RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

West Coast Times, Issue 682, 30 November 1867, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before a. GL FitzGerald, Esq., R.M.) Friday, November 29. Drunk and Incapable. — John M'Quillan was fined 10s, with the alternative of four-and-twenty hours' imprisonment in default of payment. His Worship cautioned M'Quillan against being brought I before him again on a similar charge, as lie had been convicted of drunkenness on five different occasions within the last year. Breach of Westland Public House Ordinance. — Thos. Homan was charged on the information of Sergeant Hickson with, on the 25th inst., knowingly permitting persons of notoriously bad character to meet together and remain in his licensed house, the Horse and Groom Hotel. Mr Harvey appeared for the de- i fondant. From the evidence of Sergeants Sugrue and Hickson it appeared that on the day in question threo or four prostitutes behaved themselves in an most vn 1 seemly manner in the street in the front of the defendant's house, so that a crowd of persons gathered round. They afterwards went into the defendant's house, where several prostitutes and one or two drunken men were assembled. A woman rushed from the house into the street within any dress on. One of the men was attempting to get into the tramway car which had stopped in front of the defendant's bar door, and the women were holding him back. They created great disturbance by shouting and clapping their hands, so much so that the neighbors came out to see .what the matter was. Mr Harvey contended that the evidence did not go to prove that the people who had assembled at the defendant's house were of a notoriously bad character. A sort of sweeping statement had been made to the effect that the women were prostitutes, but still no names had been mentioned. He was informed that there had been a sale next door to the defendant's house on the day in question, and that they had gone into his house to have a drink. If the landlord of a public-house was expected to enquire the characters of people before he served them with drink, he might as well close his house. He contented that it had not been shown that the people who were assembled at defendant's houso were what he considered the Act meant by the words "persons of notoriously bad character," viz., convicted thieves and felons. Mr Harvey called George Flint, who deposed that he was present at defendant's house on the day in question when the police entered the house. He did not hear any noise. He did not see any women there. — His Worship adjourned the case till the following day in order that he might have an opportunity of considering the provisions of clause XV. of the Ordinance under which the information had been laid. The defendant was then charged under clause 13 of the same ordinance with obstructing q, constable in the performance of his duty by refusing him admission into a room in his hotel. From the evidenco of Sergeants Hicksou and Sugree, it was shown that the former was refused admission by the defendant to a r.oom in his house. Defendant said he would admit him when it suited his convenience, and, subsequently positively relused the

Sergeant admission to his room. Defendant said something about his wife having gone out and taken the key with her. His Worshipfined the defendant L 2 and costs. His Worship added that ie would be as well for him to take this opportunity of informing the defendant that several complaints had been made to him as to the disorderly way in which the defendant conducted his house. Destruction of Property/.^- Thomas Minton was charged by Thomas Miller with, on the 25th instant, throwing down certain piles, the property of the complainant, thereby doing damage to the extent of L 5. Mr Rees appeared for the defendant. The complainant failed to prove his case, and his Worship dismissed the information. The Court then adjourned till eleven o'clock on the following day.