From Western Post, 9 March 1861: SMALL DEBTS COURT Saturday March 2 TUCKER v MERRIMAN - Claim for £6 odd for goods sold and delivered. Mr JAMES appeared for defendant. Dismissed for want of jurisdiction. WHITFIELD v MILLER - Struck out for want of parties. From Western Post, 16th March, 1861: POLICE Tuesday, March 12 Before Messrs. CADELL and LYONS J CORN remanded last week for being of unsound mind was brought up for disposal. Dr KING, who has attended CORN, said he was suffering from a softening of the brain, produced probably from excess drinking. He had not exhibited any violence during his remand, and as his master was willing to take him back he might be set at liberty. The Bench said he had improved so much in appearance they would discharge him. George FOSTER was accused by John RANDALL with stealing a quantity of fire wood. Complainant having been sworn, said he rented a paddock at Red Bank and had men in his employ felling the trees for fire wood. On the 7th instant , while the men were drawing a load of it to Mudgee, FOSTER took advantage of their absence and carted a heap away. He met him the next morning near READFORD's , and spoke to him on the subject, he replied that the wood was as free to him as it was to complainant, and that he would not pay for it. CRIMMINS and two other men could prove that he took the wood. CRIMMINS, upon being called, wished to know, before giving his evidence, who was to re-imburse him for his loss of time. The Bench informed him that as he had witnessed a wrong, like a good citizen, he was bound to give evidence. CRIMMINS: Doubtless that is all very well, but it would not feed his wife and children. He thought if a man was obliged to leave his work for the purpose of court, someone ought to pay him. This time he would give evidence, and took his place in the box, was sworn, and asked what he knew, when he replied, with much sang froid, - Nothing. He never saw Foster in the paddock taking away wood. There being no other witnesses, the case was dismissed. ***END*** Annette Piper Please note: Every effort has been to transcribe the above information correctly, however errors may have inadvertently been made. Spelling of surnames/places as appears in original.