From Western Post, 13 July 1861: POLICE COURT Tuesday, July 9 Before the Police Magistrate and Mr Thos. CADELL. James CLOUGHAN was charged with stealing a side of leather. Mr BRODRIBB defended prisoner. Constable CAMPBELL said he apprehended the prisoner on Monday by virtue of a warrant. He found him at his residence in Gladstone-street; when he told him the charge he denied it, and said that PERRY, the man that had laid the information, had had a side of leather and had worked it all up. Richard PERRY, the prosecutor, not appearing, a summons was issued for his attendance. Mr BRODRIBB requested that the prisoner might be liberated on his own recognisances, which the Bench refused, he being a ticket of leave holder. George WILSON, a very suspicious character, and recent arrival in Mudgee, was charged with being illegally on the premises of Mr READFORD for an unlawful purpose. Constable MORAN . having been sworn, stated he was on duty in Market-street between two and three o'clock on Tuesday morning, when he heard a slight noise, as if a person was making a signal for another. After listening for a short time, he proceeded up READFORD's yard, and saw prisoner and another man at an open window of the house. He immediately took hold of both men, and gave an alarm; the men commenced knocking him about the head and arms, biting his hands. and trying to choke him. He managed to cling to them, till he awoke one of Mr CHRISTIAN's men, who came to his assistance. The night was very dark, and they only managed to secure the prisoner. The other man escaped. Upon searching prisoner, a box of matches was found. He afterwards picked up a number of the same kind of matches under the window. W! READFORD said he did not know the prisoner; he closed his house a little before 12 o'clock, and went round to see tat all was secure; the window in question was shut. When roused by police, he found the sash was thrown wide up and fastened with a piece of wood. He had not missed anything; prisoner had no right in the yard. The prisoner, in defence, said he was a stranger and had left his bundle at some house which he did not know, and was looking for it; he complained of the rough treatment he had received from the Constable, who in the struggle used his teeth, both hands being engaged in holding the two rascals. The Bench said he was evidently on the premises for an unlawful purpose, and would have effected it, but for the timely arrival of the police. Sentenced to three months in Mudgee Gaol. ( A second charge for attempting to strange the policeman was not gone into). ***END*** N.B. All care has been taken to transcribe the above accurately, however errors may have been inadvertently made. Spelling of names/places should be as appears in original. Transcribed from microfilm available from the State Library. Annette Piper Coolah NSW