CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14899, 30 July 1910, Page 15

CITY POLICE COURT.

FEIDAY, JOLT 29. (Before Mi J. R. Jkrtbolomcw, S.M.) fust offendor who was Buffering ftora the effects of drink was retoaadcA for a wook fol' medical treatment. Arthur William Valentine was similarly dealt with. Another feet offender was fined lOs, or in defaufl 48 hoars' imprisonment. Alleged Theft of Rabbitakins.—James Lyndhiirst, who had previously been remanded, appeared to answer a oh&rge of stealing £6 worth of rabbitskins from Robert Brydie, at Churk's Flat, near Waitahuna, on July 10. ChieMetcctivo Herbert, in asking for a' further remand for a Week, indicated that there were farther charges pending againut the pan. Tho remand was granted.

Sunday Trading.—Alexander Leckio was charged with keeping open his chop for the purpose of doing business on Sunday, July 10.—Constable Woods gavo ovideneo that on the date, mentioned no went, m company with' Constable Rndlajr, to the defendants shop in King Edward street, South Dunodin. Thoy entered by on open sidedoor, and were; supplied with cigarettes and matches. The • young man who eold the articles sadd that thioy irad to be very careful Sunday trading, as tho police had been keeping; a.n eye on them for some time.—Defendant had written to tho magistrate admitting-'the ollonoa, :but-denying that honiade \a practice of it. Sub-inspec-tor Phair c-ontendied that tho defendant had toon doing buiine® fairly openly.—A fine of 5s and costs was imposed, ■ Obstructing the PoUoe.—Mr Bartholomew gave his Reserved decision in tho case in which John M'Kowen was charged with obstructing Sergeant Eoclcs and Constable Sweeney in the execution of their duty. Tho case for tho prosecution, ho said, was that accused undid, the harness strap from the horse in the oab in which prisoners wore being conveyed. Defendant denied that ho had been in tho vicinity of tho cab, but Constable Sweeney, Detective Ward, and T. J. Williams all Bworo positively that he had been alongside it. Each of these witnesses Know defendant well. He was quite satisfied, from tJiu evidence that defen- . dant was at tho horse's head and interfering with the harness. Ho was ako satisfied thai Williams hod been acting as very few were doing at the time—assisting tho police,—and ho was deserving of every o>»iraendation for his conduct. No doubt there had been a vory serious disturbance, though ho did l not think it amounted to a riot. A great number of the crowd simply lost ther senses, and it did not seoni to him that the mad and foolish act in question had boon intended to have any sorious consequences Still, it was a very sorious interference with tho polios; but if there had been anything in thonaturo of personal violence towards them imprisonment would havo boon the only possiblo sentence. The position seemed to havo boon woll stated by Constable Sweeney, who had kept his jioadvcrj well and taken notice of numerous details. He wished to add that ho was -'vory pleased with tho fair and manly way in which Constable Sweeney had given his evidence, in spito of the abuse ho 'had had to put up with. Dofondant would bo fined £10 and court costs, and witnesses' expenses, with the alternative of one month's impri- , sonraent with liard labour.

ABkjng Alms.—Emily Sneado, an old woman,. Was charged with being a rogue and a vagabond, and with asking for alms in tho 6treet—Sub-inspector Phair stated that the accused, about whom various complaints had been received, had just been arrested'that morning. H« asked for a remand tor a week to enable the police to gather ovideneo.—A remand was granted accordingly.

(Beforo Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M.)

Chargo of Wifo Desertion.—At a sitting of ~ tho court in tho afternoon, Frederick Thomae Samburgh, a ( Duhodin labourer, who had just been discharged from the Hospital, was charged with having deserted his wifo at Invercargill. As the man's ieg wm still in plaster of Paris, tkb ease was adjourned till August 5.