From Western Post & Mudgee Newspaper 5 June 1861: POLICE Monday May 3 Before the Police Magistrate and his Worship the Mayor. Matthew HAYES pleaded guilty to having been drunk on Sunday afternoon in Perry-street. Discharged with a caution. Susan BARGRAVES was charged by constable FARRAND with being drunk and using obscene language in the public streets on Saturday night. Prisoner said she had only left her master's service a short time before. She certainly did take a glass or so which had such an effect upon her head that it would not do for her to take another, and that if the Bench would forgive her and send a policeman with her she would take the pledge. She had not been in Mudgee long and did not expect to have been brought before their worships twice in so short a time. The Police Magistrate said he would try her once more, and ordered her to be locked up for 24 hours. Should she be brought up again for the same offence she would be very severely dealt with. Tuesday June 4th Before the Police Magistrate, and Messrs. MARLAY and CADELL. John HOGAN was fined 5s for being drunk. Thomas NEW, summoned for a breach of the Towns Police Act, was fined 10s and 3s 6d costs for allowing a cow to stray in Market-street. Mr HUGHSON, who appeared to answer a charge of allowing a steer to stray upon the Government reserve, enquired of the Bench if it was not contrary to British rule and law to punish a person twice for the same offence? There being no commonage for the inhabitants, the beast in question had been tied up ot a shed from which to could see the green grass growing that nature had ordained for its sustenance; it very naturally made an effort to get loose and succeeded, but was not permitted to enjoy itself long, for the police walked it off to the pound. He had paid the fees and was now called upon to show cause why he should not be fined. Mr MARLAY said thwer was not doubt it was a hard case, and it was a pity there was not a commonage for the use of the town. At Merriwa there were 1200 acres for that purpose. However, as the reserves were intended for public recreation, they had no alternative. Mr WARBURTON gave the police instructions to find out the owners of strayed catt! le, which would avoid the necessity of putting them into the pound. It being Mr HUGHSON's second offence, he was fined 10s and costs. The Rev. J GUNTHER was summoned for allowing a horse to be at large on the reserve. Mr GUNTER said - the horse had only been out a very short time; at 12 o'clock he told the Chinaman to take it to the river for a drink; the man let him out, and went into the kitchen; by one o'clock, to his surprise, he was served with a summons. This being the second offence, the same fine was inflicted as in the previous case. Mr Arthur COX was fined 10s for fifteen goats, 10s for a sheep and 7s 6d costs. The goats were said to be in charge of a lad who was taking them to water. Mrs BLACKMAN was fined 10s and costs for 6 pigs. ***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.