RESIDENT MAGISTRATE S COURT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 780, 11 February 1887, Page 9

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE S COURT.

Monday, February 7. (Before Mr H. S. Wardell, R.M.) INDECENCY. Isabella Jane Elley and Thomas Knott were charged with behaving themselves in an indecent manner on Sunday forenoon within view of passers-by. The offence was proved by Mr Joseph Saunders, and each of the accused were sent to gaol for one month. STOW-AWAYS. Thomas Jones, Charles Brown, John Collins, and Thomas Patterson were charged with obtaining a passage surreptitiously on board the Wakatipu from Sydney. Accused pleaded guilty. Mr Bell, Crown Prosecutor, said the offence was a very serious one, and

pointed out that under the provisions of the Public Health Act it was necessary that every passenger should be inspected before leaving Sydney. The four accused, Mr Bell said, had escaped such inspection, and deserved severe punishment. The accused denied that they had left before being examined by the doctor, asserting that°they had passed medical examination on the wharf before going on board. His Worship fined the aecused £5 each, or in default to be imprisoned for fourteen days. George Walters was charged with setting off a dangerous explosive, to wit, dynamite, at Newtown, on the 24th January. Mr Menteath appeared for tho accused, who pleaded not guilty. The evidence in this ca e was of a very contradictory nature. Kate Hoare stated that on the day in question she saw a man throw a lighted fuse on to Mr Wilson’s property. Immediately afterward saw Mr Tetley speaking to the accused. John Vare, who was called for the defence, stated that he heard a report at the time in question when the accused was talking to witness opposite the Newtown School. Witness thought that Tetley was doing his best to get up a case against Walters because they were not good friends. His Worship dismissed the information without comment.

EVADING A PROHIBITION ORDER. Alfred Morgan was charged with procuring liquor for one Henry Thomas Price, who had a prohibition order issued against him. Accused said he was a perfect stranger. Was not aware of the facts. His Worship fined him 40s and costs. ASSAULTS. W. H. Thompson, landlord of the Albion Hotel, was charged with assaulting John C. Eugen on the morning of the Ist instant. Mr Shaw appeared for the complninant and Mr Gully for the defendant. From the evidence it appeared that the complainant, with some other people, were throwing dice for drinks. A person named Manthell then commenced to play “ hazard ” with La man named Dunn. The defendant Thompson took a shilling out of the pool, and complainant left. He returned again when a row took place. Defendant held witness’ arms and Dashed him out of the hotel, but not beforethe man Dunn had struck him in the face. George Manthell gave corroborative evidence. Thomas Taylor, James Wallace, and John MeCary gave evidence as to seeing Thompson endeavoring to get Eugen out of the premises. His Worship dismissed the information, with costs. EUGEN V. DUNN. The evidence in this case was similar to that given in the previous one. The accused pleaded not guilty, but the assault was clearly proved to his Worship’s satisfaction, who fined Dunn £5 and cost 3. The Court then adjourned.

Wednesday, February 9. (Before Mr H. S. Wardell, R.M.) AN OLD OFFENDER. Christina Lawßon, who has 24 convictions recorded against her, appeared to answer a charge of making use of obscene language in Woolcombe street on Tuesday, The offence was proved by E. Garvey, the Governor of the Gaol, and accused was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment. INDECENT EXPOSURE. John Chisnell, for indecent exposure, was sentenced to three months’ hard labor. FAILING TO SUPPORT HIS CHILDREN. James Gardener was summoned by Bridget Kennedy for refusing to support hiß two illegitimate children. The defendant did not appear, and his Worship made an order- for him to contribute 15s a week toward the children’s support. A PROHIBITION ORDER. On the information of Catherine Wilson, a prohibition order was issued against her husband, George Wilson, who was stated by complainant to have been drinking heavily for the past two years. The order was made to take effect in the Te Aro and Ceok Licensing districts. THE CHARGES AGAINST CRABTREE. The convict Crabtree was charged with having on the Ist instant broken into the house of John Knowles and stolen therefrom a quantity of jewellery, comprising rings, bracelets, watchguards, earrings, breastpins, and pocket knives, also several articles of clothing. Ellen Knowles and W. W. Knowles gave evidence as to the identification of the property found on prisoner. The latter witness estimated the value of the property stolen to be £3O. Detective Campbell was examined, and gave evidence as to arresting the prisoner and finding/the property produced in his possession. Prisoner, who reserved his defence, was committed to take his trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court. The same prisoner was then charged with burglariously entering the house of R. <l. Gill, in Hawkstone-street, on the night of the 30th January last, and taking therefrom one magnifying glass, a cigar holder, straw hat, and macintosh coat. R. J. Gill the proprietor of the house in question, gave evidence as to having found a coarse red scarf under one of the windows. Several articles in the house had beeu shifted from their proper place, several door keys had been taken away, and the front door was found open in the morning. Witness identified the articles produced as his property, and deposed to their having been in the house on the night of the 30th January. Accused was committed for trial ou this charge also. The Court then adjourned.