POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13390, 19 January 1907, Page 8

POLICE COURT NEWS.

ALLEGED ASSAULT AND

ROBBERY.

"THE REAL AFFAIR."

AT the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. I!. VV. Dyer, S.M., two men named William John Martin and .lame- O'Connor were charged with having assaulted and robbed James O'Brien of 235.

The case had been previously adjourned to obtain the evidence of the complainant, but the police had not been able to discover his movements.

Sub-Inspector Cordon pro-edited, and Mr. J. K. London defended.

William .J. Buckley, foreman at Messrs. Ma-se.v's foundry, stated that on December 27, while working in the foundry-yard, he saw some men struggling in Moore-street near some steps. Two men had a man down on the ground. One whs holding him and the other was trying to pull the pocket out of his trousers. Witness afterwards saw one of the men take the pocket away from the man on the ground. The victim then got up and chased the man with tile pocket. Witness afterwards saw the Fugitive trying to pin up the hole in bis trousers. Witness sent a boy over to see if the man had lw-cn robbed, and lie replied that he had. O'Connor afterwards went into a neighbouring house and came out again with a ug in his hand. He afterwards re-entered the house. Witness then sent for the police, and when they arrived he accompanied them into the house whr-re accused had gone. O'Brien also accompanied the constable into the house and accused Martin of- robbing him. lie (O'Brien) said. " Von are the nan who tm»k my bras-."

'lo Mr. Loudon: Witness was standing about 60yd- from where the alleged assault took place. There was no outcry or call for assistance. The men were partly behind a boiler, and when they struggled they came from behind. The struggle la-ted about half a minute.

To Mr. Dyer: The man who pulled the complainant's pocket out resembled Martin. to Mr. Lundon: Witness did not see any money, lie only saw a man with a pocket in his hand. lie did not tell Martin that lie could not recognise him as one of tiie men who took part in the? alleged assault. Henry Thomas, a boilermaker, employed at Massey's foundry, gave evidence similar to that of the last witness. He said he had no doubt as to the identity of the men. To Mr. l.undon: The "real affair" lasted for about- a minute. Mr. Luiidou : What do you call the "real affair'.'"

Witness: The exciting part. To. Mr. Lundon: O'Brien was half-drunk. Charles Barker, also a boiler-maker at ilassey's foundry, gave evidence. Constables Robertson and Martin, who arrested . the accused, gave evidence of the arrest. This closed the case for the prosecution. Air. Dyer .-aid he did not think that the identity of the accused had been established, and dismissed the informations.

A WOMAN BURGLAR

PLEADS (iI'ILTY TO HOUSE

BREAKING

Mabel Cooper, a young woman, who had a little boy in the dock with her, was.charged on two informations with breaking and entering on January 3, and further with breaking and entering the house of Jean Ferguson on December 28 and stealing a quantity of clothing, valued at £8, the property of Herbert and Amelia VVaterhouse. Chief-Detective Marsack, who prosecuted, called evidence in support of the charges. Detective P. T. McMahon. who arrested the accused, produced the following voluntary statement made by accused:—"l left my home at half-past nine a.m. on December 8, and went, to the Queen-street Wharf. 1 then caught a Newmarket car and went to Newmarket and sat in the tram station for a little while. I then took an Ouehuuga car and went to the Epsom Hotel stop. I walked on the road a short distance, in the direction of Otiehunga. 1 then came back to Ranfurl.v Road. I went down as far as Cornwall Park Avenue. I then came back again as far as Johnston's. I entered Johnston's premises through one of the windows. I touched nothing* in the house. I had the two children with me. When I was in the building they were outside on the verandah. After I came out 1 went over to a house opposite, and spoke to a short fat woman. 1 think I got a drink of water from her. After I left this woman I came along Ranfurly Road until I got, near the corner. I then went into a" dwelling there by one of the side windows. When I got inside I opened the front door and let both my children in. I did not touch anything inside, only a. pocketbook, which I found on a chest of drawers in a bedroom. Tee children pulled the pillow slips from off a bed in the same room, and I and the two children then came out of the front door, which 1 closed after me. 1 then took a ear and came home. It was a-quarter past four p.m. when I got. into the city. The reason I entered the two houses was this: I owed Mr. Ford £8 15s for jewellery, and I thought J would find some money in them. And I did not find any. When in Ranfurly Road [ asked the owner of the second house 1 had entered where Mr, Josephs lived. She replied that she did not know. I asked the stout lady in Cornwall Park Avenue where Mr. Johns lived. She replied that, she did not know. About a week or a fortnight ago I went into a house in Kent-street and stole three women's coats and one. gent.'s coat. I got in through a window. I pawned them in Goldwater's under the name of Airs. Scott. I have lost the tickets."

