CRIMINAL STATISTICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10263, 22 January 1895, Page 3

CRIMINAL STATISTICS.

The following criminal statistics have been courteously supplied by the clerk of the Police Court, Mr Ralfe. The statistics only refer to cases occurring in the Dunedin district: —

For thß quarter ending 31st December: —Number of persons summoned 350, 6S of whom were discharged for the want of evidence or prosecution, 29 cases were dismissed on their merits, 19i parsons were summarily convicted, 14 committed for trial, 51 convicted and discharged, llevenue for the quarter, £108. Tha annual criminal returns are as follow :— Number of case 3 dealt with by the court 1733, of which 1355 were males and 353 females. Of these 289 males and 48 females were discharged fer want of evidence, &0., cases against 121 males and 16 females wera dismissed, st> males aud 1 female were committee! for trial, and 92S males and 266 females were convicted. Of the latter number 432 males aud <i(i females paid fines, 90 males and S3 females were imprisoned in lieu of fines, 74 males and 40 females were peremptorily imprisoned, whipping was ordered in the case of 4 males, 3 males were placed oo probation, 3 rubles and females were 'bound over to keep tile peace, orders of different descriptions wero made concerning 1-7 males aud 57 females, 205 males and 5!) females were convicted and discharged. The total number of cases dealt with during 18!)3 was 1710, lust year's numbers showing an increase of 28 cases.

Nature of Offences.—Of the cases that came before the court during the pist year 400 were c*ses of drunkenness, or a decrease of 82 as compared with ths previous year. The number of felonious offences against the person were 21 as against 17 for the previous year. Last year there were 45 cases of common assault as against 145, 26 cases of wilful damage of property as compared with 53,177 ea3«s of larcenies, &c. as against 158. 149 cases of breaches of by-laws as againat 135. During tbe year just ended there were also 89 charges laid under the Education Act re truant children as against 92 cases for the preceding year. Under the Destitute Persons Act there were 167 cases as against 117 (being an increase of 50), 46 idle and disorderly persons were charged as against 42, while 27 applications for prohibition orders were made aud 19 granted. There were 21 charges under the Licensing Act, and in 11 cases couvictions were recorded ; while for the previous year the figures were 25 cases and 15 convictions. The number of indigent children brought before the court was 32, of whom 24 were committed to the Industrial School; while during the preceding ; year 40 children were brought, before the court and 35 committed to the Industrial School. During the past year 24 charges were laid under the Shops and Shop Assistants Act, convictions being recorded in each instance.

Mr Edward Moore, of Hastings, H. 8., took a dose of carbolic acid oa the sth inst. in miatnke for brandy, and died from the effects. At the inquest a verdict o£ "Accidental poisoniug "was returned.