, and in the scuffle witness thrashed him. He denied kicking Parsons. Ernest Curtis said he saw his brother Arthur fall down, and Andrew Parsons"hit him. Parsons and Scarborough faced him, and Scarborough put himself in a fighting attitude. . , , . _ „ , Mr. Martin: What did you do.'—l rolled into him. (Laughter.) •':-.' Continuing, witness said a fight ensued, and witness got away as soon as possible. He complained to the police, and ho understood they were going ■to summon {Scarborough. , .v" ■"'■.• '„ - Constable Roberts also gave evidence as to the statements made to him by the last W Mr?Ricldcll said he was not satisfied with the defence. Both were fined £2 and 10s btl costs. ' . ••■.•-• DRUNKENNESS. There, was an unusually long list of persons charged with drunkenness." Eleven first offenders were fined 5s and 10s each with costs, the latter • for non-apearauce. William Leslie and Martin Lestrange, second offenders, were fined 10s and costs, in default 2* hours.