Saturday, 15th April.

Otago Witness, Issue 1273, 22 April 1876, Page 5

Saturday, 15th April.

(Before V. Pyko, Esq., E.M.)

Embezhling Moneys. — Edwaid G-illett Bickerton, a man of respectable appearance, was charged with embezzling the sum of LG Is 6d, the meneys of JVhn Milne, Oamaru. — Inspector Mallard said that accused had been arrested in Dnnedin ly Detective Henderson, upon the strength of a telegram received from Oamaru, and he (the Inspector) would therefore ask for a remand i:ntil Tuesday next, by which time the warnu t might be to hand. — ftir Edwards appeared for the prisoner and asked that bail should be allowed.— Mr Pyke remarked that there was really nothing before the .Bench.— -Mr Edwurdd? That is where the hardship to the man i-omes in. — His Worship : We know nothing whatever of the man, but presume the Bench at •Oamaru issued the worrent—a very seriou-i implement— upon good grounds. No magistrate should issue a warrant until he knows the whole facts of i,Le case. — Mr Edwards : Supposing we were to telegraph to the magistrate at Oamaru asking him what bail he considers fair under the circumstances, would your Worship consider that ?— Mr Pyke said there would hardly be sufficient time for such a proceeding, and he would hear airy application for bail on Monday. Accused would be remanded until Tuesday. Bail Kenewkd.— John Thomas, charged, on remand, with committing an assault upon Inspector Barnes, had his bail renewed by Thomas Handcock and Michael Fleming, who entered into a fresh bond to become his sureties.

An Anomalous Proceeding. —The regular business of the Court having been concluded, Mr Pyko enquired of Inspector Mallard whether he had a pcr&on to charge with lunacy to bring before tho Court. — Inspector Mallard said he had not. No <>ue had been brought to tbe station on fauch a charge. — JOk Worjhip proceeded to state lb;it a lunatic was brought to his private house on the previous day in & cart by four or five strangers, who requested that he would "juat put his name to that piece of paper," whi</h was «t certificate Mf.jned by twodoclom, who declared the mail to be a fit subject for the Lunatic Asylum. He wished the Inspector lo make enquiry as to what had become of <he man, for if he was in the Lunatic Asylum he would report the matter to the Minister of ifu.stico. The first step in cases of lunacy should be a sworn information ; the second, an examination in open. Court before two Justices of the Peace or a, Hesident Magistrate ; thyn the order for the doctor's examination. For a man to be con» signed to the horrors of a Lunatic Asylum without an examination was monstrous, and such a state of things should be put a stop to. — • Inspector Mallard promised to make enquiries regarding the matter.