CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12603, 5 March 1903, Page 7

CITY POLICE COURT.

) —: ' Wednesday, March 4. ' (Beforo Mr C. C. Graham, S.M.) s Drunkenness.—For this offence four first I offenders wcro cacll fined ss, or in default 211 i hours' imprisonment; and Thomas Dreavor ■ ' was fined 10s, or in default- 48 hours' imprison-! nicnt. ! , A Charge of Assault and Robbery.—Thomas O'Kcefo and Elizabeth Rackley were charged with, on February 27, at Dunedin, assaulting and robbing David Bethunc of a watch, i valued at £3.—David Betlmne, butcher by trade, deposed that on February 27 last, about 4 p.m., lie was going up Serpentine avenue alone. Ho was accosted by the female accused and asked for a few shillings, which he refused tc give her. Ho did not notice anyone with her. He proceeded 20 yards along the ttock, when the woman, who had kept up with him, hit him with her umbrella in the face, and ' the male accused, who must have been following, cither hit or kicked 'him in the stomach, knocking him down a gully, and in this occurrence he lost his silver watch, and n!so somo money, that might have rolled out of his pockets. He was almost certain the watch was pulled 'from his pocket by one of the accused. He had a good deal of money in his I pocket. He was certain that the two accused , wcro the persons that assaulted him. When knocked down ho lost his senses. He felt someone take his watch from him, and he identified the watch produced as his own. He was a little "muddled" that afternoon, but remembered all that took place. He had not seen either accused before.—George Ellis, residing in Upper Ifnclaggan street, deposed that ' his house overlooked Jubilee Pork, and on the afternoon in question he saw Betlmne and the two accused thefe. His attention, was called to O'Kcefo crawling up in the grass in the park, at which time Bothunc and the female prisoner were going up the path together. Betlmne' and Sic woman sat down on the hank, and witt licss saw the female accused push Betliune over I n steep bank there. The male accused then i came up, and after going down to Betlmne l they both went away together. Thinking sorne- ) thing had happened, witness ran over and ' » found Betliune at the foot of the gully. He t said he had lost his watch. Witness sent a bay for tho police, and followed the two accused r down to Walker street. Ho identified the . - prisoners as the two he saw in the park.— 5 Trevor Lane, a lad, deposed that on the after- ! 5 noon iii question ho was up on a clay bank 5 opposite Jubileo Park, and saw the two accused r and Betliune. The last-named fell down, and ) tho female accused pushed him down a bank, j I and took a watch from his pocket and gave it t to tho male accused, who then came up. He r then went to fetch a constable.—Robert M'Clue gave similar evidence.—Constable Thomassen

deposed that, oil the evening of February 27 the two accused were together in Walker street, being pointed out to the police by some boys, who said there had been an assault and robbery in Jubilee Park. On seeing tho police coming tho man left the woman and went across the road. Alter he came back witness went over and found tho watch among some rubbish, where he had. seen the man stoop down. Botli accused weri arrested.—Similar evidence was given by Constable Osbome, after which the accused O'Keefe made a statement on oath, in which he denied all knowledge of the watch. The accused Rnckley said she wished to plead "Guilty" to stealing (ho watch, hut not to the assault.—Both accused were then committed for trial. Breaches of By-laws.—Frederick Williams, for whom Mr James appeared, pleaded "Guilty" to leaving building material in Cargill road insufficiently lighted, and was fined ss, with costs of court (7s). Edward Thomas Bateman, who pleaded Guilty" io allowing a horse to wander at large in Mornihgion, was lined 2s 6(1, with costs (7s). Arthur Grant Sheriff, who pleaded "Qnilty" to a similar offence at Eoslyn, was similarly dealt with. Prohibition Order.—A prohibition order.was granted against a man, with his own consent, to apply in tho licensing districts of Dunedin, Caversliam, and Taieri. Pawnbroker's License.—A pawnbrokers license was granted to Mark Jacobs, Mr Hny . appearing in support of the application.