CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10625, 21 March 1896, Page 8

CITY POLICE COURT.

Thursday March 19. (Before Mr E. H. Carew, S.M.)

Drunkenness.—James M'Nulty, who had not been up for fivo years, was fined ss, in default 2-1 nouis' imprisonment.

Tueft.—Marian and Rnbertina Henderson were charged with stealing a teapot, on the 14th inst., valued at 3s 6d, the property of Joseph Braithwaite.—Mr Galkway appeared for the accused, nud pleadfd not guilty.—Sergeant O'Neill stated that on Saturday evening last, about S o'clock, both the accused were in Mr Braithwaite'* shop, and wers seen by the saleswoman (Miss Hutton) to take a teapot off the shelf. The mother handed it to the daughter, who placed it under her shawl. A second or two later they moved away, and went into the book and stationery departm-nt. Miss Hnttpn saw Mr Braithwaite, and he spoke to the accused, and took the teapot from them. The mother said she had bought it from a boy in the shop, and paid for it. The boy on being called denied that he had told it. The woman then offered to pay for it, and wanted to go home, but was taken into custody.—Evidence having been given by Kate Hutton, Joseph Braithwaite, Charles Helwington, and Percy Braithwaite, Mr Gallaway said that as he was instructed Mrs Henderson and her daughter went shopping with thn intention of purchasing a teapot and some other things. Mrs Henderson selected a teapot, and gave it to her daughter and told her to pay for it. They then went to the bookstall to purchase some books, when Mr Braithwaite accosted her. The daughter was an extremely forgetful and stupid girl. Mrs Henderson was a respectable woman and a woman of some property, and he submitted that it was extremely unlikely that she would commit such a theft. He called Mrs Henderson, her daughter (Robertina), whose age was stated to be 14 years, and was about to call evidence as to character, when Ms Worship said that there was no doubt in his mind that the mother stole the teapot. He would dismiss the case against the daughter as <he was under the influence of the mother, and Mr Gallaway could call evideoce with regard to the character of the mother.—Dr Fulton, Donald Campbell, Isabella Dawson, and John M'Gregor gave evidence as to character, after which (Mr Gallaway having pointed out that it would hardly do to send this woman, who was the mother of 10 children, to gaol) his Worship decided to convict, and ordered accused to enter into her own recognisance of £10 and to find a surety of £10 that ahe would come up when called on.

lotustiual Schoois Act.—Evelyn Johnston 0.3 years) was brought before the court under this act.—Sergeant O'Neill said the girl was an orphan. She had no relatives, and had been kept by some friends since the death of her parents.—Committed to St. Mary's. Nelson, the cost of the passage to be defrayed by the St. Vincent de Paul Society. William Davis, an infant in arras, was also brought before the court under the °ame act.— Serjeant O"Neill said the child was illegitimate, nnd was born in the Benevolent Home. The mother had been an inmate of the Industrial School, and was sent out to service in the country, and while there got into trouble. She could not say who tha father of the child was.—Committed to the Caversham Industrial School, to be brought up in the Presbyterian form of faith. William James Stephens (nine years) was also charged.— Sergeant O'Neill said the motlwr was a widow, and had four children besides this lad. She was in very poor circumstances, and received aid from the Benevolent Institution, and promised not to claim so niach if the child was admitted to the school.—Committed to the Caversham School, to be brought up in the Baptist form of religion. Illegitimacy.—William Elder was charged with failing to comply with an order to contribute towards the support of an illegitimate child.— Sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment, in. .Wauiftnai.GaoU with hard labßui,