POLICE COURT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10706, 31 August 1896, Page 3

POLICE COURT.

XIIIS DAY. Monday, August 31,-^Bef ore C.K. Stock, Esq., J.P., Joe Ward, Esq., J.P., and R. S. Sadler, Esq., J.P. MUD THROWING AND ASSAULT. Harry Freeman, .Arthur Duller, and Edward Duller were charged with throwing mud at Bell Block to the danger of one William Northcott. Inspector MsGovern said that the charge against Freeman could not be proceeded with, as the lad had broken bis leg, and was now in the hospital. In answer to Mr Stock, the Inspector said he would ask that the case against Freeman should not now be taken. The two Dullers then pleaded guilty to the charge. Arthur Duller was further charged that on August 17, at Bell Block, he did assault one James Harvey. He pleaded guilty. Inspector McGovern said that the cases were bad* ones. ' In the case of assault against Dullor the facts were these: One James Harvey was coming in from Bell Block, when the accused placed flax across the road to trip him up, and they were not srtisfied with that, for they got the flax round Harvey'sneck and dragged him into a mudhole. 'J'here was one feature of the case he would mention, and that was when the accussed were charged with the affair they candidly admitted it. Mr Stock said he would like to hear evidence. James Harvey called said that a gang pelted him with mud, and nearly blinded him. He recognised Freeman as one of the assailants. He had had a glass of liquor, but was quite capable of looking after himself, He gave his assailants no provocation, Mr Stock said that the Bench were determined to put down the practice of annoying people on the road* Arthur Duller was fined £1, and costs 17e, in default 14 days imprisonment. The Bench desired some evidence on the charge of annoying William Northcott. ' * The informant called, said that a gang came to bii place at Bell Block, swore at him, and one Freeman called him foul names and challenged him out to fight. Mr Stock said this casa was woise than the other, for the accused had annoyed a cripple. - If they thought the Bench was going to. allow this system of annoying ret-pectable people the accused were much mistaken. Arthur Duller was fined £1, and costs, in default 14 days, and Edward Duller 10s, in default 14 days ; the accused to be kept in custody till the fines were paid. ' DISTURBING A CONGREGATION. Charles Bleasel was charged that on August 16th, at Kent Road, he did disturb a congregation assembled for public worship by unruly conduct. He pleaded guilty. Mr Weston appeared for the accused, and said that while admitting the gravity of the offence, yet he would point out in mitigation that the accused acted without sense, being at that period of life, 19 years old, when a person had all the strength of a man without the experience of the man. He asked the Bench to deal with the case in a broad minded manner, and not brand the accused by a heavy sentence. Although one of the Bench (Mr Stock) came from the same district as accused he knew that any knowledge possessed by Mr Stock gained outside, t tb.e Court would not sway that gentleman in giving his decision. Mr Stock: Do you insinuate that I am biassed ? Mr Weaton said that he expressed the hope that His Worship would not bo. Mr Stock said' that the Bench desired to hear- evidence. Mr Weston said that evidence could not be called of a general character. Besides, Mr Stock, he believed, knew all about the cases, as he drew the informations. The other two Justices, perhrps, were unacquainted with the case. Mr Stock: Do you go so far as to say I am biassed ? Mr Weston: I leave my words stand. I said that I believed you knew all about the case. Mr Stock : Then you go too far. You only have that on hearsay. Inspector McGovern said he was determined to have this system of annoying respectable people put down. W, Chatterton, called, gave evidence as to the disturbance. He said it was a common practice. The Bench finally inflicted a fine of £2, and costs, with the alternative of one month. Mr Stock said after Mr Woston's remarks he had abstained from taking any part in fixing the penalty. He thought that itr was well-known that his sense of justice would save him from a charge of bias. He was extremely grieved at Mr Weston's statements. Joseph Gobel was similarly charged. Mr Weston appeared for accused and spoke as to his character. Messrs W. Chatterton, R. James, and R. Chatterton gave evidence. Inspector McGovern said the people who informed the police deserved every credit. Gobel was fined £2 and costi, or one month inprißonment. Philip Fry was similarly charged, and pleaded guilty. James Henderson gave evidence as to accused having a good character. In answer to the Bench accused said he came from England, and his father was a parson. Mr Stock : A clergyman's boh ! ( Mr Sadler said that accused must have been well educated. Fry was fined £2 and costs, in default one month. Mr Stock said that he had occasion to warn accused about his conduct some nine months ago. Mr Weston said that the lads had informed him that Mr Stock had warned them, and said he would make it hot for them if they came before him. Mr Stock : I said no such thing. lam not bound by what such lads say about mo. Joseph Gobel was also charged with using obscene language at Kent Road on August 16 th. He pleaded not guilty. Mr Woston for the accused. W. Chattorton, tho informant, wished to withdraw the case.

Inspector McGovern did not object. The case was then withdrawn, on accused promising to pay costs, 7s. The Court adjourned till 2 p.m.