Criminal and Civil Returns

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 8693, 24 March 1897, Page 1

Criminal and Civil Returns

Tho completed returns of criminal and civil cases before tho Thames Magistrate's Court for the year ended 31st December, 1896, providesome interesting statistics. Talcing the civil cases first: In 1895, 245 plaints were entered, and 193 cases tried; a total of £1689 ss4dwas sued for, and £934 16s Id recovered. In 1896,192 plaints were entered, and 173 cases tried; a total of £1662 198 lid was sued for, and £1030 6s 3d recovered. ;. In the criminal department the comparative figures are also of interest. In stating those for 1896 we put the corresponding totals for 1895 in brackets Persons takon into [custody, summoned, or apprehended: 275 males, 15" females (232 males, 23 females); discharged from want of prosecution or want of evidence, 27 males, .3 females (25 males/? females); dismissed on merits, 29 males,.-0 females (5 males, 0 females); committed for trial, 8 males, 0 females ('2 males, 3 females);. number summarily convicted, 211 males, 12 females (142 males, 8 females); lined, 106 males, 3 females (117 males, 7 fomales); imprisonment in lieu of fine or sui-ety, 26 males, 3' females. (5 malos, 1 female); peremptory imprisonment, 14 males, 2 females (20 males, 3 females); bound over with or without sureties, 5 males, 0 females (1 male, 0 female)orders made, 32 males, 4 females (29 males, 5 females); c6nvicte'd and discharged with caution, 28 males, 0 females (29< males, 4 females)..... .

. As the returns for the respective years are made up on different systems, it is difficult to cany the comparison further than actual totals. In 1896 7 males were convicted of common assault;. 9 males were convicted of theft; and 2 were committed under the Criminal Code; 8 males, wilful damage; 3 males, ; 1 male, disobedience of order; 3 males, .resisting the police; 1 male, wife desertion; 65. males, drunkenness; 8 males and 2 females, lunacy; 1 male, threatening language; 4 males, indecent language; 4 males, provoking language; 27 males, threatening behavior; 2 males, insulting behaviour;. 4 males, furious riding; 3 male?, negligent riding;,! male, riding round corner faster than a walking pace; 1 male and 1 female, failing to register dog; 4 males, riding bicycle on footpath; 2 males, driving vehicle without lights; 3 males and 1 female, allowing chimney to catch fire; 4 males, herding and allowing cattle in the street; 2 males and 1 female, found by night without lawful excuse; 2 males, shooting nativo pigeon out of season; 1 male, cruelty to animals; 1 male, possession os dead pheasant; 5 males, failing to provide for illigitimace child, etc. Tho history of the actions. brought under the licensing laws during ;1896 is outlined as follows Supplying liquor to prohibited person—7- males approhended or summoned, 7 males dismissed on merits; procuring liquor while' prohibited—2 males apprehended, 1 .discharged, 1 convicted, 1 fined; procuring liquor for prohibited porson—s males 3 females apprehended, 1 male dismissed, 4 males and 3 fomalos convicted and imprisoned; entering licensed premises while'prohibited—4 males apprehended, 2 dis-1 charged, 2 convicted. and fined;' procuring liquor after hours by false representation 1 male apprehended, convicted, and liued ; excessive driuking—2o males and 4 females apprehonded, 6 females and 2 females discharged, 14 male 3 and 2 females convicted aud order made; failing to keep lamps alight at licensed premises-1 male and 1 female apprehended, convicted, and fined. >