What is the Court reporter trying to say?

[Ryan1]

Dear Roots Chatters,

I am trying to work out what the Court reporter is trying to say:

"No appearance of defendant district police court ? 48 hours imprisonment"

Would anyone like to try and fill in the gaps.

Kind regards, Daniel.

[carol8353]

Sorry I have no idea what it says,but with writing like that he should have been a doctor 

[majm]

The defendant failed to attend the police court on the appointed day and time, so for that oversight the court's presiding magistrate / judge awarded the defendent 48 hours imprisonment ... obviously to be served when the police from that district  catch up with the defendent.

JM

[Bookbox]

I think it reads ...

In def(ault) distress & in def(aul)t
of suff(icien)t distress 48 hours
imp(risonmen)t

It probably relates to a failure to pay a fine or a debt (e.g. rent) under a 'warrant of distress'. A 48-hour prison sentence would ensue if the offender didn’t have sufficient goods to cover the amount due.

[majm]

Dear Roots Chatters,

I am trying to work out what the Court reporter is trying to say:

"No appearance of defendant district police court ? 48 hours imprisonment"

Would anyone like to try and fill in the gaps.

Kind regards, Daniel.

Agh errrr    I missed the attachment and re- interpreted the transcription .... Bookbox has the definitive answer. 

JM

[Ryan1]

Thank you everyone for your opinions, always good to get extra sets of eyes to check.
Kind regards, Daniel.