Criminal and Civil Returns

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8617, 23 March 1897, Page 2

Criminal and Civil Returns

The completed returns of criminal and civil cases before the Thames Magistrate's Court for the year ended 31st December, 1896, provide some interesting statistics Taking the civil cases first; In 1895, 245 plaints were entered, and 193, oases triod; a total of £1389 gs4dwas sued for, and £934 16s Id recovered. In 1890, 192 plaints were eutertjd, and 173 cases tried ; a total of" £166.2 19s lid was sued for, and £1030 6s 3d recovered.

la the criminal department the comparative figures are also of interest, In stating those for 1896 we put the corresponding totals for 1895 iv .brackets :—Persons taken intJ 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, 3 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) f fined, 106 males, 3 females (117 males, 7 females); imprisonment, in lieu of fine or surety, 26 males, 3 females (5 males, 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); convicted and discharged with caution, 28 males, 0 females (29 males, 4 females). Aa the returns for the respective years are made up on different systems, it is difficult to carry 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 unfertile Criminal Code; 8 males, wilful damage; 3 males, trespass; 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 males, negligent riding; 1 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 native pigeon out of season; I male, cruelty to animals ; 1 male, possession os dead pheasant; 5 males, failing to provide for illigitimate child, etc. The history of the actions brought under the licensing laws during 1896 is outlined as follows :—Supplying liquor to prohibited person—7 males apprehended or summoned, 7 males dismissed on merits; procuring liquor while prohibited—2 males apprehended, 1 discharged, 1 convicted, 1 fined; procuring liquor for prohibited person —5 males 3 females apprehended;l male dismissed, 4 males and 3 females convicted and imprisoned ; entering licensed premises while prohibited—4 males apprehended, 2 discharged, 2 convicted aud fined; procuring liquor after hour 3by false representation -1 male apprehended, convicted, and fined ; excessive drinking—2o males and 4 females apprehended, 6 females and 2 females discharged, 14 males and 2 females convicted and order made; failing to keep lamps alight at licensed premises—l male and 1 female apprehended, convicted, and fined.