CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4723, 7 April 1877, Page 1 (Supplement)

CITY POLICE COURT.

Fkiday, Oth Apkil. (Before I. N. Watt, Esq., K,M.

DuuNKENJJESS.—Lawrence O'Conneli, William Lansdowne, and William Hamilton, were each fined cs, or in default, the usual alternative. Frederick Phillips and Bridget Lynch were discharged with a caution.

Breach ov the Licensing Ordinance.— Timothy Hayes was charged with having sold a shilling's worth of beer ou Sunday kst to a peison not being a lodger or bonajide traveller. The evidence was simply to the effect that the defendant's servant, who occasionally attended to the bar, sold the beer to a lad residing at Kensington.—Mr Denniston, for the defence, contended that the information must be dismissed, because it was not shown that the defendant was the holder of a publican's license ; and further, that it must be shown that the servant was acting under the defendant's instructions. — His Worship held the first objection fatal, and dismissed the case. Breach of the Peace.—John Thomson and Eobert M'Cutcheon were charged with fighting on the main road near Saddle Hill, on the sth March last.—Wm. Martin, J.P., deposed that he saw part of the occurrence, and requested the defendant Thomson, who was a cab driver, to drive on, and that he refused to do so.— George Logan deposed to having seen Thomson strike the other defendant. M'Cutcheon pleaded that he was intoxicated at the time.— Thomson deposed that on the day in question he was engaged to drive M'Cutcheon, two other men named Johnston, and two young ladies co the Taieri,. A dispute arose, and one of the passengers struck at another. Witness stopped tho cab, and M'Cutcheon got off and dragged one of the Johnson's from the car. They then had a bit of a set to on the road, witness tried to stop it, and told M'Cutcheon that he was not in a state for fighting. Mr Martin came up and insisted that witness should drive away, but he refused to comply, asking how he was entitled to authorise him to do so. Mr Martin replied that he was a J.P. Witness then got the passengers with the exception of M'Cutcheon into the car, and drove away towards the Taieri.—The further hearing of the case was adjourned till Tuesday, for the production of evidence on behalf of Thomson.

Trespass.—Wm. Brown was charged with having cut down a tree on the Town Belt on March 28th.—The tree was stated to have been a very interesting one. The defendant was fined 20s, and costs.