RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20, 7 December 1861, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURT.

(Before J. H. Harris, Esq., P.M.) Thursday, sth December. John Aiken a d William Stevens were each | fined 20s. for being drunk. Mary Ana Robinson ; for using obscene language, was fined 30s. ; the I prisoner is a most incorrigible offender and her ,'conduct" on. this occasion was most violent. [ Thomas Stapleton formerly a member of the ; detective force was charged by detective Tuckwell with obtaining money on faise pretences. Win. Phee, on oath, deposed, that Stapleton came to Shim and informed him that there was an informjation for sly grog selling laid against him, and that Ibe represented himself as authorised by the informers to compromise the matter, and that he then gave him several sums of mony for the purpose of entrapping him as he knew quite well that the information could not be withdrawn. P. Cahill, the constable who had laid the information against Phee, swore that he had never given tile prisoner any authority to treat for the with- ; drawal of the information ; but he once met Staple{ton in the street, and he told him that he and Mr. Cracken (the other constable) would each get £10 land a free- passage if they would not press the 'case, and that he replied he would only take the 1 money for the purpose of reporting it • immediately after he went and told the Commissioner of ■Police about it. The case was remanded for a day.

Friday, 6th Deo. J. Greg and Wrn. Lunday were each fined 20s for being drunk.

Wm. Bridgman. of the Provincial Hotel, was fined £2, for permitting spirits to be sold in his licensed house after seven o'clock on a Sunday

evening.

Wm Craig was charges! by David Dickie (Deputy Harbour-master) with removing stones from the beach, before high-water mark ; a similar charge was laid against Wm. Reid, and in each case the fine of 55., and 7s. 6d. costs, was inflicted. /

Wm. 'Raid, for suffering a quantity of timber to overhang his cart when driving through the town, was fined 55., and costs.

P. Murray, for leaving a horse unattended to, was lined ss.

Messrs. Jones and Williamson, for throwing rubbish on the street, were fined 55., and 3s. costs.

1 Reginald Julius was charged with furious riding within the town. Mr. Kenyon appeared for the defendant, and contended that trotting was not furious riding, within the meaning of the act, and that in England many decisions to this effect had been given. He was fined ss.

Geo. Eldershaw, for le-wing his horse and carriage unattended to, was fined 2s. 6d.

HOTEL LIFE IN DUNE3JIW. .Captw Greig appeared to answer the demand of Henry Noding, proprietor of" the Albion Hotel, for damages sustained by the breaking1 in of a door. Mr. South appeared for plaintiff, and having briefly stated the ease, called Henry Noding,, who said that the defendant used to be very noisy, playing leap frog and other improper games in the parlour, and that in consequence of defendant's conduct he gave him notice to leave on ths Saturday night, that defendant refused to go on Sunday morning, and threatened to horsewhip him ; that he then ordered the house-maid to lock Mr. Greig's room-door, and pat his things outside. Defendant had abased him the previous evening, for refusing to sell any more grog after 10 o'clock, and he got a round robin from several of the lodgers—demanding wine after he had refused to give any on the Sunday evening, as it was after 7 o'clock. The defendant then became very violent and burst in the bedroom door. He used to be very familiar with the servants. Janet Ferguson, the housemaid at the Albion, said she had locked the door of Captain Greig's room in obedience to her master's orders ; that she heard a noise/ and Oapt. Greig came and told he had broken in the door. The Captain had used very violent and bad language towards her master, but she did not hear him; return again* had never been very familiar with her. William Reid, the boots, had been sent for a policeman by his master, as'

Craig was creating a disturbance ; he had threatened to horsewhip him, and used had language. He did not hear his master use any j he had only said he was a low-lived seaman. Dr. Foster said the defendant had always behaved himself properly while he lodged at the Albion, lie had never heard him nse any improper lan* gnage. Mr. Nod ing's conduct was not what the conduct of a host should he. He had ouee mentioned Capt. Craig's noisy conduct to Mr. Noding, but not exactly as a complaint. Mr Falconer Lark worthy eaid Mr. Nod ing was not a man he would like to live long with. On the night in question he had refused to give the lodgers their own wine. Capt. Craig was of a happy dis* [position, He had not been in the room ail the leaning, but lie hud heard Noding call Capt, Craig a blackguard, low hound, &c. They were all sober at the time.

Capt. Craig said he thought Mr..Noding .was mnd ; his conduct was most insane.

His Worship thought if any one was insane, it was hirnsrif, as his conduct was most violent and unjustifiable, and he still seemed under the effects of excitement.

Capt. Craig said he was not well, —his feet were damp,—and he had on a pair of new boots, which hurt his feet.

Judgment was given for Plaintiff, for the sum of £i t which he said'he thought would cover the damages.