RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4208, 15 September 1874, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Monday, September 11. (Before J. C. Crawford, Esq., E.M.) vagrancy. Mary Ann Mason was charged under clause I of the Vagrant Act with keeping a house, the resort of persons having no lawful visible means of support, and of prostitutes. Evidence was given by Sergeant Ready and Constable Cummins to the effect that the House was notorious for its ill-fame, and had become a perfect nuisance to the neighborhood; and that persons of the very lowest type and worst characters of the town were nightly congregated there. Rows and fights were of frequent occurrence j anA the oaths and yells of women, mingled with the terrified screams of children, made the place a perfect cause of alarm to the neighbors, who had frequently complained to the police ; the latter had repeatedly warned the defendant, butjwithout effecting any abatement of the nuisance. The woman made a long rambling statement, in which she denied what the police officers had said. His Worship remarked that , the case was a very bad one indeed, and that the house was too great a nuisance to be any longer permitted. He then committed the accused to gaol for three months with Hard labor. Elizabeth Greig was then charged under the same clause ; being found living in the house in company with a man named Morgan, who was described by the police as the greatest loafer and blackguard in Wellington. The rooms were said to be in a most miserable state, and a number of children belonging to both the women accused, were in a most pitiable condition. The accused was sent to gaol for seven days with hard labor. The man Morgan was then charged "with a similar offence. The police stated that he had been living in the den for some months past, and had been in the habit of taking drunken sailors there. Constable Can-oil also stated that on going to the house one night the man Morgan came out, and after bandying words for a short time, drew a knife, and said, “It would serve you right if you had this in. you.” The prisoner was sent to gaol for seven days, with hard labor. DRUNKENNESS AND ASSAULT. Charles Monaghan and John George, two very respectable looking men, were charged with being drunk and assaulting the police. Mr. Allen appeared for the prisoners. Constable Gray sworn, stated : About ten minutes past twelve on Saturday night I was: coming up the beach, leaving duty, when I saw Monaghan coming down near Warburton’s. I told him “ to square himself up a bit,” and see if he couldn’t walk straight. He asked me what business I had to interfere, and asked my name. I said I would give my name if he would give me his, to which he replied that he would not. I then said I should arrest him for being drunk. George then came along and stopped, exclaiming, “Hallo! Charley, what’ the matter?” and on being told asked me to let Monaghan go. I refused, and he then “hauled off and struck me in the mouth.” Constabl Stuart then came up and we took both the men into custody. By Mr. Allen: Monaghan was walking home, and not making any noise. He did not say that if I wanted his name he weuld give it. Nobody else spoke to me at the time. Constable Stuart sworn, stated : Constable Gray wanted the prisoner Monaghan’s name, I saw Monaghan strike Gray in the teeth. I then arrested him. By Mr. Allen: I was going down when this occurred. George had come up when Constable Gray was asking Monaghan’s name, and thought to take Monaghan away. I did not assault George. Henry Hudson, sworn, stated : I was coming along the Beach late on Saturday night, and saw Gray and Monaghan ; the constable asking the latter’s name. I saw Monaghan strike Gray in the mouth ; when it happened the other constable arrested him. It was a fine night, and the moon was shining brightly. (Great laughter.) I had only had three glasses of ale that night. I did not see a policeman strike either man. I did not see George strike the constable. Gray is an acquaintance of mine. I told a man named Fox, who was there, that Gray was a friend of mine. Neither Fox nor I said anything while the row was going on. X heard George say, “ Let Monaghan go ; I’U be answerable for any complaint.” Constable. Gray, re-called : It was George that hit me. Monaghan made a blow, but did not reach me. Mr. Allan then addressed the Bench, saying that if Monaghan had been allowed to go, there would not have been any disturbance. He had probably taken a glass too much, but was .'going along quietly, and not making any noise, when he was suddenly accosted by the policeman. The evidence was very confused and conflicting. The witness Hudson had given his evidence in a very curious manner. For the defence, he called John George, who, being sworn, stated : On Saturday, about midnight, I was coming along the Beach, when I saw Monaghan in conversation with a policeman. I asked what it meant. Gray then came up to me and said, “I’ve got my eye on you ; you’re the b y fighting bully from the Times office.” I said “ I’ve got nothing to do with the Times." I then received a blow on the face. I did not see Monaghan strike either of the police. We were then handcuffed. I did not hear Monaghan abusive. He was not drunk. I had said that I would he answerable for him if he was allowed to come with me. The police, however, refused. To Constable Gray ; I don’t think I struck