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Hobart Town Police Report.

Monday, August 14.  

Amelia Freeman and Elizabeth Simpson,

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two ladies of renown, one came waddling" like a duck, and' the other sideways like a crab, both charged by Constable Legg, a qew hand, with being drunk. Amelia said it was very hard, she was not in the habit of coming to such a disagreeable place. " Well," said his Worship, " you can't say that I'm sure, Simpson, for you are always here." " Why, sir, my husband makes me come, he won't let me have any thing in the shape of com- fort at home, and I am forced to go out and get it." .« Well, but you were drunk." " I know that, sir." " What say you, Freeman ?" Silence gave consent, she curtsied and smiled.

Both fined 5s.

Jeremiah Simpcock was charged with drunkenness,by Constable Marlow, who swore . to the fact. " Why, I was staggering and i singing a little bit to myself-I did no harm." ' Constable White differed with Mai low. " W hy,

Ïour Worship, I can't say he was drunk."s

'retty treat for the poor fellow to be kept in

a stinking watch-house all night,, and all for, the speculative operations of a prisoner con- stable, who was looking after half-a-crovvn. Discharged.*

Several more drunkards were placed in the «hewrbox. who all pleaded guilty,

charged by Constable Perkins, wno Has paruy relieved District Constable Clark in the ladies line,, with being in town, contrary to orders. She was ordered one month's recreation at the wash tub, and then to depart for her country lodgings.

John Edwards was convicted of larceny, he was summarily dealt with, and sentenced to labor six months on the roads, for the benefit

of his health.

William Benyon was ordered to Port Arthur, for absconding.

Charles Anderson was complained of by William Lear, for assaulting his son, about eight years of age. It appeared the defendant was employed by Mr. Milward in the front of his store and was much annoyed by a num-  

ber of boys, who, though mildly asked to

leave, kept loitering about the premises, to   the great annoyance of the defendant, who   dabbed a paint brush in the boy's face, upon which the youngster threw stones at him, and

defendant afterwards kicked him, but not vio- lently. As an assault was proved he was fined

1s. and costs

John Pellinger, William Driscoll, and Henry Hamilton were fined 5s/ each for drunkenness. -' *"

John, commonly called Kiddy Elliott, was committed to gaol for trial, in default of bail, on a charge of robbing Mrs. Mary Ann Top-

ham.

Tuesday, August 15.

Isaac Rodgers, John Manning, David ', Fawns, Janet Robinson, and Martha Smith,

all-bowed' to thecharge of drunkenness. The, ladies were admonished, and warned not to > appear again. Manning and Fawns paid the customary dubs, and poor Isaac took his seat

in the stocks. >

Robert Barrows was charged by his mis- tress with having the company of two ladies in the coach-house. The ladies, Elizabeth Lane and Mary Sullivan, not satisfactorily account- ing for their nocturnal visit to the coach- house, were ordered to the House of Correc- tion for seven days, and the gay Lothario to

the tread-wheel.

Four seamen of the Glenbervie were charged with gross disorderly conduct on board that vessel then lying in the harbour. Their con- duct was proved to have been very outra- geous, and two of them were ordered one month each to the House of Correction, and the others discharged.

Constable Price produced a keg, containing five gallons of rum which he had seized, being conveyed without a permit. The rum appear- ed to have heen intended for Mr. Douglass, of the Ordnance Department, as his rations. An excuse was made that being removed on Military service no permit was necessary, and it had been customary to remove ration Turn without a permit. On reference to the Permit Act no distinction whatever is made, or ap-

pears to be intended, and the rum was con- - demned. This opinion was afterwards con- firmed by the Crown Law Officers, and Price cheerfully carried the keg away.

Jphn Ross, a servant of Mrs. Gellibrands, was, summarily convicted of stealing a silver tea spoon, and his existing sentence extended

two years,'and he was ordered to be sent to ,''

the roads. J'

, Henry Shaw was convicted of stealing a S air of trowsers, the, property .of Mr. James

ievell, and his existing sentence was ordered

to be extended t<YQ years, and to be sent to the <

roads.

Petty Constable, Perkins charged Michael Connell, a very decripid .old man, .. with a breach of the Police Act» as .to indecency iii the public streets. The poor old man pleaded physical debility. The fine is imperative fiye pounds, but he was allowed fourteen day« , to pay it.

Stephen Gladwell, a freeman, had been sent all the way from Brighton, on suspicion

of being James Gladwell, a runaway. Dis- . charged.

