POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13398, 29 January 1907, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

ADJOURNED. Arthur Robinson, represented by -Mr. J. R. Lundon, was charged with being found on the licensed premises of the Esplanade 4 mid Masonic Hotels during prohibited hour.-. . Const-able Eocles. of Devoliport, said on December 25 he «a - .v the defendant come out of (he Esplanade Hotel and (hen proved to the Masonic Hotel. The further hearing of the case was adjourned for two week* to enable the defendant u> give evidence. MISCELLANEOUS. William Watson pleaded not guilty to drunkenness and to resisting Constable hi lingsworth while in the execution of his duty. Evidence w?s called to show that defendant was drunk while travelling in a tramcar. and on being requested to leave the car he refused to do so. He was then removed by the constable. Defendant said that the conductor of the' car pushed a man ! oft the car and he fell. He (defendant) tried to save the man and spoke to the conductor about the matter. Mr. Kettle, who said he was satisfied that defendant. was under th" influence of liquor, convicted and ordered defendant to come up for sentence when called upon. Costs amounting to 28s 3d were imposed. Two men named Thomas Kaisia and Michael Caddy pleaded guitly to fighting in Queen-street on Saturday, and were each fined 10s, and costs 1.- o<>. Percy Warner pleaded guilty to drunkenness and to resisting (Joustable (lardner while in the execution of his duty, and not guilty to wilfully breaking ft window valued lit 30s, the property of Philip lliscoek. Defendant said he was drunk and fell through the window. On the first charge he was fined 5s and costs; on the second he was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon; on the third he was fined £1 and ordered to pay the cost of the broken window. Thomas O'Connor and Edward Barrett pleaded net guilty to refusing to quit the licensed premises of the Carpenters' Arms Hotel when ordered to do so by the licensee. After hearing the evidence Mr. Kettle dismissed the information against O'Connor, and fined Barrett £5 and costs. Defend ants were also charged with using obscene language, and were each fined £5 and costs. Samuel McQuey wi's prohibited for 12 mouths on the application of his wife. •John .lames Mi Williams, for whom Mr. Prendergast appeared, pleaded not guilty V to sly grog-selling. Constable Kelly said on * Sunday in October last he asked accused J*' purchase a couple of bottles of beer for nun, and he did so. A fine of £5 and costs was inflicted. ..for committing two breaches of his prohibition order Daniel Mef/eod was fined 20s, *'iu cost* 7s, on each charge. ; A fine of £5 and costs Was imposed upon Joljn Hanslaw for using obscene language in Custom-street,. live persons wore charged with drunken--111,7 ness. Patrick Sarsfield, ti second offender, **' ' **s 10* and costs, or in default 48 r ji ' ~ ° urs imprisonment. Three first offenders fef; | R ei ? fined 10s and costs, or in default •»ir» Ur? ' and another (a Woman) was con jcted and ordered to. come up for sentence % cillod upon. Sitsi;.'•

'A TROUBLESOME PRISONER.

Ybstebdat before Mr. 0. C. Kettle, S.M., at. the. Police Court, James Wynne, a married roan, for whom Mr. J. R. Lundon appeared, pleaded guilty to charges of (1) drunkenness; (2) assaulting Roland Hill, Elisabeth Masters, and Constable Williamson; (3) breaking a cab window valued at 20s, the property of Messrs. Pullan and Armitago; and (4) breaking an umbrella, valued nt 12s 6d, the property of a Maori woman named Akingi.

Inspector Cordon informed His Worship that on Saturday the defendant entered into a discussion with Hill concerning a sixpenny piece at the Takapuna racecourse, and ultimately struck Hill over the eye, felling him to the ground. The police were sent for and arrested defendant. He was then brought to Auckland and placed in a cab. While in the cab Wynne struck the constable and put his elbow through the Window. lie then jumped out of the cab and knocked the native woman, damaging an umbrella she was carrying. Defendant was fined 5s on the charge of drunkenness, and £2 and costs on the charge of assaulting Hill. On the charge of breaking the cab window and for damaging the umbrella he was ordered to pay damages. On the charge of assaulting the constable defendant was fined 10s, and on the charge of assaulting Elizabeth Masters was convicted and ordered to com© up for sentence when called Upon.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. The adjourned hearing of the case in which Sarah McPhund was charged with abandoning her child at Orakei on October 18 was concluded. The hearing was adjourned last week to enable a witness named Rowers to attend Court. Rowers denied that he was the father of the accused's children and that he had been contributing towards their support. lie a!;o denied that he had induced the accused to set rid of her children.

Mr. Kettle said the case was of a very exceptional character. Ho had doubts as to whether what Recused had done amounted to abandoning her child. It was quite clear that there was desertion. He would send the case to the Supreme Court in order to have an authoritative decision as to what would he regarded as abandonment under section 214 of the Criminal Code Act. When formally charged accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supremo Court for trial.

PREACH OF THE' LICENSING ACT. Robert John Hamilton, barman at the United Service Hotel, was charged on two informations with selling beer to Frank Messenger and Frank Henna, persons already in a state of intoxication, and further with supplying beer to Frederick Orran, a prohibited person. Mr. Clayton, who appeared on behalf of the licensee of the hotel (Mrs. Anna Maria Cooinbe) pleaded guilty. He said Mrs. Coomb© had been ill for some time, and was still unwell. She had instructed Hamilton not to servo persons under the influence of liquor. The licensee had now decided to leave the premises. Defendant was fined £5 and posts on each charge. The same charges were then preferred against the licensee, and withdrawn with the consent of Mr. S. Mays, who prosecuted.

ADMITTING THE POLICE. Arthur Bach, licensee of the Queen's Ferry Hotel, was charged with failing to admit without unnecessary delay Police-Ser-geant Win. Ramsay while in the execution of his duty. Mr. S. ..lays prosecuted, and Mr. Prendergast defended. Sergeant Ramsay stated that on December 8 ho knocked at the hotel door and someone inside said. "Who's there?" Witness replied, "The jiolice; open the door." The person then said, "Are you the police?" and witness replied, " Yes." The person then left the door, and witness remained outside for three minutes and a-half before the door was opened. When the door was opened, which was after ten p.m., the porter told witness that ho had lost- the key. Defendant then said, "All right, sergeant. I told the porter not to open the door." Witness counted 26 men leaving the premises. The bars wore all lighted up. and "all was in full swing." The evidence for the defence was to the effect that the defendant told the porter to open the door immediately he' heard the knock. The police were admitted in from 15 to 20 seconds after the knock at the door.

Mr. Kettle, who said the evidence did not satisfy him that there was unnecessary deJay in opening the door, dismissed the information.

A DISOBEDIENT FIREMAN. George Wra. Attridge was charged with disobeying the lawful commands of the captain of the steamer Tokomaru. John McFie, master of the s.s. Tokomaru, said accused was a fireman. On Saturday witness told accused to help to discharge powder, and he refused to do so. He said he refused on principle, which was that he wanted to be paid the same wages as shore men. Defendant was ordered to forfeit one day's wages and pay costs, 7s.

REMANDED. John H. dimming.; was remanded for a week on a charge of having attempted to commit suicide by taking poison. On the application of Mr. S. Mays, Arthur R. V. Goodwill, charged with a criminal assault at Paktintnga, was remanded until Thursday next. Bail was renewed.

Harry Bird, charged with having deserted his wife at Sydney. was remanded to appear at Sydney. Richard Thompson was remanded to appear at Sydney on a charge of abduction.