From Western Post & Mudgee Newspaper 16 October 1861 - POLICE COURT Tuesday, October 15th Before the Police Magistrate, his Worship the Mayor, Thomas CADDELL, and Robert LOWE, Esqrs. Robert CANN, charged with stealing two bottles of gin. Constable CAMPBELL deposed that he went to Burrundulla on Saturday last, and took the prisoner into custody upon a charge of stealing, on Friday, a bottle of gin, the property of Mr. WILSON, of Burrundulla hotel. The two bottles in Court were given to him by Mrs WILSON. Prisoner said, when taken into custody, "that they could do nothing to him" Mary WILSON said the prisoner had been drinking . at her husband's house on Friday; he was sitting in the bar, when, having occasion to leave, the prisoner went behind the counter and took a bottle off the shelf, which he was about putting under his shirt at the time she returned; she took it from him, when he said it was a bottle of honey. She put the bottle upon the shelf, and told him to be off; he replied that he was in a public house, and would stay as long as he liked. On Saturday, prisoner took a bottle and placed it in the bosom of a man who was in the house, saying it was a bottle of water; her husband came up at the time and gave the prisoner in charge. Cross-examined by Mr. BRODRIBB - The other man was called Joss; both had been drinking for a fortnight; Joss was in the horrors; CANN was not a good customer; she had trusted him with the spirits he had drunk. Ellen SWINEY said she was in the service of Mrs. WILSON; prisoner was at the house on Saturday, and while she went into a bedroom he took a bottle from behind the bar, and put it into the breast of a man who was in the horrors. Mr. BRODRIBB having addressed the Bench in mitigation of punishment , the man having evidently been drinking until he did not know what he was about. The Bench sentenced him to one month's imprisonment. James ATKINSON, was summoned for keeping a ferocious dog. J. FITZSIMMONS, who had laid the complaint, stated that defendant having sent the dog out of the town he did not wish to press the charge. The Bench said it was a very serious offence and as he had put the Court in motion they thought they ought to investigate the matter. Complainant having again pleaded that the dog, being removed, he was satisfied. The Bench agreed to dismiss the case. Mrs. HATHAWAY, was charged with using insulting language to Mrs. HUNT. From the evidence it appeared that both parties had quarreled about Mrs. HUNT beating defendant's child, which resulted in Mrs. HUNT challenging Mrs. HATHWAY to fight, which she politely refused to do; she was then told by Mrs. HUNT that she would knock her brains out; naughty words ensued, and Mrs. HATHAWAY ran to the Court House for a summons, but was too late; on the following morning Mrs HUNT stole a march, and took out a summons against defendant. Witnesses were called pro and con, who did not assist in clearing up the matter. The Bench said it was evident that complainant was as bad as defendant, which was no justification; they would, however, take it into consideration, and inflict a fine of 10s and costs. George WILSON, charged with breaking from the Braidwood lock-up, was remanded in consequence of Mr. HARDY being absent from Mudgee on duty. ***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