Petty Constable Perkins appeared to sub- *

stantiatehis charge against Andrew Rhind," l a free ropn, who he swore to have been con-.

cerned, in a .felony. AH he could now say was, J that he had been told something by an7 other man, which induced him to^suspect Rhind and charge him with the offence, ot which there was not the slightest evidence ad- duced. The man having been confined ever since Saturday night, on the'bare charge of a prisoner »-etty constable, naturally murmured, but he had no remedy. Such a dangerous precedent needs no comment. m

Two women and two men were placed in the box on a charge of having stolen .or been con- cerned in stealing four,twenty pound notes and a five pound note, the property of Dr. Arthur, who deposed that on Sunday night on going to bed, he placed his trowsers (in the pocket of which were the notes in a pocket book) on a sofa at the foot of the bed ; that he did not look into his pocket-hook until three o'clock the next day, when he found it empty. Very strong suspicion attaching to a female

assigned servant of having stolen, and several | of the others receiving part of the money, they

were all remanded.

Wednesday, August 16.

' Richard Towser and Thomas Black, were -jsk.iWwïv&T. cfiiM-licHry-onapman, two run-

aways from the hulk gang, who had got down the river, were examined at great length upon several serious charges. On the first of last March, Mr. Flight, at Blackman's Bay, was surprised at a visit from them, who stated they

were unfortunate and wished to return to town.

Mr. Flight having compassion, took them in for the night, and fed and comforted them. The wind proving foul, he kept them from Saturday night until Monday, when early in the morning the family was disturbed by their leaving the house, robbing it, and making to Flight's boat, which they forcibly seized and made off with. It seems they hovered about the neighbourhood for a fortnight, and then paid another visit to Flight, entered the house in his absence, confined his wife, and stripped the house of every article of provision, and escaped a second time. An alarm was spread and by the assistance .of the straggling Police in that remote part, they were taken with the boat and the major part of the plunder. They were fully committed for trial at the next sit- tings of the Supreme Court.

Petty Constable Perkins presented his in- formation against a licensed publican, for a breach of the Sunday clause of the Licensing Act, in neglecting to keep his outer doors shut and receiving persons in his house not being travellers. Several witnesses were called, who gave the most conflicting testimony. This case, like many others ot late, differed much from the former practice, that of receiving this sort of cases only from respectable District Constables of established and respectable cha- racter. Such cases forrneily were hardly lis tenned to unless some District had attended

with these Pettys at such houses on these Sun- day "occasions. The party was fined in the lowest penalty, £5.

The »same petty Constable charged an- other publican with, a similar offence, who has been recently fined before at the instance of the same Constable, and was now fined £10, ' being a second offence.

Margaret Richards was fully committed for trial for robbing William Fellsinger of two sovereigns.

Thursday, August 17.

Edward Whitehouse was called and charged with a breach of the Consolidated Act, in having in his possession a quantity of stone called metal, above the value of 2s., the   property of the Crown. Whitehouse did not     appear. An elderly man explained - "I am very sorry, Sir, that Mr. Whitehouse can't come - he would be very happy to come, Sir, if he could." Magistrate - "Why can't he come?" "Oh, Sir, why he's rather queer - he's very bad in his bowels for a day or two, but I   appear for him." "I do not see any sin, sir," said  the Dean of St. Giles," "if I may be parmitted     to explain Whitehouse's sarcumstances.   He is afeard of a tap on the shoulder,   but I believe that will be all wiped away in a day or two." He sighed and retired. The old man appeared surprised at the Dean's communication, and was about to explain, when the Tulip, the Man of Metal, roared out - "It's no use talking - he be'nt game to show out - it's all gammon - that's the way to say it." The service of the summons was duly proved, and the case proceeded. How far it is within the meaning of the Act must be left to the judgment of our readers; at any rate, the decision it seems renders a man liable to punishment for a serious offence if he takes a little common metal to lay before his door-way. Mr. Frange, calling himself Town Surveyor, deposed, that Edward - Whitehouse was employed by the inhabitants   of Murray-street, who are repairing that street by subscription, to remove some metal from the quarry in Elizabeth-street, in the course of which, he removed a load and placed it on his   own premises without the authority of him the Town Surveyor, who cautioned him, and told him it was Government property. For

this offence he was fined £2.

