POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14359, 2 May 1910, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

CHARGE AGAINST A PUBLICAN - THE DECISION RESERVED. The evidence for the defence in the case in which William Derham, licensee of the Victoria Hotel, was charged with selling liquor to a person already in a state of intoxication, and with permitting drunkenness on his premises, was concluded on Friday last. . At the Police Court on Saturday, before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., Mr. F. Earl, who appeared for the defence, addressed the Court, and reviewed the evidence at considerable length, . and; made reference to the law bearing on the charges. Counsel urged that there was no evidence of a reliable character put forward by the prosecution to show that th© barmaid had | supplied drink to an intoxicated man. Mr. Earl contended that if the licensee had given instructions against drunken ; men being served with drink, and the evidence showed that lie had, then, assuming that the barmaid had supplied the man while the licensee was on the premises, the barmaid was liable to be prosecuted, and not the licensee. If the licensee was away from the premises at the time, he would be responsible for the acts of his barmaid. Sub-Inspector Hendrey, in reply, said that when the licensee came home from the races on the evening of the alleged offence there was no evidence to show that he had relieved the barmaid of the responsibility relegated to her during his absence. There was ample evidence, the sub-inspector considered, to show that the man had been supplied with liquor by the barmaid. The magistrate reserved his.decision. i A HUMAN MISFIT. i Lockwood Wright was charged; with being an incorrigible rogue, having previously been convicted of being a rogue and vagabond. Sub-Inspector Hendrey said the man was one. of those human misfits, continually met with in big cities. They did no good to themselves, nor, to anyone else. Accused pleaded guilty to th© charge, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. DISORDER IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE A charge was preferred against Bartholomew Mahoney of using obscene language in ; ; a railway carriage on Friday - last, between Ohaknne and Raurimu. The man's conduct, according to Sub-Inspector Hendrey, was most shocking. He went into a non-smoker carriage on the Main Trunk express, which was occupied by a number of ladies, and used most disgusting language. Accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour.;. LOOKING FOR FIGHT. A respectable-looking man named William Richard Pitts'pleaded guilty to being disorderly while drunk at the railway station. Sub-Inspector Hendrey stated, that the defendant had boarded a train while in a drunken condition. He went about challenging the railway officials to a fight, and eventually the police had to be sent for. The magistrate fined the defendant £2, and costs 16s. • MISCELLANEOUS. . Gilbert Graham pleaded guilty tb being an idle and disorderly person in. that he had insufficient lawful means of support, and -was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with , hard labour. Thomas Woods .was convicted on .a charge of being drunk while in charge of a horse and cart, and was. fined £2 and costs. ' ■ . -';' ~; '- >;; ■-..' ; Claude Martin was charged with assaulting Jethro Jones by striking him on the face with his clenched fist. He was remanded until to-day, bail being allowed in two sureties of £10. each..-. v Sidney Doyle, charged with attempting to break and enter the storehouse of Enoch Knight, with; intent to commit a crime, was remanded until Friday next. ••• Charles Edward Dumper, deemed to bi an idle and disorderly person in that he had insufficient lawfid means of support, was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. • \ .--• • \ . ' Thomas Bromley was. convicted on a charge of drunkenness, and was fined JOs, or 48 v hours' / imprisonment. j Andrew Lewis, for a similar offence, was fined ss, or 24 hours' imprisonment.