POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14132, 6 August 1909, Page 8

POLICE COURT NEWS.

IN A TIGHT CORNER.

At the Police Court yesterday, before Messrs. D. Flynn and C. H. Furness, J.P.'s, a young man named Francis McKenna was charged with having obstructed Jas. Neary, while the latter was assisting Constable Power in the execution of his duty.

Sub-Inspector Hendrey stated that Constable Power entered certain premises, in , response to the request of the man who lived on those premises. While there, he was attacked in a ferocious manner by a man who used an axe and a spade. He called Neary to his assistance, and the latter,, like a good citizen, came. Then accused came up, pulled Neary away, and threw him down. Accused was arrested, but broke away, and was taken later on warrant. As Mr. Neary would be out of town till Monday, a remand would be necessary. V Mr. W. E. Hackett, who defended accused, said the facts, as given by SubInspector. Hendrey, were substantially correct, except that accused, not having seen the assault on the constable, saw the prisoner being, what he considered, roughly handled, and went up to Neary, merely laid his hand on his shoulder, and asked him to desist, and advised the prisoner to go quietly. Neary had since called on accused, and had expressed surprise arrest. < . Accused - was remanded, bail being allowed in one surety of £20.

' ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES. Sobbing bitterly, a young woman named Jennie Moffat* was charged that on July 15 she obtained goods to the value of 16s 5-1 from Messrs. Smith and Caughey 'by means of false pretences: The charge is that accused ordered the goods in the name of a gentleman in whose employ ehe formerly was as a domestic servant. A remand was granted till Monday.

OBSCENE LANGUAGE. James Findlay- was charged with a second offence of drunkenness, and with using obscene language in Gleeson's Hotel. Evidence was given that he was under the influence of liquor when he went to the hotel, and, on being refused liquor, used the language complained of. Sub-Inspector Hendrey pressed for a sharp penalty, on account of the frequency of the offence of using obscene language. The Bench fined accused £5, in default one month's imprisonment, for using bad language, and £1, for drunkenness, t . ; ' ■' DRUNKENNESS. John. Stiles, who failed to appear on a charge of drunkenness, lost his bail. Percy Bosworth was fined lOs, and costs, Peter Derally was fined ss, Joseph Rainbow (who is an old age pensioner) and a first offender were convicted and discharged. REMANDS. Allan Anderson was charged with diunkenness, and procuring liquor while prohibited. He was remanded. Fred. James Dormer was charged that at Tanranga, on June 8, he misappropriated £7 6s 6d, which he should have accounted for to his employers, Messrs. Wingate and Co. On his own application, he was remanded for eight days, bail being fixed in one surety of £50. John Gordon, arrested on warrant for disobedience of an order to pay 5s a week to the support of his child, was remanded till Tuesday. ; AUSTRIAN S IN TROUBLE. . Two Austrian*, named John Bakalich and Dominic Vitalie, were charged with fighting in Grey-street. The cases were defended at considerable length. The evidence showed that Bakalich had an engagement to fight a brother of Vitalie'sjn a private place, and Vitalie 6ent a note saying he could not get off that night. Bakalich then went along, and asked Vitalie either to fight as soon as possible pr shake hands.. He then left the shop, and Dominic Vitalie followed him out, and a fight ensued. The Bench had offered to, convict and discharge both accused without hearing the defence, but regarded the matter as more serious when this evidence was given, and fined each £2, and costs.