NAVAN PETTY SESSIONS - Wednesday

     Before Mr. Burke-Irwin, R M (presiding)
    Others present were: - Sir John Dillon, Messrs T. Gerrard, F Sheridan, H Cullen and W N Waller.

THE VACCINATION ACT.

     The Navan Board of Guardians prosecuted John Clarke, Patrick Coyle, Thomas Kennedy, and Terence Newman for failing to have their respective children vaccinated as required by the Act of Parliament.- Mr. Sullivan prosecuted.- Dr. Ryan, registrar, examined by Mr. Sullivan, stated that in these cases there was no registration of vaccination. In the case of the boy Henry Newman, Mr. Davis, C P S mentioned that since the issue of the summons a certificate from Dr. Finnegan had been handed in.- Chairman: In the case of vaccination by an outside practitioner should not notice of it be given to the registrar.- Mr. Davis: Yes.- Mr. Sullivan said he would ask for costs of 10s in each of those cases and £1 is the Doctor's fee. He did not think the guardians should be put to expense in the matter.- The Chairman said those people should be taught that they should comply with the law; John Clarke would be fined 1s 6d and 6s 6d costs; Patrick Coyle, 5s and 15s costs; Thomas Kennedy, 1s and 5s costs; Terence Newman, 3s and 17s costs.

SANITARY CASES

     The Navan Urban District Council prosecuted Mr. Keappock for breach of the Public Health Act in not providing proper sanitary accommodation in the billiard room, situated in Trimgate street.- Mr. J Taylor appeared for the Board.- MR. J M'Donnell S S Officer deposed that he visited the premises and in consequence of what he saw he drew the attention of Dr. Ryan to it.- Dr. Ryan deposed to having examined the house in question. It was kept as a Billiard room. There was no sanitary accommodation in the place, and thus it caused a nuisance. There was no water closet or ash pit.- Mr. James Lawler, Town Clerk deposed that he was executive sanitary officer, this case had been reported to him and he caused the notice dated the 10th July to be served. Six weeks would be a reasonable time to make the sanitary accommodation. The usual order was made with £1 costs.
     The same Authority summoned Mr. E. Sclater in respect of a house occupied by Mrs. Meleady, in Watergate street. - Dr. Ryan stated that his attention was directed  to this house, and he found a nuisance in the yard by reason of there being no drain, but there was a nice channel outside.- Mr. Sclater: Are there not two water closets in drain into the channel.- I am not aware.- Mr. Clarke: Is there any proper water supply to the house? No.- Mr. Sclater mentioned that he had written asking a committee of the Commissioners should meet him and discuss the matter, and he was actually in consideration of the four of them when the notices were served on him.- Mr. Lawler: The instructions to the Solicitor to proceed were issued long before.- Dr. Ryan replying to further questions stated that there was no nuisance in the house and in his opinion a channel would be better than an underground pipe.- The Bench dismissed the case.
     Mr. R H Metge was summoned at the instance of the same Authority for a like offense in connection with two houses his property situated in Trimgate street. The summons server stated that when he served the summons he was informed that Mr. Metge was away from home, and the cases were accordingly adjourned.

DISORDERLY

     Constable Crotty summoned Michael Finnegan for being drunk and disorderly on the 18th October. Compainant stated that defendant was making use of very bad language and was  a common nuisance. The defendant was sent to jail for one month.

DRUNKENNESS

     Constable M'Cabe summoned Patrick Brien for being drunk on the public street of Navan. Fined 7s. 6d. Mary Goff at the instance of the same complainant was fined 5s for a like offence. Joseph Goff was fined 5s, the Bench intimating that if he came up again he would be sent to jail.

ALL OVER TWO DOGS

     Constable Joynt summoned a man named Peter M'Govern for interfering with him in the discharge of his duty.- Complainant deposed that on the day in question he had occasion to go to Mrs. Turner's about dogs which were fighting on the street. Defendant was present and asked what right he had to interfere, stating at the same time that witness had as much to drink as three men. He also caught him by the tunic. The latter part of the statement was denied, but the bench convicted and fined defendant 7s 6d.

