Police Court.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 249, 19 January 1889, Page 2

Police Court.

(Before J. Booth, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness.—Alfred Weston was charged with his usual offence, drunkenness. Sergeant Bullen said thia was the 15th conviction against the prisoner. Since Weston’s libsration on the last occasion until the time of his re arrest he had been continually in a state of drunkenness. He (Sergeant Bullen) would like the heaviest penalty to ba inflicted, as it was no good letting the prisoner off with a light fine. The Bench said that Weston had promised to reform on the last occasion, but had not done so, and if he ware brought up again it would be on a charge oi habitual drunkenness, and he would probably ba sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. In this caso the prisoner would be fined £2, with the alternative of tour days’ imprisonment. Lunacy.—J. Goodall was charged with lunacy. The Bench said it appeared that tha prisoner was suffering from the effects of drink. Sergeant Bullen said if tha prisoner were remanded for eight days he would be able to procure medical assistance. A remand was accordingly granted. Disorderly Conduct.—George Burnand and Karaitiana Burn were both charged with fighting on the Karaka race course. The; former pleaded guilty, stating that he had' been drinking and knew nothing whatever about the occurrence. The native said they were only having a bit of fun, and he would not think of fighting Burnand, who was his dearest friend. The off- niers were fined £1 each T-James Scott pleaded guilty to a charge of being drunk and disorderly on tbe Karaka race course, and was fined 10s. On another charge, of using obscene language, Scott was sentenced to 80 days' imprisonment. “Under and Over.”—William Tidier was charged with playing an unlawful game on the Waerenga-a-kika race course.—Mr Brassey appeared for the defendant, and said that he would plead Not Guilty, and he would also object to the information as it did not make any specific charge, end also that it did not state what the instrument of gaming was.— Sergeant Bullen said the information was laid in accordance with the Act. —Mr Brauey said it was not so, as the Act distinctly stated that the instrument of gaming must be mentioned, —The Bench overruled Mr Brassey’e objection.—Constable Farmer deposed that he was on the race course on Wednesday last and saw the prisoner playing a game with dice, called “ Under and O ver." There was a crowd round the table, but he did not see any money. Witness was then going on to explain how the game was played, when Mr Brassey objected, saying that it was not necessary, as Mr Booth knew how to play tbe game.—Mr Booth, however, denied having any knowledge of the game.—Mr Brassey said that on the evidence now before the Court, the information would have to be dismissed. He eon. sidered that it was a very curious thing that a man should be arrested on such an information. The constable himself said that there was no money on tha table, and for all they knew, the prisoner might have been playing the game for his own recreation. There was not one tittle of evidence to show that tha man was committing a fraud, and he therefore submitted that the charge should bs dismissed.—Mr Booth said that he could not convict on tha evidence, as the constable stated there was no money on tbe tablesHowever, suspicions were vary strong against the prisoner, and there was proof that dice were thrown.—The information was then dismissed.

False Pretences.—D C Monteith, alios H M Brandon, pleaded guilty on three charges of obtaining money by false pretences, by moans of altering valueless cheques. The prisoner was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for issuing two cheques of £9 101 each, which he handed to Mr S M Wilson, and also to three months’ imprisonment for obtaining £8 10s from Mr A C Tibbitt. Th* prisoner said ha had been drinking at tha time, and before leaving Napier he had asked k friend to lodge some money in the bsniq whilh had Mt been donri