CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9336, 29 January 1892, Page 3

CITY POLICE COURT.

Thursday, Jamtary 28. : (Before Mr E. H. Carew, R.M., and Mr R. Wilson, J.P.) Drunk axd Disorderly. - William Henry learsonwas charged with being disorderly while drunk in Princes street.—Accused, who had 23 previous convictions recorded against him, was fined 208, or three days' imprisonment. The Industrial Schools Act.—Mary Ann (IU years), Wilhelmina (10 years), Harry (5 years), Christina (4 years), and Edith Niven (2 years) were brought before the court as destitute children within the meaning of the Industrial Schools Act.—Sergeant-major Bevin said that thefather of these children had deserted them some three year* ago. The mother was in the Benevolent Institution.and the Benevolent Trustees had recommended that the children be brought before his Worship in order that they might be committed to the Industrial School.—The children were committed to the Industrial School, to be brought up in the Presbyterian form of religion. (Before Mr E. H. Carew, R.M.)

Affiliation.—George M'Beath was charged with failing to support the illegitimate child of Margaret Topping of which ho was the putative father.—Defendant, for whom Mr D. D. Macdonald appeared, pleaded not guilty; Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared for the plaintiff.—This partly heard case was now .resumed.—Margaret Topping was further cross-examined by Mr Macdonald.— Isabella Topping, sister of the complainant, gave evidence that she told Mr M'Beath that George had given her sister L 4. She did not remember telling Mr M'Beath that she knew nothing about the L 4 but what her sister had told her.—Reexamined : Witness always called the defendant George, and her sister likewise addressed him by his Christian name.—Alice Gibbins and Margaret Campbell were also called. The latter stated that she was the mother of the complainant, and gave evidence of interviews held between herself and Mr M'Beath, son., in reference to the case. —This concluded the case for the prosecution.—Mr Macdonald having addressed the court for the defence, called William M'Beath, draper, carrying on business, who stated that his son George was defendant in the case. Witness was about to call evidence as to his character, when Mr Hanlon objected. The characterof the accused hadneverbeen challenged, and consequently evidence as to good character was unnecessary.—Mr Macdonald stated that evidence as to character could not be objected to.—Mr Hanlon, however, said he would object. He had no doubt that accused was an exemplary young man, and if he were guilty he had only made a mistake that many others had also made before.—(Applause from the body of the court.)— His Worship ruled that as there was a likelihood of a conflict of testimony, evidence as to the defendant's truthfulness could be called.—Witness then went on to say that the young man was very truthful, and he had never known him to tell a lie in his life. He also kept good hours, always being in about 9 o'clock, and some nights never going out at all—George M'Beath, defendant in the rase was then called. He said lie worked at Bine, Harris, and C'n.'s. Hcgave evidence at great length, the sum and substance of which was a total denial of the complainant's statement that he had

intimacies with her. He .said that he only spoke to her on three occasions, and he was accosted by her each time. He swore positively that he never kept company with her, and gave it as his opinion that the case wi3 a trumped up one. to injure him.—John Morrison, of Wellington, also gave evidence, after which tiie case was adjourned for a -week.