CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11642, 27 January 1900, Page 5

CITY POLICE COURT.

Friday, January 26.

(Before Messrs A. Mercer. J. Waldie, and

the Hon. H. Gourley, J.P.'s.)

Drunkenness.—A first offender and Charles Leomon were each convicted of drunkenness and discharged.

Alleged Disordery Conduct.—James M'Kerrow, a young man, for whom Mr Hanlon aprpeared, pleaded not guilty to being drunk in a railway carriage on December 23, and also with using obscene language on the same occasion.—Sub-inspector Kiely stated that on December 23 defendant was in a train going north, leaving Dunedin at 10.20 a.m. He was with some other young men, and they had some whisky with them. The de-. fendant became very disorderly, and the guard: found it necessary to remonstrate with him.. Eventually, at Hampden, the guard found it necessary to put him off the train, but he went on again when the railway official was otherwise engaged.—Peter Barkman, guard, gave evidence as to the disorderly behaviour of the defendant. Several of the passengers complained of .his conduct, and therefore it was necessary to turn him off the train. Defendant was not sober.—H. B. Courtis, Cliarlcs Ritchie, and David Ritchie also gave evidence.—Mr Hanlon pointed out that nobody identified ueiendant as the person who used bad language, and as the words ■ objected. to had not been elated the bench could not say if they were obscene or not. As to, the drunkenness, defendant might have had a nip, but he had yet to face severe' punishment in the possible loss of his situation. Counsel urged that, under the circumstances, the recording of a conviction was not called for.—The- Bench decided to dismiss both

cases. ■ , ■ Theft ;of a Canary .—Two small boys, named William Pine and Fred Pine, were charged with stealing a oanary. valued £2, the property of Wm. Charles Wilkinson.—Mr Invin appeared for the boys.—The younger of the defendants, Fred, aged eight years, pleaded guilty, the other Iml not guilty.— Evidence was given that the canary was a valuable one, and the owner loft it in the cage on the verandah when he went to work in the mornintr. When he returned tho bird was gone. He learned that the youngsters were seen on the verandah that'day, and search being mnde, the canary was found at Pine's place—Mr Irwin contended that there was no evidence against the elder lad, and the.charge against him should be dismissed.— Mr Gourley said thr-re was no doubt the boys were neglected, and it would be better for themselves and society at large that they should be in the Industrial School.—The other members of the bench concurred in this opinion, and the boys were accordingly both' convicted and ordered to be brought beforo the magistrate, with a view to their being committed to the Industrial School. Damaging Property.—William Smith and Ihonias Reid, two young num. pleaded guilty to damaging to the extent of 24s 6d a gate the property of the trustees of the Congregational Church, Leith street.—Defendants pleaded guilty.—lnspector Kiely said that Sergeant Gilbert passed the young men on the mght nr question going along Kirn; street. J.hey were behaving somewhat noisily. The sergeant, however, passed on, and afterwards noticed the damage done to the church gate. He ascertained the names of the young men, ond they admitted having committed the damage.—Each of the defendants was fined Is, and ordered-to make good the damage.' Damage of Property.—Michael M'Aulay was charged with throwing stones to tiie! damage of a house occupied by Cornelius Greeney on January 13 at St. Kilda.— Mr I'Tanlon appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty.—Sub-inspector Kiely said that, on the day in question defendant was outside Mr Greeney's place, amusing himself writing on the pickets of the fence. Mr Greeney remonstrated \yit\\ him, and defendant went across the road and deliberately threw stones at tho house.—Evidence having been given, it was alleged, on behalf of defendant, that he received provocation from Mrs' Greeney. through her throwing water over him.—Defendant was fined 5s and costs

Alleged Theft of Ducks.—Henry M'Bride was charged with stealing a duck and 13' ducklings, valued at 10s, tho properly of Albert Victor King.—Evidence! was given that the boy met another lad and told him that he found the ducks on the road and brought them home. It was alleged by the police that he told tho lad that he had "nicked" the duck and was going for the ducklings, but as there was no evidence of this the case was dismissed.