CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10562, 8 January 1896, Page 4

CITY POLICE COURT.

January 7. • (Before Messr3 G. Fenwick and G. P. Farquhar, i J.Fs) i Drunkenness.—Wiiliain J. Tellett wasfineclus in default 24 hours' imprisonment. Driving Horses Tiinouoti Caversham.— TJiomas M'Cftrtuy pleade.l not guilty to a charge of driving a tiioli of horses through Cuvershara about 8 o'clock p. m.oa theSSth December.—lt was poiuted out that the hours fixed by the by-lawa for driving cattle through the borough wera between 10 p.m. and 7 am —Evideocs w« Riven by Constable Brenuau and John M'Gonigal to the effect that defendant and another man drove ar mob of some 20 horses along the main ro*ii. They were proceeding at a good pace when the horseii broke loose and scattered.—Defendant coiled evidence to show that it was the practice to drive hones about that hour through the borough, and be had done so for years, no complaints ever l>2in>; made.—William H«stte, formerly connected with ths tramway stables, said he had driven horses for yearn at that hour of the night and was never interfered with.—S. G. Smith, contractor foe the haulage of the city tramways, stated that defendant had been in his employ for eight years, during which time it Viart been the habit to send the horses into the paddocks about the hour mentioned. The practice of driving cattle outside of the hours lixed by the by-laws was widespread. A mob ot young colts from the s.s. Talnne were driven through Cwerßham and nothing was said of it, uDd he did not see why he should be singled out for prosecution.—Sergeant O'Neill: You're not the defendant, Mr Smith.—Witness: But I'll have to pay the tine.—Sergeant O'Neill added that defendant had ■ previously been cautioned about the matter.—Mr feu wick observed that two wrong! did not make a rit;ht. The offence was practically admitted, and the defendant acknowledged that he had been cautioned about Hie matter. A line of 2s 6d and costs would be inflicted. ■ Wholesale False Pretkncf.s. — William Stowy, a middle-aged man, was charge! wuh attempting to obtain £i 17s by f.ilse pretences from fhomai S. Poole.—Chiet Detective O'Connor having stated the facts of the c»fc, called Williiin Mitchell, a grocer livins: at North-G'issValL-y, who said on December 24 accused came into hi-; shop and asked him for a blank chi.-n.ue. Witness (rive it to him and he saw him filling it in — Thomas S. Pojlc, hairdresser, carrying on business in the Arcade, st»tod that accused an the 24th of December came into his shop to pay a smart account of 3s. He, presented a cheque for £5, and asked witness to deduct the amount owing and hand to him the balance. Witne3S, taking the cheque, told him he would keep it, and if he like 1 he could go for the police. He told him he would not give it to him back unless he paid him his account, and if he did not do that the cheque would be handed over to the police. On M-'nduy, the 30th, witness and a' detective presents it to the bank, and it was returned marked " No account." — In reply to the accused, witness repeated hia former statement that he (accused) presented the cheque in payment of lib account. Witness did not take it from him before he'presented it. Immediately he hsd the cheque he said to accused, " As soon as you pay me the money I will give you the cheque and if you don't 1 will hand it over to the police."—J. 11. Blacke, clerk in the Bank of Austral&yia, .«airt the cheque was presented, and returned nwrked "no account" It was sisned "C. Stewart," and there was no account in that name at the bank.—Constable Cooney deposed that he arrested the accused, who made iv> statement.—Accused asked for a remand for two day* to prepare bis defence.—The police pointed our, that he had been in gaol for a week, and if he wished to communicate with a solicitor he could hays done so. He wrote to the Rev. llr Hood, but got no an* war. —The Bench decided that a strong case had been made out. Accused would be committed for trial. Accused was then charged with attempting to obtain a watch and chain from Jas. Dawson, on December £4, by false pretences. The facts of this case were that accused went to Mr Dawsoa's shop on the 24th of December in compiny with another him. The latter observed that accused had £270 in the bauk, but accused corrected this statement, and said it was only £170. Accused said lie wished to buy a watch and chain, :md selected a watch valued at £2 and a chain .valued at £1. He presented a cUtqne for £5, signed "0. Stewart," in payment, but Mr Dawson not liking the look of either th-< man or the cheque telephoned to this hank, and found that there win no account in that n»ino. Mr Dawson, therefore, refused to allow the watch and chain to go out of the shop, and the men went away, accused taking hi 3 ebeque (which, was the same one he got from Mr Mitchell) with him.—Accused was committed for trial. A further charge was preferred against him of attempting To obtain a watch and chain valued £215s aud £2 5s in money from John Goldstein.—The latter stated thi\t the cheque was for £5 5s and signed " Ohiis. Stewart."—As the police could not produce the chequs permission to withdraw the charge was obcaiued from the bench. Accused was then charged with obtaining £4 Ins in mosey from John Wiliam Oummings by false pretences—The facts'of this case were that ou December 21, about hdlf-pa-t 9 in the evening, accused «nd another man went into Mr Cumminus's Caledonian Hotel, in the north end of tin city, and called for two beeis. Accused threw down a cheque fir £9 15s, and said, "Can you change thin?" Mr Oummingi remarked that be had not sufficient money. He paid him £4 las, however, aud gave him an 1.0. U. far the balance, telling him to cill un the following Monday for the mouey. When the cheque, wuich was signed " C. Stewart," was presented at the Union Bank of Australia it was found that accused had no account there.—The Bench expressed its surprise at Sir Cumrain^s cashing a cheque for £9 15s'for two threepenny beers in such ■mi oil'-hund fashiou. tie not only lost his money by hi-i foolish action but also put the country to expense.—Mr Cuimc.mas stated that he was very busy that night, and did the tiling quickly No doubt it was a very foolish act.—Formal evidence having been given accused was committed for trial.