POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13673, 14 February 1908, Page 8

POLICE COURT NEWS.

COSTLY LANGUAGE.

Is the Police. CoUrt yesterday, before Messrs. M. J. Bennett and A. Bartlett, J.P.'s, a young sailor from tho cable steamer Iris, Hcdley Quintal, was charged with using bad' language at the Harbour Board stops on February 8.

Tho police evidence showed that a launch from tho cable steamer was drawing up alongside the steps, and another launch, the Presto,, which contained a Government House party, was moored there. The two boats double-banked ami a number of tho Iris' men scrambled across the Presto.. They were remonstrated with, and Quintal then made .use of the expression complained of.

Accused denied the charge, and called witnesses, including the ship's doctor, to show that no such* language was used. Captain Sharpo gave him an excellent character.'." ;':•':'■

The Bench had no doubt accused made use of the remark, and fined him £4 and costs.

' "JUDGE ME AS I AM!" An elderly woman named Mary Ann O'Brien was charged with being an idle and disorderly person. Sergeant Bales said that accused had come into town from the country, and during her stay here she had continually loitered round Lower Albert and Custom Streets, making herself a nuisance. ' "Please, gentlemen, judge me as I am," said accused, addressing the Bench. I'm a good cook and a good laundress, and get my 30s a week easily." Sergeant Hendry stated that there was no doubt that what accused said was partly true. She would go into the country, work hard, and then come into town and squander her wages. He suggested that she should be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, on condition that she returned to the country within 12 hours. , .:'■■' '■' •

The Bench accepted the suggestion.

;;:- ; "AN EXPERT SHOP THIEF." '" John Monahan was sentenced to one month's imprisonment for stealing a pair of trousers value 153, the property of George Tlitt. i The evidence showed that "Constable "Holliday saw the accused standing in "a recess at Mr. Tutt's shop in Sy-monds-streot on . Wednesday, and subsequently take a pair of trousers from ; a hook, "and roll them up. He was about to put them under his coat, when the constable arrested him. Accused then said that, intended to,.. purchase the article,, but "he had •! rib money • in his possession. .Sergeant Hendry described him as "an expert shop thief."