CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11598, 5 December 1899, Page 8

CITY POLICE COURT.

Monday, December 4.

(Before Messrs T. Arnold and j. Angus, J.P.'sj.) Drunkenness.—Owen Mullins was fined 10s or 24 hours' imprisonment. .'■'■■':

An Indecent Act.—John Gane was charged with having, on Saturday night, at half-past 9, committed a nuisance on the footpath at the comer of Walker and Princes"- streets.—; He was also charged with being drunk at the same time.—For drunkenness he was fined 20s, or 48 hours' imprisonment. In the other, case the Bench decided to convict and discharge accused, their reason for so doing being that it was not possible to fine under the section of the act. In their opinion proper machinery should be provided by the municipal authorities to meet such cases. For these reasons they decided to deal with the case in the way they* had. -V :- «

A Riotous Character.—Patrick XJlyn was charged with being drunk, with resisting Constable Nelson while in the execution of liis duty, and with damaging the constable's overcoat to the value of ss.—Sub-inspector Kiely informed their "Worships that the man behaved in a very disorderly manner. Mr Tansey the licensee of the Caledonian Hotel, came to the^ constable and complained that Glyn wa.a making a disturbance about the place. The constable found accused fighting with several men in the hotel yard. .When arrested he lesistod' violently, knocked the constable about, and tore his overcoat.—Glyn was fined ss, or 24 hours' imprisonment for being drunk, 10s forresisting the police, AOs for damaging the constable's uniform, and he was ordered to pay for the damage done, ss. . ' Obscene Language.—Thomas Ritchie was charged with using obscene language in Princes street m the early morning of Sunday.—The Sub-inspector stated that about 1 o'clock in the morning the young man was with two women, and was calling out and using filthy language. He had beefi up before for breach' of the peace in 1897.—Sentenced to seven clays' imprisonment. ' -

Midnight Visitors:—Archibald Anderson, alias Mathieson, was charged with breaking and entering the dwelling of Mary Jane Buskin on the night of the 21st November, and stealing a sheet valued at 6s.—Sub-inspector, Kiely asked permission to withdraw this charge and substitute another of damaging property From inquiry there did not seem to have'been an intention to break and enter, and accused personally- said it was a- drunken spree.—Permission was given to withdraw the information and Anderson was then charged with damaging a candlestick, a jug, and other bedroom uten3ils,, and pleaded not guilty.—The Subinspector said that about 1 o'clock on the: morning of the 21st of last month accused,' with a, couple ofcompanions, were on the spree. They were in the vicinity of Maclagg&n. street, near Serpentine avenue, and entered the Exeter boarding house, the door of which had been left unlocked. They went upstairs into a ioom that was not* occupied at the time, and dragged the bedclothes about andpitched the crockery out of the window. When the room was approached by Mrs Buskin'ssister they took good care that their faces, should not be seen. They eventually left the place in some haste. He (the Sub-inspector) thought he would be able to satisfy the courfc that accused was the ringleader, and mentioned that the other two had been before, the court some days ago when the charge was withdrawn.—Evidence having been given at' some length, in the course of which members of the police force informed the bench that the accused had kept in hiding until lie .saw the case against his companions dealt with.—Their' Worships came to the conclusion to. dismiss the case, holding that there was not sufficient evidence to justify a conviction.