CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14279, 30 July 1908, Page 11

CITY POLICE COURT.

■ ■ ■ ■ «aWednesday, July 29. ( (Before Mr C. C. Graham, S.M.) The By-laws.—For driving on (he wroiij; pido of Iho road, Arnold "Watt was fined h \ > jrnd costs (7s). j An Indigent Child.—A Ihrco-ycar-old iihild, deemed to ho in indis-cnt eirciim-! etances, was committed to tho Cavcrsham Industrial School. j Prohibition Olden.—Prohibition orders were granted against two men on the | application of their father.—Mr SJcurr ap- I pcai'od for the men, gaud consented io the issue of tho orders. ' Alleged Tholt.—James Devenio was '"barged with having, on the 25th inst., stolen a silver watch from John Moreland. Mr Soui-r appeared lor accused.—Carlos Droscher said that on the 25th inst. he was standing outside a right-of-way next tho Provincial Hotel with a man named Moreland. Accused, who was a stranger fo witness, came up and made some remark, and witness, deeming him to be intoxicated, turned his back on him. When witness turned round again accused had taken Moreland's wateh out of his pocket, and was trying to clelaeli it from the chain. Witness iaid: "Mind"your watch!" Moreland tool; tho watch from accused, and said: ''What's tho game?" Accused said bo was trying to put the watch in Moreland's other pocket, and while Moreland .was replacing his wa-loh accused hit him | a light blow under the eye. Witness told accused to attack him '(himself), and Jiot the ' old man. Accused said "Come on!" and witness knocked him down. When ho regained his feet accused ran towards tho Post Office. Witness chased him, and yelled out " Slop thief!" because he thought accused would escape from him. Witness caught accused at tho Post Office, and held him until the police arrived.—To Mr Scurr: He had been with Moreland about two hours, and they had had ono or two drinks. It was untrue that witness or Moreland had first accosted accused. Accused might have taken the watch for a joke, but witness did not think so at the time.—John Moreland corroborated, lie had never seen accused before the 25th.— To Mr Scurr: He had seen accused 6inco that day, and had said to him that he thought ho (accused) had made a fool of himself, and that it was a pity the affair had happened. -Constablo Baird devx)sed to arresting accused at the Post Office on the day in question. Accused said he did not take tho watch, and that he had run away because ho thought Droscher was going to punch him. Subsequently, when in tho cells, accused said he had only taken the watch for a lark.—To Mr Scurr: Accused was drunk, and had been charged with that offence. Morelaud wug sober so far as witness knew, but appeared to have had a drink or two. Droscher was quite sober. Mt Scurr said his client intended to plead I' Not guilty," and, although his Worship intimated his intention of committing accused for trial, called evidence.— Jno. Wren raid ho and accused met for tho first time on the night of the 25th, and on accused inviting witness to have a drink witness suggested visiting thc Provincial Hotel, because he expeoted it to be closed by tho time they got there. Moreland and Droscher met'them in the right-of-way, and the latter said: "You're too late." They went out to the main street, and all four started talking. Accused asked Moreland the time, and put his hand on Moreland's chain, when Droscher called out, "Look out for your witch!" mid punched accused. Witness did not think accused meant to steal the watch. Tho other two as well as accused yore (he worw of liquor—To thc Subinspector: Accused never struck Moreland. -His Worship said it appeared to 'be more the trick of a drunken man than an attempt Jo steal the watch.—Tho c-aso was dismissed.—Accused then pleaded "Guilty" to charges of assaulting Moreland aiid drunkenness, and was fined £5, in default one month's imprisonment, for assault, and ss, in default 24 hours' imprisonment, for. drunkenness. A fortnight was allowed in which to find (he money.