CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10311, 19 March 1895, Page 8

CITY POLICE COURT.

Monday, Maucii 18.

(Bofora Messrs J. 8,. Thomson and J. Carroll,

Drunkenness, —A first offender was convicted and discharged. : Vagrancy. — James Blue was charged with being an idle and disorderly parson, and with having insufficient lawful means of support.—Mr Hanlon appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty.—Detective M'Grath gave evidence aa to accused's mode of life. He stated that he had dono little or no work for the last four or fiva months. He was the associate of thieves, and one of his companions, a'reputed thief, was sentenced a week ago to three months' imprisonment for vagrancy. Blue was suspected further of being concerned in several robberies which had recently taken place in tbe city. Ho was before the court for vagrancy on the Uth of last month, but was acquitted. —Mr Hanlon: And because he is suspected of these robberies you bring him up now for vagrancy.—Detective M'Grath : I am quite convinced that if he had been sent to Raol some of those offences would never have been committed. He certainly does not earn his living honestly. That he is suspected of some of these robberies is certainly one of the reasons why he is here to-day.—Air Hanlon: And you can't sheet them home to him.—Detective M'Grath : No. If vagrancy is suppressed, cerious crimes are prevented. —Constable Coenoy gave evidence that accused wws brought before the court on February« 11 for vagrancy, but was acquitted. Accused had since been in Wellington for ton days.—Chief Detective O'Connor deposed that on Satnrday night he and Detective M Grath arrested a wonrnn and her two children for larceny. They were followed to the police station by a great crowd, and on the way Detective M'Grath was struck on the back by a stone. Witness turned round sharply and saw accused running away. He followed him and arrested him.—Mr Hanlon spoko at some length for tho defonce. He submitted that the police shonld only bavo gone back to the date of the last case, and since that date there was no evidence whatever to convict him of vasrancy.

In regard to the suspicions of his having been guilty of robberies, if. a man were going to be sent to gaol, because he wai suspected of au # offenco which could not be proved against him, there was aa end of their British fair play and juatice.—Defendant cove evidence that he had tried to obtain work here an<l In Wellington, calling at Several registry office^.—ln answer to Chief Detectlvo O'Connor, he tnid that he diil not leave his name at these places.—Accused was convicted, and sentenced to I'J days' imprisonment.

Assaulting the Police.—James Blue was then charged with assaulting Detective M'Grath while ho was arresting a woman on Saturday night by throwing a stone at him.—Mr Hanlon appeared fur the accused, who pleaded not guilty.—Chief Detective O'Connor aaid that tha police expected to get a witness who actually saw tho accused throw tho stone, and asked for a remand until Thursday, which was granted, Mr Hanlon—who wished a remand for a week, or until Friday or Saturday—strongly objecting. A Semous CHAtiaß. — A respectable looking woman namod Martha Ireland, and her two daughters Sarah and Martha, of about the ages of 111 and 11 respectively, were charged with stealing two pairs of boots, valued at £2, tho property of Jjimon. Brou.—'iho woman was further charged with stealing four paira of"shoes, ono pair. of lace-up boots, and a pair of Blippers, the property of Borne persona unknown,—On tho application of the police, the accused were remanded till Friday next.