POLICE COURT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7956, 29 August 1887, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

THIS 2DA.Y. Monday, August 29.— Before C, E. Rawson, Esq., R.M., and S. Parris, Esq., J.P. BOYISH FREAKS. Winnington Way, Sidney Whiting, Albort Chong, Fred Bolton, and Sidney • Stroud, boys whose ages ranged from ten to fourton, pleaded guilty to interfering with railway trucks at Eliot-streot Station on August Bth. Sergeant Duffin stated that the boys on the day mentioned were running trucks up and down the line. Repeated complaints had been made of the practice, as there was considerable danger attachedto it. His Worship gave the juveniles a lecture, in which he explained to them what might have resulted from interference with rolling stock, and then fined them 5s each, including costs. POLICE OFFENCES ACT. Charles Anßford, a youth of about 19, pleaded not guilty to (1) having wantonly removed a gate, the property of Thomas Geddis, of Albert Road, on August 22nd, and (2) "to using threatening language towards same complainant on the same date. The informations were laid by the police, but Mr. Samuel, the counsel for defendant, asked, as tho complainant Mr. Qeddis was present in the Court, that bis name might be substituted for the police in the informations so as his client, if he cou'd prove his innocence, could get his expenses for the inconvenience he would be put to, and the time he would loose through being brought in from his work to answer the charges. The_ Bench granted the application, and the informations were accordingly amended. Thomas Geddes, the informant, who resides at the German Settlement, on the Albert Road, said' that on Monday night last some time after dusk, he was induced to come out of his house by stones being thrown on his shed. When he went he found his gale thrown down and broken. He saw three " radicals " on the road,' one of whom he recognised as defendant. This was early in the night. He asked them what they wanted, when they commenoed shouting and throwiag soft mud At him, and Ansford said if he (witness) advanced he would split his head with a stone. He was positive that it was Ansford who was there. He did not recognise the other two. A neighbour named Charles Gleeson was in company with witness. After threatening witness, the youths ran away and came back about , 9 o'clock, and comtrenced to use abusive words. Other games were perpetrated by them. The damage done was about £1 worth. By Mr. Samuel: Ho knew Ansford by his voice. The moon wns just going down at the time of the annoyance. Charles Gleeson, a labourer employed by the last witness, said that his employer went out of the house last Monday night in consequence of witness's dog barking. As Geddes did not return, witness went out, and hearing a noise at the ejate he went r'own and saw the boys. The gate was turned up ara broken. Dofendant said something about knocking brains out, and witness ran towards him and said, " Knock my brains out." Was positivo that Ansford was there and spoke, as he had known him for years. By Mr. Samuel: Witness recogniaed Ansford by hia voico. By the Bench: Could not say who the other boys were. One of the boys, who was wearing a musk, was very talkative, and wanted to arrange a fight. This was the evidence for tbe prosecution, Mr. Samuel said there was no doubt that a most Bhameful piece of larrikinisra had beon perpetrated at this road, but be was sure that ie could prove by reliable witnesses that his client did not take part in the rowdyism. He would call Euphemia McLauchlau, school teacher at Upper Kent Road, who said that she lodged with the mother of defendant. On Monday evening last she got home from school at about i o'clock. Mrs. Ansford was ill. Had tea at half-past 4, in which the defendant participated. Witness was homo all the evening, and co was defendant, who was in and out tho house till his other brothers came home between seven and eight o'clock. Defendant was reading in the room up to the time ho retired, whioh was about halfpast 8 o'clock. The two brothers also went into tho same room at the same time. Defendant's custom almost every evening was to read till bedtime. Connelly Anßford, a brother of dofendant, stated that he got home from bushfelliug at dusk. His brother, the defendant, was tit home. Did not go out of the hove after retiring to rest. Charles Anaford, the defendant, Btated that he was working on his mother's farm last Monday, and after work bad his tea, and stayed in the bouse until bedtime. Tho nearest out to Geddea' place from witness' farm was between two and three miles. Ho bad nothing to do with the row at Geddeß*. This was. all tbe evidence,

His Worship said that recoenilion by } the voice was too deceptive. He would dismiss the information, complainant to bear the costs, £2 7s.