POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13879, 13 October 1908, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

A CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS. Among those .brought before Mr. 0. p.. Kettle, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday, was a man named Benjamin Cane, who was charged with drunkenness. W}iile three witnesses for the prosecution ■swore positively that he was drunk, that, he had been picked up in the city in a semi-conscious condition, and smelling of ■ drink, "the ■■■' accused ■■ himself -■■- stoutly ■ denied thjs,'' 'and asserted ' the; fact' that he} was subject to fits, in explanation of 'the condition in "vyhiph he jrad been found. Asked whether he had had; any drinks on Saturday—he was arrested at e 2.30 on Saturday afternoon—accused at first declared that he had nowe, and then admitted that he had had a glass of boer for dinner. He was also disinclined to deny the statement that when (alien to the Police Station ho admitted having had several glasses of drink.'. "You see," he said," when- a' i: man* is in .a' state like/ I was he might, say "anything.'" '! Quite so," assented the Bench. "There is '-an old-.-saying, ' when a man's in wine lie speaks the truth? ■'■■ *' The Bench ad 'decided to remand the accused, in order that further inquiries might be made, 'but at this stage two men in Court volunteered to give evidence. They declared that half an hour or so before the arrest Cane was sober enough. The magistrate thereuponresolved ' to give him benefit of the doubt, 'and, discharged the prisoner. OTHER CASES. " A: first offender fop : drunkenness -.vfia.j .convicted ipfid '.* discharged.'.'."-' "Edmund . George, a'-.second offender, was prohibited ['■■ for 12 months, While Arthur Norman Payne, also for a second offence; was'fined | 10s, and costs. John Erwm, ' charged | with 'a third' offence', was remanded for | a week for medical treatment- . .1 ' A young man named Reginald Win. Service was charged with indecently assaulting a 'girl' of the age of nine years'.' On the application of Detective' 'McMahonj he was remanded until Friday ■next,' bail being allowed in two sureties of £50 each. ' > ' : / '". ' '[ 1 ';=; "■{-:■ :M:^>vA :: .'- : V^