CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11993, 16 March 1901, Page 11

CITY POLICE COURT.

Friday, Mahch 15. (Before Mr C. C. Graham, S.M.) Drunkenness.—A first offender was fined ss, in default 24 hours: and George King, convicted on the previous day, was fined 10s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. Assault.—Walter Egan was charged, on remand, with assaulting George Walker, causing him actual bodily harm.—Sub-inspector Kiely said that Walker was still in the hospital, and was unable to speak. It would be at least a week before the doctors would permit him to give evidence.—The case was remanded for another week. A Row at Grecu leland.—lsabella Johnston was charged with using behaviour in the main street at Green Island whereby IT breach of the peace wa3 occasioned.—Mr Slewart (instructed by Mr Irwin) appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty.—Mr Kioly said that on the afternoon of the 26th of February Mrs Jobneton was " in a tantrum," and began calling out abusive language to her neighbour, Mrs Cooper, who lived next door. A man named Marshall came along, and, although he tool: no part in the dispute, Mm woman went out and struck him with a broomstick. She abused the local constable and everyone who came near, ueing bad language.—Evidence was given by Hugh Cooper, David Marshall, John Marshall, and Conetable Lecce.—Mr Stewart said the defence would be that the woman was subjected to great provocation. There were constant rows out there, and defendant being a. woman of a somewhat irritable nature, some of her neighbours took ft pleasure in annoying her. She suffered from some internal complaint, and was subject to fits, There was o pump in her back yard, end neighbours used to come in without permission for water, and thus caused her a good deal of annoyance.—Evidence was given by Alice Wilkinson, Robert Alexander Johnston, jun., and Robert Alexander Johnston, sen.—His Worship held that the case was proved, and inflicted a fine of 40s and costs (20s G.I). A month was allowed in which to pay the fino. Maintenance.—George Hamilton was charged with failing to maintain bis wife, Margaret Hamilton.—Complainant said that her husband was a dealer in Maclaggan street. He refused to maintain her, and it wan over three years since he had given her any money. When she went to his shop he presented a gun at her. He had £700 to his ctedit in a bank at Auckland. Witnees tried to support herself by nursing. Cross-examined: She had a pension of 2s Bd per week from the Queen. It cost her half a crown a week to get it. She would get an oldage pension in Moich.—Mr Mooro said that his client found it impossible to live with his wife, owing tp an incompatibility of temper. In November, 1897, lie paid her £170. At present he had not a penny in the world. The shop was not his own, and he worked there for Ills keep. Counsel submitted thnt the application must fail, rs Mrs Hamilton had shown that she was in receipt of 9s 0d per week.—The application was refused. A Charge of Fighting.—Robert M'Donald and Walter Grindley were charged with committing a breach of the peace by fighting in Albany street.—Mr Hanlon appeared for defendants, who pleaded not guilty.—Mr Kiely said that Constables Daubney unci Hickey were on duty in Albany street about 11.30 on February 28. Their attention was attracted by an altercation, and they saw M'Donald knocked down by a blow from Grindley. The Inttei denied to the

police that he had been fighting, but M'Donald admitted it, Baying that he had been provoked by Grindley. Evidence was given for the defence, and then Mr Hanlon submitted that the information must be dismissed, on ground that there was really no fight at all. M'Donald fell, and Grindley was really trying to help him up.—His Worship said it was possible that tho constables might have been mistaken, and gave the accused the benefit of the doubt. The case was accordingly dismissed. Another Maintenance Case.-Thomis Sincock, who did not appear, had an order for 6s a week made against him for tho maintenance of his mother