From Western Post & Mudgee Newspaper 21 December 1861 - POLICE COURT Friday December 20th Present - The Police Magistrate, R LOWE Esq., and N P BAYLY, Esq. Jane COUGHLAN, pleaded guilty to being drunk in Market-street, was fined 20s., or, 48 hours imprisonment. H. KING, out on bail, forfeited 20s., for not appearing to answer a charge of being drunk and disorderly in the public streets. James SMITH, remanded for robbing a hut. Jessy SHEAN, son of the witness who was examined on the former occasion, in reply to questions put to him by the Bench, said, he did not know how old he was; he had never been to school; could neither read nor write; had never said his prayers, and did not know what would become of him if he did any thing wrong. The Bench very properly refused to admit the boy's evidence, and reprimanded the mother for so shamefully neglecting her child. There being no other evidence, The prisoner in defences, called Thomas KNOWLES, who said the prisoner had been in his employ from the 17th to the 24th November, and that he was not absent more than a few hours during the time. Wilson RAMSAY, surgeon, said he was present when the woman reported the robbery to Mr. BLOOMFIELD, and that he had sent a telegraph message to Sydney to stop the payment of the cheque; to which an answer was received that it was cashed several weeks previously. Neither Mr. BLOOMFIELD nor the woman's husband believed that the money had been stolen, and that she had concocted the story for the purpose of excusing herself. Prisoner was discharged. W SIMPSON, for breach of the Impounding Act. Mr. N P BAYLY, withdrew from the bench, and Mr. R. LOWE wished to do the same, but Mr. SIMPSON said he was quite willing that both gentlemen should try the case. Edward BAYLY, said defendant had impounded a calf belonging to him, for having on the 12th December entered his wheat paddock. The fence was very insecure and to serve Mr. ..... turned both horses and cows out of the wheat paddock. Had the fence been a proper one, a calf six weeks old would not have been strong enough to break it, he therefore had no right to place 4s. 6d. damages upon it. Mr. WALSH the poundkeeper, having been examined. The Bench ordered defendant to return 3s. and to pay the costs, 3s 6d. John BROWN, charged with illegal possession of a horse. Mr. CLARKE (for Mr. BRODRIBB) appeared for prosecutor. Mr. JAMES for defence. Constable MILLER, said he proceeded to Burrundulla, and, by virtue of a warrant, took possession of a grey horse, which was then in the police yard. He found him in Mr. COX's paddock. BROWN told him that he had purchased the horse in Sydney, and had given £7 for it. W. BLESHMIED, said the horse was his property; he had bought him of Mr. DOREY for £25. About the 14th November, he sent him to Sydney with a man named Martin MATE, who was to bring him back with a cart, two sets of harness, and a load of fruit - the profits of the fruit were to be divided. Cross-examined by Mr. JAMES - Had given £35 in money to a third party who went with MATE, and who was to buy the cart and hand over the difference to MATE, for him to buy oranges. MATE was to return in 3 weeks; he had not seen him since. A warrant having been issued for MATE, the case was adjourned for a month. ***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