LAWRENCE POLICE COURT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5100, 26 September 1903, Page 3

LAWRENCE POLICE COURT.

On W< dnesday, before Messrs T. Pilling ar d B. W. Winn, J'd.P., Daniel Spence, James Murray, and Mary Murray were charged with drunkenness on the previous evening, and with having no lawful means of support. All the accused pleaded guilty to the first charge but entered a plea of not guilty ou the aeoond. Sergeant Bowman deposed that they bad been about the Cbineße Camp the previous day in a atate of drunkenness and the people in the neighbourhood complained of their oonduot. Iv regard to the second charge he pointed out that they were all old offenders and were simply roving about the country preying upon the settlers. He pointed out. that it devolved upon the accused to show that they had means of support. 'The male accused said that though they bad no money they had josl left work, and, if allowed to go Would have no difficulty in getting work in the country. The female accused denied that she was a vagrant. She had never been gu\Uy of a more serious offence than drunkeness and said she had a son 28 years of age who contributes to her support.

The Beach, (addressing the accused) said they had decided to convict and discharge them on the first ohuge. On the second they WOQld also be COOVic'teA and ordered to oome op for sentence when called upon. This would give them an opportunity (if they were sincere in their promise) to get away from the town and look for work; whereas, if they misbehaved again, they would be re-arrested and severely dealt with. The accused were tbeD discharged from custody. •