VPRS 1937 Court of Petty Sessions/Magistrates' Court Poor Box Fund Cash Book [1908 - 1938]; Court Accounts [1899 - 1908]; Outstanding Fines [1908 - 1908]

A fine in the form of a donation to the Poor Box was imposed on a defendant at the discretion of the Magistrate. The fine was imposed when the sentence given was a bond, but the Magistrate thought the defendant had been treated leniently by the court. An order to make a contribution to the Poor Box served as a tangible acknowledgment by the defendant that a crime had been committed.Payments from the Poor Box could only be made for charitable purposes.In 1988, the name changed from the Poor Box Fund to the Court Fund.Poor Box Fund Cash Books were generally in a common format giving details of the date, the name of the contributor, and the amount contributed; the name of the person to whom money from the Poor Box was given, the date, the purpose for which the money was required (usually for food and rent), and the signature of the recipient. Calls on the Poor Box were also made by organisations such as the Salvation Army for welfare work. Some courts distributed all their funds this way rather than by giving monies to individuals. The books were regularly inspected and signed by the auditor.The second series in this volume (Jan 1899 Jul 1908) is a list of expenses incurred by the Court under the headings Date, Name, Address, Particulars, Amount, To whom sent, When sent. These include the costs of warrants and summons, payments to witnesses and the costs for cleaning and the provision of fuel. Most often these were sent to the Law Department or the Inspector, Spring Street. This record appears to be similar to the standard Register of Accounts.The third series in the volume (Aug 1908 Sep 1908) is headed Outstanding Fines. Details are: No in Register, Defendant, Date of Order, Amount, Fine or Costs, When payable, Warrant dates and Where sent, and When paid.