CITY POLICE COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5558, 8 April 1905, Page 7

CITY POLICE COURT.

FRIDAY, APRIL 7. (Before Dr A. McArthur, S.M.) ON LICENSED PREMISES. / Arthur Jones and William James Gilchrist wore charged with having been found on the licensed promisee of the Oriental Hotel on April 2nd dnimg hours that such premises were required by law, to bo closed. Jones pleaded guiltv, and was fined 10s and 7s costs, in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. Gilchrist pleaded not guilty, and said that he left tho hotel shortly before midnight. Ho had gone to- tho premises about three-quarters of an hour before, and remained to see a bookmaker on commission business. Mr Wilford. wbo appeared for defendant, claimed that his client had a legitimate motive for hi-; action, and. under tho circumstances, had reasonable excuse for being on the premises after the hours prescribed tor closing.

His Worship said that a man. found on licensed premises must satisfy the Magistrate that he was not there in breach of tho provisions of the act. Gilchrist's explanation was not satisfactory. It was all fudge to talk about being there at twelve o'clock at night about a commission. He would not say it was perjury, but it was so near it that there was hardly any difference. Evidence was given by tho police that Gilchrist was seen on tho premises at a quarter past 1 o'clock on Sunday morning. Ho was fined 20s, and 7s costs, in default tiirco days’ imprisonment, AH,FRED PICKPOCKET WORK. Alfred McGrath, for whom Mr Wilford appeared, was charged—(l) with having on March JOtb ' t nlmi 7s 6d from the person of Herbert 1,. Hogg, and (2) with having on the same date ' attempted to steal from Reginald W. Kirkby. The evidence was that the money was stolen from Hogg's pocket in a crowd at, a circus ticket-box by a. man whom Hogg swore was accused. On tile first charge McGrath reserved his defence, and was remanded to tlio Supremo Court for trial. On tho second charge a dismissal was entered. Bail was allowed. ALLEGED THEFT. Edward Vaiser pleaded guilty to having stolen a suit of clothes, a pair of boots, and one tie-pin, to Dio value of £7. tho property of Hans Hanson. Evidence for the prosecution showed that Vaiser lived with Hansen, and when ho went away he took the outfit as described in the charge, and left his old clothes behind him. Joseph Handley. was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment for stealing a shovel, valued at ss, belonging to tho City Council. Ho was sentenced to seven days’ additional imprisonment for tho theft of two hammers, valued at 3s, tho property of Edwin Ellis. Joseph Stanton was charged with, tbo theft of eight umbrellas, valued at £3 10s, the property of ono W. Pago. The umbrellas wore sent from Napier to Wellington, and it was alleged that at tho Govevnment railway station, where accused unis working at tho time, eight were extracted from tho package. An umbrella, which accused sworo ho bought from a commercial traveller who lived with him, bub whoso ivhoreahouts at present wore unknown, was identified in Court as belonging to the package sent from Napier. The case for tho prosecution failed to establish itself to tho Magistrate, and was dismissed. Mr Wilford defended, billiArd-saloon frequenters. The case of Henry Peacock, charged with being tho occupier of premises (billiard-saloon, Manners street) which wore frequented by reputed thieves, was advanced another stage, and accused was convicted, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. In the meantime tho appeal against the Magistrate’s decision, that it is not necessary to prove that accused had knowledge of the character of those who frequented his saloon will be argued in the Supreme Oourt. When that is decided, Peacock will appear before tho lower Court again. OBSCENE AND INSULTING LANGUAGE. Herbert Hunter, described by the police as a bad ruffian, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for using obscene language in Taranaki street. Ho was given an additional month for resisting the arresting constable. Thomas Williams was fined 15s, and £1 7s costs, for using insulting language in Ghuzneo street, to a stranger in a street coffee-stall. UNSTAMPED AND FALSE WEIGHTS William Oleland, a grocer at the Taita, was fined XOs, and 7s costs, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment, for having three false weights in his possession. Gadsby Bros., butchers at tho Taita, were fined 10s, and 7s costs, for having eight unstamped weights in their possession, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. UNATTENDED VEHICLE. Bertie Duncan, for leaving a vehicle on the Queen’s Wharf unattended, was fined Is, and £)s costs, in default twentyfour hours’ imprisonment.