A very respectable devout judge like looking elderly gentleman, with a- black silk cap on his head, craved his worship's serious atten- tion to the- nature of his < complaint" against

John Richardson, a puritanical'looking1 gen àfeman,1 wtó'wte placed in die, boy. « Well; ¿r, whatisit?" /'Why, Mow ye that mjr servaht hatti'doMthat which he ought not to have done." "Why, what is it?", «rWhy,f sir, hes hath \taken unto^ himself :my watch, which'I only lent'him." Richardson, who tór sbmetiihepà'èt, under the directions of his master, has been va sort of second-hand Tract Deliverer, askéd'permissiprí to explain. "Well, I sir ?*' " WHV, sir, I Tia^e ?>een 'with my ma5"'

terneàrly seven years-^lwáysattended chapel, prayer rneetings, and sb' forth, and he pro-

mised me 5s. a week for clothes and other ne- j cessaries, and often 'could not pay me all at once, and I eould'nt pay for my washing, and as I like to gd decent to chapel, and was rather hard up for a shirt, why, I pawned the watch; but Lord, your Worship, he knows what this charge was brought for-because I would'nt knock a boy down to please him. Little Mr. Watkins stepped up and said as how he did'rtt think that this here gemmen

would do any such thing. " Silence Mr. Wat- kins." " I only spoke, sir." " Oh dear," said the_ master, with a heavy groan^" I ara. a^ frig them-I would rather 'tbey^wöulof turn from their wickedness, and ' make my shoes, and tan my hides' in a Christian-like manner ; I am affraid he is getting on in this way be- cause his ticket-of-leave is due." Richardson said this was his first offence, and now his master wanted to stop his indulgence and did not like to lose him. Mr. Swift stood by and sighed heavily at this accusation being made against a brother groaner, and the master, scratching his head, finding the cap did'nt fit, made off. Richardson was ordered to pro- duce the watch in the course of the next day.

Friday, August l8.

George Watson was charged with being drunk and insolent to Mr. Carter, his master. " Well now, what say you to this charge ?" "Vy, vat my master says must be true." " Well then, you must be confined six nights in a cell, and do your work through the day."

William Letnmon, a ci-devant groaner, was charged by Constable Major with drunken- ness. " Well now, what say you Mr. Lem tnon." " Why, sir, I was a little the worse for what I took-it is a long time since I was here-I was a different character altogether until lately.-Fined 5s.

Charles Chadwick, assigned servant to Mr. Petchey, was charged with misconduct in leaving his service and remaining absent with- out leave.-Sentenced to the tread-wheel 21 days.

Charles Jones, was complained of by Mr. I Farrall the butcher, at Kangaroo Point. It

appeared the man had been doing some work for him, and some dispute arose about a set- tlement, and he called him a swindler. " How

dare you be so insolent to this respectable gentleman and call him a swindler ?" "Yes, sir, 1 did call him a swindler, and I eould'nt help it." " Well, you must be confined 14 days in a cell."

District Constable Clark complained of John Clark for having bid connections in Hobart Town, and having been upon very intimate terms, and closely connected with one of the females concerned in the robbery at Dr. Ar- thur's, and having refused to answer certain Questions put to him by him the said District

lonstable John Clark, and also having in his possession a watch and guard, which < he said he had received of Mr. Morrison's man to keep for him, and which assertion was not disproved ; and also with having refused to give himself up to the said District, and swearing he would not go. The prisoner pleaded not guilty to this long preamble, but it was sworn to, and though Mr. Morrisson's man was not called to say whether the prisoner told a lie or not about the watch, he was taken from a respectable service and sent to the roads on probation.

John Pearsall, of Clarence Plains, com- plained of Terence M'Manus having cut, des- troyed, and taken away timber from his farm. It appeared this matter had been canvassed at great length before Mr. Dawson, the Magi- strate in that District, and dismissed. As nothing more was adduced now than had been before him, and nothing of a criminal nature being proved, the case was dismissed.

Mr. Lawrence, the pilot, complained of Mr. Douglass of the schooner Gem, having refused to, receive him on board, as a pilot, to conduct that vessel into port. Mr. Solicitor Wynne attended for the defendant, and argued that the defendant carried true colours,, denoting his vessel being a coaster! .The pilot laboured under the impression that the Captain carried false dolours, and told him so, and asked him for the usual certificate^ which vwas not pro- duced. Mr. Wynne's ingenuity failed, and the defendant was ordered, according' to the provisions of the Act j to pay the complainant his demand for pilotage, £3 IS. and costs.

The persons confined on suspicion of rob- bing Dr. Arthur underwent a long examina-

tion, and were remanded.

Mrs. Mary Smith, who had the' preceding day made a lamentablecoraplaint against John Ferguson for abusing her, and threatening to knock her brains out with a log of she oak, on being now called declined further proceed- ings/ her fears having subsided, and her

brains, Recome more discharged. ' " ' t

settled. Ferguson was'

Two men, belonging > to the public works,! were summarily tried andJ convicted of steal- ing a quantity of pitch. Their sentences ex- tended-one for two years, and the other for one year. v, '?»«..

