RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 405, 17 November 1868, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Saturday, Nov. S. (Before J. Giles, Esq., R. M.) OBTAISIjS'a GOODS BY FALSE pbete:n t ces. William Bracken was charged, with obtaining, by false pretences, pies and coffee at the shop of Eelix West, baker. The prisoner had entered West's shop on Friday evening, and ordered pies and coffee, Offering also to treat Mrs. West to the same delicacies, as he " had plenty of money." When he had finished refreshing himself, he became troublesome, and, when asked for payment, said he did not intend to pay, and, shoving Mr West and his wife outside, rushed away. He was arrested afterwards by Detective Lambert, in one of the ball-rooms. The prisoner's statement was that he did not know he had no money on him at the time, and he endeavored to show that he was drunk, but the witnesses considered that he was sufficiently sober to be accountable for his actions and his debts.

The Magistrate considered the case resembled one which he had only lately had before him, and in which a man was charged with obtaining drinks by false pretences. He had dismissed that ease on the grounds that, to make out the charge, the person charged must be shown to have stated as a fact what was not the the fact. On the same grounds he must dismiss this case. In such cases, it rested with parties to protect themselves.

YAGtEAJTCT. Robert Mec was charged with having no visible lawful means of support, and the police proved his previous convictions, his preference for doing no work, and his selection of the society of prostitutes. The prisoner called a digger who said he had seen him with some diggers returning from work, but ho had never seen him work.

The Magistrate said the evidence certainly did not do credit to his character, and the police were right in keeping their eye upon him, but, for this occasion, he would dismiss him with a caution.