Police Court

Southland Times, Issue 10967, 19 February 1907, Page 4

Police Court

MONDAY, 18th FEBRUARY,(Bato« Ma S. E. McCarthy. S.M.) PILFERING FROM AN ORCHARD. Robert Angus, Henry Oibb, and Albert Edward Rod, young men. were charged with stealing from an orchard at Clif* ton fruit to the value of 2e, the property of George Webb.—The police explained that Mr Webb hod been subjected ta considerable annoyance through hi» orchard being * broken Into and trees damaged. When charged by a constable with the offence, Angus bad admitted bis guilt at once, but tho other two had denied theirs.—All throe accused pleaded guilty in court-—The Magistrate reprimanded them very severely. A man, he said, who went into another man’s orchard for the purpose of helping himseli to fruit was a thief. Ho treated this as a most serious offence, and if the young men appeared before him again similarly charged they would be Sent to gaol. The two accused Henry Gibb and Albert Hoff who had at first denied having committed the theft, were Cued £ll each, and Angus XC3, They were also ordered to pay for the fruit and to pay the costs of the court. ALLEGED ASSAULT AND ROBBERY. John Keating, for whom Mr W, Maori lister appeared, was charged with having at Wrey's Bush, on tile 6th February. assaulted and robbed John Dcvanuey- On the application of tho police, a remand was granted to Wednesday, 20th February, as the accused was charged with having acted in conjunction with Patrick Finn, who had been remanded until that date. Ball was allowed cm accused'e own recognisances oi £IOO, and two sureties oi £SO each. MAINTENANCE. An application by a wife to have a maintenance order against her husband i ailed was refused.—Mr Mac alii ter appeared for the applicant. Louisa Fraser, for whom Mr W. Slaoalister appeared, applied for an order ior maintenance against her husband, Daniel Fraser, oi North Invercargill.—Mr Stout appeared for. the defendant. —Mr ilacalister stated that defendant had deserted hla wife said child. Tho parties had been married four years, and had lived mors or loss happily until six mouths ago. when defendant left his home, and had been living in the neighbourhood with bis own family. Hs had refused to return and llvo with his wife, t-ut had provided for her and arranged to pay her £l' per week. Louisa Fraser, in evidence, said that there had been no quarrels of much ebutoquence. She had struck defendant on two occasions, but in both cases the 1.1..ws were very slight ones. Several letters from both parties were fea d.

Archibald McLean, city gave evidence a* to fruitless endeavours to bring about a reconciliation between the two parties. Mr Stout, for tho defendant. stSbmiUed that there was no case to answer, and moved for a non-suit. The court hud no jurisdiction to order restitution of conjugal rights. It was not alleged that the husband hod left the wife without Adequate means oi support. Until there was failure to l maintain no sureties coulil be ask* d for, and there was no deiortio». Aftet 1 legal argument as to the meaning of desertion, further hearing was de- ' iwr,...1 until Friday next. RAILWAY BYLAWS. Robert Green, of Mataura. was charged with having on 31st January last, quitted an excursion train at Invercargill whilst tlie train was in motion. Sergeant Mathiesou for the prosecution, stated that the defendant had, when spoken to by an official, given a false name. The Magistrate remarked thht it was becoming rather a common Qractice to give wrong names to constables and others in order to avoid punishment. Accused would be convicted and fined 30s, mid ordered to pay costs amounting to 2"s dd.