When formally charged, accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed, in one surety of £10. used was also ordered to report herself twice a week to the Newton police station. REMANDS. A young man named Arthur Pit reel I was remanded to appear at. the Thames on the 23rd inst. on a charge of stealing a quantity of boat ballast, valued at, £2, the property of Charles Sumick. Bail was allowed, in two sureties of £25 each. William Holland, a young man, was remanded on a charge of- assaulting Jessie Edenborough, and robbing her of a gold watch and brooch valued at £9 2s 6d, SubInspector Cordon, who obtained the remand, stated that while the young woman was going home from the theatre on Thursday night accused seized her by the throat and wrenched the watch atid brooch from her. • STREET-BETTING CASK. Frederick Crane, a young man. for whom Mr. .1. I!. Recti appeared, pleaded guilty to fre'iuentiiig Queen-street on January 2 for the purpose of betting. Mr. Heed said the defendant, was casually employed in an auction mart, and sometimes as a bookmaker's clerk. On the date in question he was asked if he would lay a double, and while talking about if a detective came along. No money was passed. Chief-Detective Marsack, who prosecuted, -aid ho could call evidence to show that money was passed. Mr. Dyer warned defendant that if became before him again he would impose a severe fine, but on this occasion he would not, inflict a heavy penalty. A fine of 20and costs 7s was imposed. LIGHTING A CIGARETTE. Two youths named Raymond Kenny and William Coombs were charged with wilfully extinguishing two lamps in Karansjahape Road. The evidence showed that Coombs gave Kenny "a leg up" to light a cigarette at th" lamp.-, and the lights went out. Mr. Dyer dismissed the informations ajraiust Coombs, ami fined Kenny 10s and costs 12s on the first charge, and 20s and costs 7s on the second, or in default 14 da;.-' imprisonment.

MISCELLANEOUS. Sarah, or Maggie, McPhund failed to ap pear on a charge that, on October 18, at Otakei, she abandoned her child, aged two years and six months. The -ease had previously been adjourned, as it was thought that, the- defendant might have misunderIstood the charge. She had since been warned that her attendance wa- neeessarv. A warrant was issued for the defendant's arrest. For riding a bicycle without light* after dark, William Duke was fined lf)s and costs 7s. A fine of 10> and costs 7- was imposed upon 11. Small for allowing building material to remain imlighted after dark in Vincent-street. George Hogun. a schoolboy, was cautioned ami discharged for riding a bicycle on the footpath.

Robert Galbraitli pleaded guilty to two charges of committing breaches of his pro hibition order, and was fined 30s and costs on the first charge, and 40s and costs 7s on (lie .second, or in default one month 6 imprisonment on both charges. • Thomas Hill, who had allowed his vehicle to remain longer than necessary for loading or unloading, in Pitt-street, was fined 10s- and costs 7s. .Joseph Winter, a fisherman, pleaded not uiltv to drunkenness and to having ' procured liquor while prohibited. After hearing the evidence, Mr. Dyer fined accused 5s and costs on the first charge, or in default 48 hours' imprisonment, and £2 and costs 7s on the second count, or in default one month's imprisonment. Mr. .1. K. Heed appeared for accused. Percy Kvau. who had been charged with drunkenness (a third offence) and remanded for medical treatment, was ordered to pay costs £1 3s 6d, or in default, seven days' imprisonment. A first offender, on a charge of drunkenness, was lined 5s and costs, or in default 24 hours' imprisonment.

IN Ft) ATI ON DISMISS ED. An information charging a young married couple- named Henry and Charlotte Putt, of Surrey Crescent, Archhill, with retaining an infant for monetary consideration without- being licensed to do .-'•>, was dismissed by Mr. C. ('. Kettle. S.M. The evidence showed that the defendants bad answered an advertisement requesting " some kind person to adopt or nurse a baby." The. female defendant saw the mother of the child, and took the child to her home. No monetary arrangement was mentioned. Mrs. Putt said that -he had recently come from the Old Country. Before she left her little child had died, and this one she had taken in the hopes that it would fill the other's place. She would take all care of it whether she "received any monetary reward or not. At. the conclusion of the case. 'Mr. Kettle said that he considered the present law regarding illegitimate children should be alter cd. At pre.-ent the name of the mother of the child .only was registered, and he considered that the father's name should also be registered, so that, if necessary both parents would be known, and if the child, though adopted, became destitute, then they should be obliged to provide for it* maintenance.