CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8919, 25 September 1890, Page 4

CITY POLICE COURT.

Wkonbsdat, September 24.

(Before Messrs J. Elmer and E. Eutherford, J.P's.) Dbunkbs_ness.—A first offender was convicted and discharged; Timothy Byrne, with a record of 36 previous convictions, was sentenced to two mouths' imprisonment; and Walter Henry waa fined ss, or 24 hours.

OnsTBUOTiNfI the PotlCK.—Lawrence Wilkinson waa charged wiih obstructing Constable William Fouhy while in the execution of his duty in Manor street on the 24th Inst.— Constable Fouhy aaid that at 1.30 on Wednesday morning he arrested Walter Henry for drunkenness. Acoused caught him by tbe collar. Henry got away through the reslstarre of accused. Witness then arrested accused and took him to the lookup, and afterwards Heury was arrested.—lnspector Moore Baid that these ceaes had been very frequent of late, and the police bad great trouble In arresting prisoner.—Fined ss, or 24 hours' Imprisonment. Wilful Dajiaqk.—William Zeaman was charged wfth wilfully breaking a pane of glass, valued at 355, the property of Alfred Short, of the Prince of Wales Hotel.—Accused, who pleaded guilty, waa fined ss, and ordered to pay for the damage done. Biotous Conduct.—Elizabeth Evans waß oharged with beiug a common prostitute, and with behaving in a riotous and indecent manner in Princes street at 10.15 p.m. on the 23rd inßt.—Constable Gray said thßt he arrested the accused, who waa behaving ln a most disgraceful manner, and while on the way to the police station her language was very had.—Sentenced to a month's imprisonment withhard labour.

Provoking a Bbeaoh oif the Pbace.—George M'Keown was charged with behaving in a manner calculated to provoke a breach of the peace at the cross wharf on the 23rd Inst. MrD. D. Macdonald appeared for accused.—Oonstable Carmody aaid that ho was going down towards the wharf ho saw a constable In front with three men, and when at the cross wharf he heard r.ccused call out Beveral time

•' Throw him ovor." Thorn was a good deal of hooting and groaning going on at the time.—Constable Latimer said that ho was watchhouse-keeper yesd&v. and accused admitted having said

" Throw him over the wharf," stating that he dtd not think there was any harm in what he had said.—Sergeant-major Bevin said tliat he was on the cross wharf going down to the Te Anau, and whoa a few paces behind the crowd be heard several ycung fellows calling out to tho man going with Constable Cooney " Chuck him over tho wliarf." Alter acoused w«s arrested he admitted making use o! the words, as he heard otheri calling out. There was a good deal of excitement at the time, and had net tho man going to the Te Anau been escorted by a couiitabin he would have beon illtreated. The orowd wore following and hooting.—lnspector Moore proceeded t.<* aak some questions about the general conduct of crowds at the wbßrf, when Mr Macdonald objected.—Mr Butherfnrd eaid it did not mutter, as he would not piy the slightest attention to what was said.—Mr Macdonald submitted that no offence had been committed. He was told that the cause of all the disturbance was that one of the men going down to the wharl had drawn a revolver. Aocused waa 20 or 30 yards behind at tbe time. Ho admitted tbat there was a certain amount of animus at the present time. This man was out on itrlke. and had been a stewarl on one of the boaf.B. He (Mr Macdonald) did not deny that his client called out " Dump him on the wharf." He did it knowing that the police were near at hand, and admitted using the laDguage complained of, and he could not ace that any offence had been committed.—lnspector Moore said thatthe revolver waa in the hands of a constable.—Richard West said that ho saw a crowd following the constable down to the wharf. He was in company with accused, and heard him oall out "Dump him on the wharf." He saw a young fellow draw a revolver and point it at the crowd, becauie they were calling out and hunting at him. It wns then that acoused called out.—The Bench said that thoy were of opinion tint there was not sufficient evidence to convict accused. The charge wonld bo dismissed. ' lifciTino to Besist the Policb.—Geo. M'Keown wns further charged with inciting a numberfof persons to obstruct Constable Cooney while In the execntlon of his duty at Battray street wharf on the 2Srd Inst.- Constable Cooney said that as he wai escorting a man down to tbe wharf, he heard accused call out, " Shove him overthe wharf." The revolver mentioned was taken from a youDg man when near the New Zealand Insurance buildings, and hauded to witness.—lnspector Moore asked for n remand till to-morrow, for the production bf further evidence. -Mr Macdonald objectt-d. He admitted the evidence In the previous charge. The last charge was a farce; and the more serious oharge of resisting lhe police was a worse farce. He considered that the action of the police was disgraceful, anil submitted that this ohirge also should be dismissed.—The case was dismissed.