CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11200, 24 August 1898, Page 4

CITY POLICE COURT.

I' /: Tuesday, August 23. (Before Messrs A. Judge, D. Larnach, and G. Lawrence, J.P's.) 1 Obscene Language.—"William Edwards waf charged with, using obscene language on the . evening of the 13th inst. in Grange street. He pleaded not guilty, and declined to allow another charge against his wife to be heard at the same time.—Sergeant O'lSTeill said that on the date in question information was sent to the police that a disturbance was being created in Grange street, and on going to the scene the constable found that a disturbance was occurring in the house of defendant between defendant'and his wife.' The defendant was heard to make use of very filthy language indeed. A few of the neighbours would be called, who would testify as to the class of language used.—Evidence was given by Constable Eeidy, Thomas "Watson, and James Campbell.—Defendant stated that people of ill repute lived in the house next to his, and it was they who iised the bad language.—The sergeant having mentioned that the man had been previously convicted four times (twice for a similar offence), he was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. Isabella Edwards was similarly charged.—Sergeant O'Neill said the case was like the last, only the language .was - different, though obscene and disgusting.—Accused did not appear, and evidence having been given and a statement made that she had been five times previously convicted, she* was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment. - ■ ■"%•■■ Chimney on Fire."—For allowing a chimney in his house at Caversham to.take fire Joseph Smith was fined Is. A Caution to Bicyclists.—Edward Saville was charged with having, on the 20th inst., ■ ridden a bicycle round the corner of Princes and High streets at other than a walking pace. —Defendant said-he lost his brake, while coming , down, the hill, and lost control1 of the machine.—Sergeant O'Neill said the young j man rcdea bicycle through the: city, 'and be- ! hind it was an advertising'attachment. He r went round the corner very quickly. The inj formation waß laid, under section 53 !of the City By-laws.—Defendant was cautioned, and the case dismissed.. Wandering Cattle.—For allowing cattle to -wander at the North-East Valley, Jame3 ' Peebles was fined 2s 6d.—Alice O'Halloran, for whom Mr Barclay appeared, had the case against her dismissed. -■ Evading Payment of BailwayFare.—Launce- : ■lot Fowler was charged with having, on the 30th July, travelled on the railway from Dun : j edin to Mosgiel without having paid his proI per fare, and with intent to avoid payment1 thereof.—Defendant did not appear,.-but his father was present, in court.—Sergeant O'Neill stated that the complaint was laid under section. 4of the Railway By-laws. The.young man was found on board the train, travelling on the' date named. He was found by the guard in the closet. This was not a solitary instance where this kind of thing had happened.—Mr Fowler produced what appeared to be a school child's, or a monthly, railway ticket, which drew from the bench the remark that that, did not prove anything in conneci tion with the case.—Sergeant O'STeill said if the father had' paid the money for the' fare he would not probably have been called upon to appear before the court.—Peter 'Batkman, guard on the train, said that'at Caversham he noticed the boy in the closet, and said to his assistant to find out what the boy was' doing there. He went to inquire into the matter, and came back and said he could not get in, as the door was locked. At Wingatui they -» found that the door was still locked, and they could not get the boy out till they got to |:Mpsgiel._ He had no ticket. At Mosgiel, in the stationmaster's office,. witness asked Mr Fowler, the father, for the'fare, but he did not I pay it, and as far as witness knew it was still unpaid.—The Bench asked what age the boy wa.s. The father replied that he was six years of age, which drew the laughing remark from the guard "that some years ago he had seen him smoking cigarettes and cigars at any rate."—The Bench drew the attention of the ■ sergeant to the fact that if the boy was not seven years of age they had no power-to do anything.—The. Sergeant concurred with .this, ' but said there was no evidence before the court of his being under the age/of "seven yearSj while there was something to show that . lie was probafcly over that.—Mr 'Fowler said he could not tell the exact age of his boy, but he was not seven years of age yet. He could produce the certificate of birth:—Ser- . geant O'Neill said.that'in the event of an adjournment being made for the production of this certificate, he would request that the boy be in attendance, so that the bench might see him for themselves.-7-The case was adjourned till Friday for the production of the certificate and the boy. - ■ Selling Milk without a License.—rMartin Pryde. and Thomas Lee,.for whom Mr Riddell appeared, were, for exposing milk for sale without having a license to do so, each fined 2s 6d. . Breaking arid • Entering.—Sam Tye' was charged with having, on the 11th July,' broken and entered the house 'of Chin Chin, and stolen therefrom a blanket, two shirts, and a pair of drawers. — Accused, through the medium of the interpreter, said that he asked prosecutor to give him money to buy food with. He did not give him any, but,told him i to go down and take the blanket and sell it— j Chief Detective 'O'Brien stated that the information was laid under section 254 of the Criminal Code. Prosecutor was a fisherman, and at the beginning of last month was engaged in exercising his calling near St. Leonards. He had a small hut there, which he -lefti and came to town for a holiday. A padlock and chain were put on the door before he left,.and when he returned he found that the door had • been forced open, and the place generally, ran- : sacked. The things mentioned "were missing. '[ On the. 11th July accused pledged the blanket iat a pawn office in the Arcade, giving the j name of Ah Lung and the address as Lawj fence, both of which were false.—Evidence I having been given, accused was committed for j trial, bail being allowed, himself in £50 and • two sureties of £25 each. > .