Mrs. Grace Nance complained of Mrs. Maria Vowels, for using bad language and threat- ening her The back part of the ladies' resi- dences join, and Grace's game cock strayed into Maria's back premises, and when Grace   applied for the fowl Maria took up a stick and threatened to kill cock and all. "Well, Mrs.   Vowels, what say you ?" " Why, sir, how could I strike her with the stick across my paling? " Grace-" well, but your language"' " Oh !" said Maria; " and look at your's." Then came Mrs. Costello, a neighbour, who chattered about Grace s foul mouth, and to complete the quartette, up stepped a Govern- ment sailmaking overseer, with a brutus as stiff as horse hair, and insisted on being heard. " Well, sir," said his worship, " have you any complaint-what's your name, sir ?" Rubbing up his brutus-" my name is Mar "Sir, if you heard what I have to say you would act very differently"-(here Mr. Dris- coll had kindly endeavoured to reconcile the ladies.)-This consummate impudence met with a proper rebuke : the little strutting gentle- man said " he must be heard " " Well, sir." " Why the conduct of Mrs. Vowels to me, as a respectable Government Officer, is not at all consonant with my feelings. Her conduct is most violent " " Well, sir, she is a prisoner, and you must see the principal Superintend- ent." And away flew the master to the Su- perintendent's Office, and the ladies' case pro- ceeded, silence being obtained. " Well, now, Mrs. Grace." " Sir, my name is Nance, and I am an injured woman." Tears followed. Maria groaned, and bitterly complained of Grace's game cock. Then Mrs. Costello be- gan and altogether almost distracted his Wor- ship with their clamour, and poor Grace was

ordered to find sureties. After a little remon- strance from his Worship, all parties became reconciled, except the master, who declared he would have his revenge of these women.

William Rawling, William Darnley, and Geoige Donnell, were charged with drunken- ness. " What say you all ?" Donnell " Why, guilty, sir." " How can you acknow- ledge your guilt?" " It's no use doing other- wise." Darnley-" Why, your Worship, its the first time." " Oh, don't 'say that," said the Constable, " you were forgiven last week." " Well, I need'nt thank you for that." Raw ling-" Oh, its no use to deny it. I was drunk." " You are fined 5s^ each."

Saturday, August 19.

George Watson, assigned to Mr. Carter, was charged by his master with using bad language, and threatening to beat his fellow servant. " What say you ?" " Why, they all began about me, because I was in a little trouble yesterday, and I threatened to put "them all on the fire, if they did'nt mind what they were about" "Why, you were here, yesterday." " Yes, sir, as they goes on, I am like to be here every day in the week." " Oh, no, you 8ha'nt, for I'll send you to the cell for nine days on bread and water." " Oh, thank you, sir ; that's a stopper."

A man and a woman were placed in the box, both having the preceding night given each other in charge for robbery. The man said the woman had robbed him of a pound, and the woman said he had stolen her bonnet and shawl. They had both been at a public house drinking, and both it seemed claimed for value received ; but as the consideration appeared uncertain and doubtful, they were both re-

manded. .

Mr. Solicitor Dobson appeared on the part of Richard Griffiths, an overseer at Mess8rs. M'Lachlan and Young's Fishery, who had complained the preceding day of Richard Barton and the overseer, for having taken part of a whale, about which there Was a dispute, but which matter the Magistrates had declined interfering with. The learned Solicitor then contended there had been a riot, and that it was necessary Barton and the other alledged rioters should be summoned. Barton now appeared, and candidly admitted he claimed part of the'whale in question, but denied any thing in the shape ot a riot, of which there was not; the slightest legal proof adduced. Mr. Dobson engaged the Court for a considerable time, with a learned disquisi- tion upon riots routs, assemblies, and so forth, which almost posed Mr. Driscoll, arid he to cut the matter short, enquired if the complainant feared anything in the shape of a breach of the peace. Complainant did not seem to under- stand the learned terms set forth in the infor- mation, and admitted this was the first time he had ever taken an oath, and hesitated as to his fear of any breach of the peace. The learned lawyer remarked, that he should cer- tainly indict all the parties at the ensuing Sittings of the Court for a- riot, and that in the meantime, the defendant-might go to the opposite parties with " peace o» Ais Ups and war in his heart," , This sublime observation had the desired effect, and Barton was bound over, and the question of right as to the whale adjourned-sine die.

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