RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

West Coast Times, Issue 608, 5 September 1867, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before G. G. FitzGerald, Esq., R.M.) Wednesday, September 4. Vagrancy. — Thomas Barbfr, the individual who was on the 3rd inst. accused with stealing from Patrick Corey the sum of L2O, was now charged under section ii. clause iv. of the Vagrant Act '"with being the occupier of a house frequented by reputed thieves and' persons who have no visible lawful means of support." — Mr Button appeared for the prisoner.— Richard Dyer deposed that he was a detective officer. He arrested the prisoner on the 4th inst. To his (witness's) knowledge prisoner had kept a brothel for the last ten weeks. He had never known him to do any work. Amongst other prostitutes who resided at the prisoner's house in the month of August was a female known by the name of Louisa O'Brien, who had been twice convicted by the Besident Magistrate of larceny. Witness had also seen a notorious cha- - racter, Joseph Johnson, in the prisoner's # house. Johnson had been convicted in Dunedin, and had undergone a sentence of four years. The prisoner immediately on his arrival in Hokitika established a brothel in Hamilton street, but ho removed from there.— Mr Button here objected to this evidence. — Cross-examined by Mr Button — Witness had seen Johnson in the house on two or three different occasions. He was una«

ble to say whore he lived. Witness believed the woman O'Brien left prisoner's because she was accused of stealing a bottle of gin. He had heard so. Charles Townley Browne stated that he was a detective police officer. He knew the prisoner. Prisoner^ keeps a brothel. A female named Louisa O'Brien lived in his house at one time. She was a convicted thief: Witnoss had .seen the man Johnson coming out of the prisoner's house ,' he was standing \inder the verandah. |Wne Bench— The house is not licensed. By Mr Button— Johnson is a young man By the Court— There is no business earned on in the house. Constable Elliot was called, and was questioned as to the evidence given by the woman O'Brien on the day previous. Mr Button objected to the questions. His Worship said that the evidence was inadmissable. This closed the case for the prosecution. Mr Button (for the prisoner) contended that it was a very paltry case. The house had been proved to be a brothel, but it also had been shown that as soon as the prisoner found the woman O'Brien to be a thief, he had turned her away. — Detective Browne had stated that Johnson was a young man, and, consequently, a very likely person to go to such a house. The Act contemplates the suppression of houses were thieves congregate and plot villany, and in this case that had not been established. — His Worship remanded the prisoner till the following day.

CIVTL CASES.

There was a long list of civil cases for small debts disposed of to-day. Judgment in all the cases was, w^th one or two exceptions, either allowed to go by default, or the cases were dismissed for non-ap-pearance, or settled out of Court. The Court was then adjourned till eleven o'clock next day.