POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14209, 4 November 1909, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

TWO YOUTHFUL DESERTERS*

Two youths, named Wm. Stanbrook and Frederick Challis, belonging to the ship Waimatc, came before Messrs. A. Walsh, C. H. Furness, and J. Gardner, justices of the peace, yesterday morning at the Police Court, charged with having stolen valuables and sums of money from the ship amounting to £10 6s 3d, and with desertion. The sub-inspector said the two boys had signed on in London, and were both from an English industrial'school. They were undesirables and were not wanted here. He hoped they would be taken back to London. The chief officer of the ship said it was a shame to let the offenders off scot free by ordering them to return to their ship, and it was finally decided to detain them in gaol at Auckland for one month and then forward them to Wellington, where they could join the Waimate and return to London. Both boys expressed a strong desire that they should not be placed on the Waimate again. . '; ALLEGED ASSAULT. . . A man, Edmund Plowman by name, was charged with assaulting W. F. Findlay with a tomahawk (produced in Court) and thereby inflicting a scalp wound on the back of Findlay's head. Evidence was brought by complainant to show that accused's wife sought a iudicial separation order, and when accused learned that the application had been granted he "went mad," and, seizing a stick, he broke,.a clock in the kitchen and a mirror in the bedroom. He then went into the yard, where . his brother-in-law, F. W. Findlay, was, and, taking up a tomahawk, is alleged to have assaulted him with it, striking him on the back of the head, exclaiming at the time: "I will do for you yet." He also knocked Findlay over. A constable gave evidence, that lie had found Findlay in a dazed condition, leaning against a wall in the yard and bleeding profusely. , Plowman pleaded not guilty to the charge and was committed to the Supreme . Court for trial, bail being allowed in two sureties of £50 each, or one of £100. .

A DOMESTIC QUARREL. Edward Edwards .was charged that he assaulted his wife, used threatening language to his mother-in-law, Mrs. Martin, and assaulted a man named A. J. Byrne at Town Hall building. Mr. Lundon appeared for the plaintiffs and Mr. Dunlop for the defendant. It appears that there was some trouble between accused and his wife, and that accused blamed his mother-in-law for interfering between them and for encouraging Byrne to go to the parents' house and meet the accused's wife. The evidence went to show that Edwards had struck Byrne' at the Town Hall, where the latter was working. After hearing a great deal of evidence regarding domestic, troubles connected with the case the Bench decided to convict the accused on the charge of assaulting Byrne and to fine him 10s, and costs amounting to £10 7s, also ordering him to find two sureties of £25 each, or one of £50, that he would keep the peace. A charge of assault against the wife was - dismissed^;

MISCELLANEOUS. ," Two first offenders convicted on 'charges of drunkenness were fined 5s and costs.

Alexander James Smith, charged with being found drunk in Queen-street and with being an habitual'drunkard,"was remanded until to-morrow to appear before a stipendiary magistrate. t - For soliciting alms in a public place on Tuesday a woman named Louisa Tierney was convicted, 1 discharged, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. James Cromwell, who was convicted on a charge of having stolen a fur boa, valued at 8s 6d, from the shop of Rosa Cross, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. \*\ A man, aged about 50 years, named Richard John Gorman, who had been residing at Mangawai, was charged with assaults on young girls. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being allowed in two sureties of £100 each." . "",.',