FROM THE ARCHIVES:The Recorder's Court dispensed summary justice in Green Street courthouse in Dublin: these were some of the cases before it on one day.
Embezzlement
William Williams pleaded guilty to the misappropriation of certain small sums of money, the property of his employers.
Rev. Mr. Robinson, Rector of Ovoca [sic], gave accused a good character. The boy’s mother would repay the money taken, and he (Rev. Mr. Robinson) would send the boy to New Zealand.
The Recorder said that the embezzlement had apparently not been deliberately planned. He would give the prisoner the benefit of the First Offenders Act, and discharged him on the understanding that he was sent to New Zealand.
A Remarkable Case
Simon Connor and James Kelly pleaded guilty to having snatched from a lady a handbag, containing 16s. [shillings] and two keys. A person – not the prisoner – was arrested and identified by the lady as the thief, and he was tried and convicted, although he was perfectly innocent.
All that he said was that he had nothing to say. After the case had appeared in the newspapers Connor and Kelly surrendered themselves, and furnished proof of their guilt. The innocent person was discharged.
The Recorder said as the two prisoners had a bad record he would sentence each to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Glass Breaking
John Doran pleaded guilty to having maliciously broken plate glass windows in the establishments of Messrs. Todd, Burns, and Co., Mary street, and Messrs. McBirney and Co., Aston’s quay.
Mr. Bushe, K.C., said these offences were committed at ten minutes before nine o’clock at night. They should be committed between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. in order to entail penal servitude.
The Recorder said: “If they were within the Act I should award seven years’ penal servitude.”
Mr. Bushe said this prisoner did £67 worth of damage, and he had only just come out of jail. The Recorder sentenced the prisoner to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Wm. P. Kelly pleaded guilty to having smashed a window in the shop of Mr. E. Moore, Eden quay.
The Recorder said that in the hope of accused being reclaimed under the Borstal system he would sentence him to nine months’ imprisonment in Clonmel . . .
Assault
Peter Egan pleaded guilty to assaulting Michael McGrath, by knocking him through the window of Mr. Kennedy’s shop, Mary street.
Mr. Vincent Rice, who defended, appealed on behalf of the prisoners, on the ground that on the day the assault was committed he had a day’s pass out of hospital, and was not in a condition to stand the drink he took on the occasion. Prisoner was bound over to come up for judgement at the January Sessions.
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