LOCAL POLICE COURTS. KIRKBY STEPHEN – MONDAY, AUG. 31 (Before DR. SIMPSON and THOMAS MASON, Esq.) ALLEGED ROBBERY AT A LODGING-HOUSE. A railway labourer named JOHNSON was charged by MRS. MARY ANN SANDERSON, the keeper of a lodging house at Brough, with stealing half-a-sovereign on Saturday last. From the evidence of prosecutor and her two sons, it appeared that on the night in question, MRS. SANDERSON left the house in charge of her son GEORGE HENRY SANDERSON, a boy about eleven years of age. Shortly afterwards, an older and married son – WILLIAM JAMES SANDERSON – called and left half-a-sovereign for his mother, which he placed upon the table. Soon after this, prisoner came in to stay for the night, and after sitting a little while, gave the boy 2s. 6d. and sent him to make some marketing. Whilst on this errand he met with his mother, and the two returned to the house, where prisoner was still sitting. The boy had told his mother about the money WILLIAM had left, but when they looked on the table for it, it was not there. They immediately came to the conclusion that the prisoner had stolen it, and MRS. SANDERSON charged him indirectly with doing so. This he denied, but the son WILLIAM and the policeman were sent for, and he was taken into custody. On being searched, no half sovereign was found upon him, but it appeared that on the same night, about eleven o’clock, one CHRISTOPHER RUDD was coming out of a workshop immediately behind MRS. SANDERSON’s, belonging to her son, when, as he closed the door, he heard something fall and jingle like money. On picking it up, it proved to be half-a-sovereign. The inference of the prosecution was that the coin had first been stolen by prisoner and then laid above the workshop door till he should leave. – The Bench, after considering the case said that however strong the inference might be, they could not convict on the evidence, and the case was therefore dismissed. DRUNKENESS, &c. – WILLIAM WHITEHEAD, shoemaker, was fined 11s. including costs, for being drunk and disorderly in the Main Street, Kirkby Stephen, on the 23rd ult. - PETER FOWLER, Crosby Garrett, had 20s. and costs to pay as penalty for a similar offence committed at Crosby Garrett. - TIMOTHY HALL, labourer, Brough, was sentenced to expiate the folly of drunken and riotous behaviour by paying 10s. and costs. - MARY PAGE, wife of WM. PAGE, Ravenstonedale, was charged with assaulting and beating a boy named WILLIAM RICHARDSON. Case dismissed. - An information for assault had been laid by JAMES THOMAS PURCHAS against ROBT. GILIAN, but the matter settled “out of court.” =============================================================== barb, ontario, canada.