POLICE COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5652, 23 June 1886, Page 3

POLICE COURT.

This Dat. (Beforo B Westenra, G. Boberts and H. Thomson, Esqs.) Dbunkennebs. —Walter Moody, accused of being drunk while in charge of a horse and vehicle at Papanui, did not appear when called, and was fined 203. —Henry F. Allen, who had been remanded some weeks ago for medical treatment, was charged with being helplessly drunk in Hereford street. Mr Donaldson, the gaoler of Addington, stated that the accused had been under his care, suffering from delirium tremens. A night nurse had had to be engaged, and the gaol authorities had been put to a great deal of trouble, and he (Mr Donaldson) thought it was unjust that they should be put to such trouble in these cases. The accused denied that he was drunk when he gave himself up, but was suffering from the effects of hydrate of chloral. The constable in charge of tho watchhouso stated tbat the accused was very bad from the effectß of drink when brought to the lock-up, but was not absolutely helpless. Mr Donaldson put in an account for JEI 12e, payment of the nurse who had been engaged to watch the accused in gaol, and asked that he should be made to pay it. Mr Westenra said that the Bench did not see their way to order payment of the account. So long as the law provided that cases such as this should be sent to gaol for treatment, officials should also bo provided to look after them. The intention of the Act evidently was that prisoners of this sort should be visited in their cella from time to timo by the warders. Mr DonaldQon reminded the Bench that the present was an extreme case, and that the warders would not have beeu able to do what was required. Mr Westenra asked if the nurse had been engaged specially to look after the ease. Mr Donaldson: " Yes, under the orders of the gaol surgeon." Mr Westenra said that in that case the account would be allowed. An order would be made for accused to pay £4- 19s Cd, the expense of hia maintenance and treatment while in gaol; in default to be imprisoned for one month. Stealing from tub Pkkson. —James Shearer, on remand, waa charged with stealing .£l2 in notes and a watch of the value of JC3 17s Cd, the property of Arthur Miller, ofl May 28. Mr Joyce appeared for the prisoner. Arthur Miller, a shipwright,

mmmmmmaamamawmi^mmmvammmutmiMaßmmLm i deposed that on May 26 lie came to town j from Wairau, with v. a cheque for Mo, J ' which he cashed. He Bpent some of the ' money, and then gave a pocket-book j containing about £20 to the barman at a j hotel. Next day, Friday, May 28, he got | it back. There were two, if not three, JCS ' notes in it then. Witness got drank that day. He saw prisoner either at the Caversham Hotel or the house opposite, J and mentioned to him that he (witness) had lost his watch and money, saying at the same time that they were generous thieves, aa thty had left him jEG. He missed the watch and money when he woke up from a sleep by tho taproom fire. He bought the watch on Thursday, May 27. He identified a silver watch produced as j the one he had lost, recognising certain scratches he had made on it while endeavouring to open it with a knife. He ! did not remember giving the prisoner any money. Mr Joyce cro33- examined the witness at great length, but elicited nothing except that he had some money with him besides the cheque when he came to Christchurch, making about £31 altogether, and had spent a good deal of oash before he sustained his loss. Alfred Herman, watchmaker, deposed to having sold tho watch produced to Miller on May 27 ; the number was 120,371. Miller paid .£3 17s 6d for it. Eobert Knight, barman at the Kingston Hotel, stated that on the evening of May 2*l Miller entrusted him with a pocket-book containing £20 in notes — three fixes and five singles. Witness returned him £19 and the book next morning. Cross-examined : Miller was flushed with liquor— half drnnk whon the book was returned. Witness gave him only £19, as he had spent 15s the night before and 5s that morning. He was shouting for all hands in the evening, but only got "a bit on." He was not "tight" when he left the hotel in the morning. W. H. Kiddey, licensee of the Star and Garter Hotel, deposed that on going to his hotel on Friday evening. May 28, he Baw the ' prisoner taking Miller out to put him into ; a cab. Miller, who was partly drunk, ! objected to go, saying that he had loßt his watch. He afterwards took out a pocket- : book with £6 in . it. Witness soon after saw prisoner going out with the pocketbook — which he took from Miller's pocket — and called him back. Miller told ' prisoner to give him his money baok. Prisoner opened the pocket-book, and gave witness a £5 note, asking him to mind it for Miller. Witness gave it to Miller. Shearer soon afterwards went away, and witness Bent Miller to the ; police to report bis loss. William Ham- • mond, a lad, assistant to Samuel Stewart, ' pawnbroker, dopoßed that on the forenoon of May 29 prisoner pawned a eilver watch, No. 120.371." Witness ! entered the number wrongly aa 120372, ; but it was afterwards corrected. Witness identified the watch produced as that pawned. Prisoner gave the name of Chamber, j and 30s was advanced tohim on the watch, j Witness gave the watch the Detective i Neill. He picked out the prisoner from j two otherß at the police station. Cross- j examined : Was about five minutes before ' he picked out the man. Went to the police station — the second time some days after the first— twice to identify th« prisoner, who was not there the first time, when witness picked out a man as being something like him. John Crew, a cabman, stated that on May 29 prisoner ' gave him a £1 note to keep for him, and ; said he had two fivers in his pocket. Witness was surprised, for three or four days previous prisoner had asked for the loan of a shilling. William Wall, licensee of the Sandridge Hotel, Sydenham, deposed to having changed a £5 note for prisoner on May 29. Mr Joyce addressed the Bench, submitting that tho evidence of the prisoner being the man who had pawned the watch was not sufficient to warrant his being committed for trial. After a brief consultation, the Bench committed the prisoner for trial at the next session of the Supreme Court. Larceny. — Nellie Mulholland was charged with the larceny of £6 7s 6d, the property of William Wilson, on June 22. Mr Joyce appeared for the prisoner. Inspector Pender called Constable Kennedy, who stated that, in consequence of informa- ' tion received, he went to accuEcd's house ! on Tuesday with Wilson. Accused denied J having any money of his except a £1 note. | She Baid Bhe had only 6d besides. He j arrested the accused, and 7s were ; found on her when she was searched ; at the lock-up. William Wilson stated ; that he went to the accused's house on ; Tuesday, in the afternoon, with £11 and j some silver. He stopped with her during t the afternoon, and paid her 15s. He saw ■ her put her hand into his pocket and take ■ £2. She afterwards took £4, which witness took from her. Inspector Pender asked for a remand, in ordor to produce further evidence. Mr Joyce did not oppose, and the accused was remanded to Friday next. I