CRUELTY

     Head Constable Henderson prosecuted James Clarke for being guilty of cruelty to a horse yoked to a cart, loaded with coal at Academy street, on the 21st October. Mr. Magee defended. The Head Constable stated that on the date mentioned in the summons he was coming from the railway and he saw defendant in the hollow of the road at Academy street in charge of a horse and cart, which was loaded with coal. Defendant's back was towards the witness and he saw him rise his foot and give the animal two fearful kicks. It was one of the most brutal things he had ever seen.- Mr. Magee: Was not this the second attempt that was made to get the horse up the hill?- I can't say. He was just starting when I saw him. He was not aware it was the second time defendant attempted to get the horse up the hill.- Mr. Magee said he would not deny the fact the man kicked the horse, but he wished to point out that a certain amount of punishment was allowable-- The bench convicted and fined defendant 7s 6d. The chairman remarked this was a serious offence and rendered the offender liable to two months' imprisonment.
     Constable Michael Beirne summoned Thomas Fitzsimons for being guilty of cruelty to a number of cattle in his charge on last Monday at Navan Fair Green. The Constable stated that on the day in question he found defendant in charge of a lot of cattle, the property of Mr. Sheridan. He was beating them with an ash plant (produced) without the slightest apparent cause. Defendant was fined 2s 6d. Before leaving the court defendant demanded the plant and on obtaining it asked the bench if he could hurt cattle with such a light stick.- Mr. Gerrard: If you got it laid across your own back you might not think it so light (laughter).

ALLEGED POACHING

     Sergeant Sullivan summoned two men named Christopher Clarke and Patrick Sherlock for being found in possession of 12 rabbits and 9 nets on the 20th of the present month.-- Mr. Magee defended,- The Sergeant stated that on the date in question he found the defendants coming from the direction of Lismullen demesne, which was Sir John Dillon's place. He asked them if they had permission to go on any land, and they stated they had liberty from Mr. Joe Kelly. He sent a constable to Kelly, who informed him that he had given no permission. Mr. Magee: Where did you take the nets? On the public road opposite the barracks. You asked them for the permission to kill ground game? Yes. Did they tell you they were coming from any particular place? Yes, from Kelly's. He might also mention that the men said Kelly had been with them that morning. Witness said he had never seen the men passing the barrack before-- Patrick Sherlock deposed, in reply to Mr. Magee, that on the morning the sergeant met them they were coming from catching rabbits on Kelly's land. He had permission from Miss Kelly (produced) to do so.-- Chairman: This will not do; it is not evidence. The lady should be here.-- Mr. Magee: Her brother is here and will verify the letter. By the Game Act of 1880 written authority is quite sufficient authority for anyone to kill ground game.-- Chairman: Yes, but that should be proved on oath.-- Mr. Magee: We have her brother here. I may mention that there is an arrangement with Miss Kelly by which my clients give a certain percentage of the rabbits they catch to the owner.-- Mr. J Kelly stated that he never objected to anyone going on his land to kill game. The written permission produced was in the handwriting of his sister. The rabbits damaged his property.-- Constable Trimble stated that he had a conversation with Kelly on the 21st and he then told him he had not given permission.-- Mr. Kelly, recalled, stated that he had not given permission in this particular case, but he had not objection to anyone hunting over it.-- The Bench dismissed the case and ordered the nets and rabbits to be returned to the men.

HUSBAND AND WIFE

     A man named Carr summoned his wife for assaulting him at their residence in Navan. There was a cross case in which Mrs. Carr, who was ornamented on each side of the face, charged her  husband in a similar way.-- Mr. Sullivan appeared for Carr.--Carr stated that after the fair of Kells he had given his wife £1 and after Navan, 6s. He went to her for something to eat the day after the latter fair, but she told him to go to his bad company and get it. He again returned about one o'clock but there was nothing for him, and his wife got hold of a jug out of the dresser and only he pushed her aside she would have knocked the brains out of him. --Mrs. Carr ,in her evidence, stated that she was in dread of her life of her husband and claimed the protection of the law.-- Both cases were dismissed.

THE LADIES AMENITIES

     Lizzie Masterson summoned a woman named Kate Ryan for assaulting her.-- The defendant stated that she could easily bring rebutting evidence and the case was adjourned to enable her to do so.