POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13487, 14 May 1907, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. At the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. C. C.' Kettle, S.M., ian elderly.;'man, John H. Cummihgs,' pleaded ( guilty to attempting to commit suicide by, swallowing chlorodyne. Sergeant Hendry explained that the accused appeared to have been drinking for some time past, and on May 4 he purchased a large bottle of chlorodyne and drank the contents. He then told a man what had taken place, and the latter took (him into a chemist's J shop, where a stomach pump was applied. Accused was; afterwards removed to the hospital. Sergeant Hendry said that Oummings made a similar attempt on his own life some months ago, and on that oc-, casion he was convicted and; discharged. Mr. W. E. Hackett, who appeared for the accused, said that about five years ago he was injured in a; tram acoident :at Sydney, and 12 months later he received a sunstroke. This, coupled with family troubles and drink, had affected accused's mental condition. " Cummings was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon on promising : to go to the Salvation Army Home - for three months.- A prohibition order was issued against him for a period of 12 months, and he was ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution. ' ASSAULTING A CHINESE. >John S. Pain, a young man, pleaded guilty to assaulting Wah Hop by throwing an egg at him and to throwing v a stone to the danger of .the- plaintiff., ; ; ' The complainant, a ; Chinese. laundryman, of Ponsonoy, said that he was struck on the shoulder with a bad egg, which also soiled some linen his laundry. > Mr. Kettle, who said that Chinese were entitled to 'the protection of .the Court, .fined Pain 10s and costs on each charge. With respect;, to charges against Edward Studd and Albert : Tireman in connection, with, the case, ;; Mr. Kettle said that although the defendants were in : Pain's company he was not satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to convict them, and he therefore dismissed the" informations. . "A NOISE ON THE FENCE." ; .; Two men, Arthur Young and George Page, for whom Mr. Singer appeared, pleaded not guilty to disturbing their neighbours in Inkerman-street by making a noise on a fence, and also pleaded not guilty to a further ' charge of using insulting language towards John Bell. Sergeant Hendry prosecuted. , : John Bell said that on the night of: May 2 the : defendants oreated a disturbance by making a noise on his iron fence. Witness asked them to go away, and they used very bad language. : ; : ■To Mr. Singer: Witness did not assault Page with a stick. ' Three other witnesses gave evidence as to hearing the noise. , ; Page, ;; a wharf labourer, said that while he J and Young were going home he ran bis hand lightly over the defendant's fence, not thinking what he was, doing. . Bell immediately threw,; some gravel over the fence, and witness remonstrated with him for doing so. He (witness) did not make use of the language complained of.. Young also gave evidence. Mi-. Kettle said be could not see his way. to convict on the evidence, although he had no doubt that Bell had been annoyed by other people at ; different times. Both informations ■ were \ dismissed. - -. * DISPUTE OVER A BET. William McKee, a young man, was charged with assaulting Victor O'Hara. Mr. Singer appeared for the plaintiff, and McKee was; undefended. V Complainant said that he and the defendant had had an argument about certain bet, and on the 4tb inst. defendant struck him a severe blow on the nose and eyes without any warning whatever. '■•; Corroborative evidence was given by two other witnesses. ■■■ :■ * For the defence } evidence was called to the effect '.that;. the defendant asked complainant ]. to pay him some money he owed him and he refused' to do so. O'Hara then attempted - to; kick i MoKee, and the latter punched him in the face. Mr. Kettle said that the complainant had not. acted in a manly way -towards the defendant In theii* betting : transaction, but defendant (was not, ; i justified in striking O'Hara. McKee would be convicted and discharged. No costs were allowed against the defendant.' l . - MISCELLANEOUS. ■ . Florrie Scott,' a young woman, who had ; been convicted of vagrancy : and • remanded ;.for sentence, and v *for whom Mr. Sharpies appeared, was ( brought before the Court. Sergeant Hendry said that since she. had been r remanded £ the - police had communicated with the woman's father at Christchurch, and he was prepared to look after her. Accused l was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, "on promising to go back to her father at Christchurch. Michael Hogan," a young man, was fined! Is, and costs 7s, for riding an unlighted bicycle along Manukau Road after dark. Gustav Hillman was further remanded for a week on a charge of forging a cheque for £12 at Brisbane on April 20. .James C. * Murray, a third < offender, charged with drunkenness, was convicted and discharged on paying costs. He was also prohibited for i2 months. Two first offenders were each fined 5s and costs, or in default " 24- hours' imprisonment, while three others, who did not appear, were ordered to forfeit their bail (£1). Another first offender (a woman) was convioted and discharged on paying costs. * •