CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11044, 23 February 1898, Page 4

CITY POLICE COURT.

Tuesday, February 22. (Before Messrs J. N. Brown and G. F. Burgess, J.P's.) •

Drunkenness.—Ellen Finnegan (who cams within the habitual clauses of the act) was sen, fenced to two months' imprisonment; a first offender (a boy about 17 years of age) was convicted and discharged; James Andrew Forsyth was convicted of being druuk arid disorderly in Hiffh street and was discharged Fighting in the Streets.—Two younsc men named Andruw Anderson Simpson and Edward Inrner were convicted of committing a breach of the peace by fighting in Stafford street on February 21, and each was fined 5j l l ,^h LEr D I TH? f M-~GeorKe and Margaret Bain, husband and wife,-were charged with the theft of two pairs of children1 * shoes (valued 7s)T the promft 7- i i?l^ M, ortls°n. Georee street, on the 19th iiist -Mr Hanlon appeared for the accused, who pleaded not■ fiuilty.-Qhief Detective CTBrien said that on Saturday night last a youag woman in the employ of the prjgecutrix was watching the boots.outside the shop in George street and she saw the woman pick up a small pair of shoes and hand them to the male accuEed. They got away in the crowd, but returned in about half an hour. The employee then saw them go to • another box of boots outside the shop, and the female accused picked up a small pair and handed them to the male .accused -A. man named M'Cluskey also witnessed them examining the boots, but he would not go so far as to swear that he saw them steal the boots. , That his suspicions were aroused, however, were evident, because he went into the shop and reported the occurrence to Miss Morrison, matter was »!?,° rtlr t0 the P°lice- Oa Monday .Detective S3. Uratli w^nt to the accused* house, and knocking at the door a young boy came out. He said that neither of the accused- was■ in. The house was searched, but the missing '."boots were not discovered. A constable, however, had called on the baturday night, and it was quite reasonable topresume that the accused had put the stolen property away.—Evidence was given by Harriet Morrison, in which she stattd her practice ' an regards the placine.of boots outside..—Alice Baird a female in the employ of complainant, said that she saw the woman take the boots from a boxful outside the shop,, and give them to the male ac<ju»ed. They then .vanished in the crowd.—Harry M Cluskey also give evidence. He said he saw the woman with, the boots in her hand but he could not say what she did with them.—Detective M Grata gave evidence that, he searched the accused's house, but could not' find tha boots there. tThis. concluded the case for the prosecution.—Mr Hanlon was about, to addresfe the court when their Worships stated that the evidence was too weak to. convict, and the case would therefore be 'dismissed. ■■••■-■.

Cattle Wandering—For allowing cattle to wander.at St. Glair, Frank. W. Petre was fined 4s. -■ ■ ■ - . '.■■.. ■-'■'• ■■■ " '•' ■

Alleged Assault.—Alfred "Washer was charged with assaulting-William Davidson at Roslyn on thel7th inst.—Mr O'Reilly appeared for the complainant and Sir Kanloa for the defendant who pleaded not guilty.—Mr O'Reilly, in stating the particulars of the case, said that the complainant lived m the Kaikorai Valley and the. defendant lived in Hoplyn. Complainant heard that defendant wwlied to see him and went to his house. Defendant accused: complainant of giving drink to a prohibited person, and complainant denied it. .thereupon defendant struck him in the eye Counsel, reminded the bench .'that it'was not within the jurisdiction of a person,to administer a blow to another with whom he' differed, or half the world would be going about with black eyes.— Complainant,; being, cross examined, said that he did not know that, the third person referred to was a prohibited person.—Mr Hanloh urged that defendant had had great provocation; and complainant had charged him •with telling a lie.—The Bench decided to dismiss the case.