you. You struck me. Re-examined ; If I struck at all it was in self-defence. Charles Fox, sworn, stated : On Saturday night I saw Monaghan with two policemen ; one was asking his name. He gave it. I then went up and said his name was Monaghan, and also told them where he worked, George then came up and asked what the row was about ; and said he would be responsible for Monagban if he was allowed to go. The constable then said “No, I know you, you , you’ve from the Times." Gray then stepped back and hit Monaghan in the face, saying “ Come out you —Monaghan then hit Gray. The other constable then darted out and said, “ I saw you strike the policeman.” I wanted them to let Monaghan go with me. Constable Gray then hit George deliberately in the mouth twice, and then took him away. I then said to Hudson “ This is not honest and fair. I shall go down and give evidence.” He said, “ If yon do, I’ll go and swear against you ; Gray is a chum of mine.” The policeman appeared to be drunk. I swear that Monaghan did not strike until he was hit. Both prisoners were quiet and civil. His Worship said the evidence was so contradictory that it was impossible to come to any conclusion in the matter. He would give the accused the benefit of the doubt and dismiss the case. STEALING FROM THE PERSON. Catherine Palmer was charged with stealing the sum of £BO, in £1 notes, from a Maori named Tapa te Whata, on the 13th instant. Tapa te Wata, sworn, stated through the interpreter : On Thursday last I received a cheque for £IOO from the Government, which I cashed at the Bank of New Zealand, receiving the amount in £1 notes. I divided the money, keeping out £2O for use, and tied the balance up in a handkerchief, which I put in my inside breast pocket. On Saturday night I was at Mclntosh’s Hotel for a long time, during part of which I was in the bar. I saw the prisoner there in front of the bar. Part of the time I was- in a room. When in the hotel I felt for my money, the £BO, and looked at it, finding it all safe. I might have taken it out when I was drunk. I left to go home at twelve o'clock. The prisoner was put out also. I went towards Te Aro pa. The prisoner went in the same direction, with others, including a man named Murthell. 'When I got near the pa the woman took hold of me, and was feeling my clothes—my coat was open at the time—and she felt me for some time, and then moved away. I was not sober. I heard Murthell say, “Maori, money.” After the woman had gone I felt in my pockets, and missed the money ; it was wrapped in a white

pocket handkerchief, which had a stain of blood on it. T To prisoner : You asked me for beer. 1 afterwards offered you some. I did not offer you a ring and two £1 notes to go outside "With me, but I missed the ring and asked for it. You took a brooch and a ring from me in the public-house. X did not offer you money to go outside, nor did I ask you to go to the pa with me. John Murthell, sworn, stated: I was at Mclntosh’s hotel on Saturday night about half-past elo mi. I saw the Maori Tapa te W hata, who was the worse for drink, pull out from his breast coat pocket a handkerchief containing notes. I saw the prisoner in the bar. I left shortly afterwards and went to the Royal Oak Hotel. I waited there for some one. About twelve o’clock I saw the Maori come up without a hat. I told him he had better go home. He started towards the pa, and overtook a man who had been with him previously ; the man took him by the hand and led him on. I saw the man several times try to put his hand into the Maori’s pocket. I .was following them. I turned round and saw the prisoner about three yards behind. The European turned round and said to her, “Go on, Maggie, I can’t manage it.” She then walked up to the Maori and asked him to take her to the pa, putting her right arm under his left and round his back ; she then put her left hand into his breast coat pocket, and took out a pocket handkerchief, rolled up, which I recognised as the same one—taken out of the same pocket-r-as I saw the Maori take out at Mclntosh’s, ■with the notes in. She then put her hand containing the parcel behind her back, and the man came up apparently to take it. I rushed up and caught hold of him by the arm, and gave him a wrench away from her ; he fell and I fell over him ; at the same time I called out to the Maori that the woman had robbed him. When I felt the woman jumped on my shoulders to keep me down. The man and I got up, and he ran away. I seized the woman by the arm, and said I should take her in charge for robbing the Maori. She struck at me, and I called for the police. I again told Tapa te Whata that the woman had robbed him. He put his hand into his pocket, and exclaimed “Yes, it’s gone.” When I called police, the woman said, “ Oh, young man, won’t you tajce the tip ? ” I said, “Yes, I’ll give the proper tip directly.” A sailor then came up, and I asked his assistance in taking the woman to the lock-up; but, instead of assisting me, he rushed and tried to break my hold, and struck me. I then went 9 to the station and got a constable. When we returned, the woman and sailor were standing together. This closed the case for the prosecution. The prisoner made a statement, saying that she did not take the money, but that Murthell took it out of the Maori’s pocket. She was then committed for trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court in Wellington.