POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14225, 23 November 1909, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

ASSAULTING A CONSTABLE.

A case in which a young man named Alexander Fred. Watson was charged with assaulting Constable Colwell, and with using obscene language in Victoria-street, came before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., at the Polio Court yesterday morning. Constable Colwell said the prisoner had courted arrest by persistently causing disturbances on Saturday night. Witness told him to go home, but Watson came up and knocked his shako, kicking him on the leg at the same time. When arrested a knuckle-duster was found in his possession, which he had threatened to use on the policeman. He was convicted and discharged on both charges, and ordered to como up for sentence when called upon. A prohibition order was also made against him. ,

INFORMATION DISMISSED. Francis George Jtaynes, licensee of the Naval and Family Hotel, was charged that during the time his premises were required by the law to be closed he sold a bottlo of whisky to George Tempany. Herbert Raynes, brother of the ilicensee, and a partner, was also charged with supplying the liquor. Sub-Inspector Hendrey prosecuted, and Mr. F. Earl appeared on behalf of defendants. - ■. . ..

The sub-inspector said Tempany bad gone to tho hotel with a brief bag, had obtained a bottle of whisky, and had taken it across the road to a building, where a police sergeant later discovered a . ring of men sitting on the ground with a number of empty bottles and glasses. Evidence was submitted, showing that Tempany had .been supplied but the licensee had no knowledge of where the liquor was going to. Tempany was a boarder in the hotel, and therefore entitled to obtain the whisky. Tempany stated that the whisky was not bought by his friends, but he simply treated them to it as a friend. The licensee said he had given Tempany a soda water syphon in the morning, but did not know until the police called in tho afternoon that he had been given the whisky. The magistrate said Tempany, according to the evidence, was a bona-fide lodger, and there was no evidence to show that he sold the whisky. The sale, therefore, was legitimate, and he would dismiss the information.

AN UNCERTAIN DONOR. A man with iron gray hair, named John Angus, who was in a very shaky condition, was charged with drunkenness, and with being an incorrigible rogue, without lawful means of support. Accused said he had been nine years in New Zealand, and had sent £15 to his mother at the Shetland Islands this year. The Magistrate: Now, you know you are giving evidence on oath. Wait on, Your Honor, I am telling a lie, sir, I only sent my mother £5. After a littlo cross-examination, during which Angus became very excited, he said: "Well, I must say I didn't _ send my mother even £5, and it's the first time I ever told such an untruth, and I pray forgiveness." Ho was sent to gaol for two months, acknowledging that it would do him good. He was prohibited for 12 months. DRUNKENNESS. Three first offenders were convicted and fined £1 each, and another old man, a first offender, was convicted and discharged. James Gunn, a seaman, who had been in New Zealand for five months, and who has a family in England, was charged with drunkenness, and convicted and fined 10s, in default *8 hours' imprisonment. ; William Francis Gillies was charged with having been drunk in Queen-street, with procuring liquor while prohibited, and with committing an indecent act. For the last offence .he . was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, and on the other two charges he was convicted and discharged, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. ■ " An old-age pensioner, aged 76, named Thomas Gourley, who stated that he had come to Auckland to buy medicine, was convicted and discharged for having been drunk. - Frank Halloran, convicted for procuring liquor, and for drunkenness, was fined 10s for the last offence, and for the breach of his order was fined £1. ■ '■-■"•.' MISCELLANEOUS. A man named Lockwood Wright, charged with being a rogue and a vagabond, without lawful means of support, was remanded for a week for medical treatment, A Cingalce: named Richard Johns, who was found sleeping on some scrap iron on the harbour front, was charged with being a rogue and a vagabond* without lawful means of support. Sub-Inspector Hendrey said this man had been' twice committed to the Costley Home, and had on both occasions run away,- his ' intention evidently; being to get back to Ceylon. The. magistrate said that there was difficulty in sending accused back to Ceylon, because all vessels called at Australia. He adjourned the case for a week, in order that the police might find out • who' was responsible "'; for bringing the prisoner to New Zealand, v v William McKic, who had been laid up with a broken ankle 'at the hospital for a fortnight, was charged with threatening behaviour- in Commerce-street, and causing < a breach of the peace on November 8. The prisoner was convicted and discharged, and: ordered to pay costs. , _ '■■■■"'-/. . Two • men named Daniel Ferguson and George Shannon were charged with committing indecent acts in the street,- and were each fined £10, in default one month's imprisonment. A gardener named Frank ' Williams Was convicted for lighting a firo in the open.air at Parnell without the permission of the town clerk, and was ordered to' pay the costs of the fire brigade, who had turned out to suppress the fire. ! ' : - ■ ' ■•.'.-'