THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15869, 7 April 1917, Page 2

THE COURTS.

MAGISTERIAL. j (Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.) I DRUNKENNESS. A first offender was fined 03 in default 24 hours' imprisonment. UNDEFENDED CASES. In the following cases judgment was Given for plaintiff by default: —Booth Maedonald and Co. Ltd., v Tauramu Aropetu £10 17s 6d, C. J. and A. M. Silver v J. Scarlett (costs only), Stewart Beckett and Co. v S. Marks £3 3s, James Shand and Co. Ltd., v F. S. Flower £2 14s, Woolston Borougli Council v S. A. Evans £3 3s lOd, same v Mrs A. Johnston £2 19s 2d, same v Samuel Gilbert £2 15s 9d, same v James Scott £3 Us Id, E. iS. Sugden and Co. v Lcn. Mangham £3 13s 4d. CHARGES AGAINST SOLDIER. (Before Messrs "W. H. Seed and W. Barrett, J.P.'s.) Edv.'in James Sheard (Mr Donnelly) was charged that on or about December Ist, 191G, he forged a re-direction order purporting to be signed Tsy Mrs Veno iS hoard, with intention that such document 6hould bo acted upon as if genuine. He was also charged that, during the month of December, 1916, at Christchurch, he did wilfully detain four letters, the property of Lavina Jane Sheard, by torging an order to the Postmaster, Christchurch, to redirect letters to care of Mrs R. Austin, 133 Vivian street, "Wellington. H e was further charged that on or about December, 1916, at Christchurch, he stole three letters, the property of Lavina Jane Sheard. Lavina Jane Sheard, wift of accused., stated that for some time past she had been living apart from her husband. She saw the re-direction order produced, and said it was not in her handwriting, and not authorised by her. It was in her husband's handwriting, and the document was a forgery. She was the person whose letters were referred to in tho order. If her husband received any letters on the strength of the order, he had no authority to do so. Three letters produced were properly addressed to her. Detective Andrews, stationed, at Wellington, said that on March 26th last he arrested accused, when he was at the Trentham military camp. In answer to the charge, accused said: "I got the letters; d 0 you blame me?" The detective then produced the allegedly forged re-direction order, and he made no reply. Accused admitted writing the order, and asked the detective, "What more do you want?" Tho detective, however, insisted on having the letters, which accused said he "wanted for his case." Accused then handed him four letters (produced). • Chief Detective Herbert said the charge was laid at the instigation of thp Post Office authorities. Accused, who appeared in uniform, pleaded "not guilty," and was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, bail being allowed, self in £50, and one surety of £50.

LYTTELTON. (Before Messrs W. C. Cleary, and L. A. Stringer J.P.'s.) DRUNKENNESS. Two first offenders were each fined 5s for drunkenness, and Joseph-Carlyle who did not "appear was fined 10s and costs, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. Jno. Joseph Dolan (Mr Hunt) was convicted and discharged for drunkenness, and his prohibition order was renewed. DISMISSED. A case against John Orton Gebbio (Mr Cassidy) charged with being drunk while in charge- of a horse on Governor's Bay road was dismissed, and an application by the police for a prohibition order against him was ,withdrawn.