THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18218, 31 October 1924, Page 7

THE COURTS.

MAGISTERIAL. j tuffs my. (Before Mr H. Y. VTiddc-wscE, S.M.; BICYCLE THIEF. Dan:e! McArlhur, a rniddlc-a?ed labourer, appeared on remand for sentence on a charge of having stolen a bicycle valued at £S. The Probation Officer reported that the j accused was a Scotsman, and he had been j in >V.v Zealand for about thirteen months. | He was a ijoilermakcr by trade. I McArthur said he stole the bicycle when I he was muddied with drink. | "You must learn,'' s.rid the Magistrate, I "that- drini: :a no excuse for stealing. Bi--1 cycles are sto'.en aiinoat every day\" I .'.ccuscd was and sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonmnent with hard kbour. IXDEC'KXT LANGUAGE. Ambrose Fox, 71 years of age (Mr A. C. Brassiri<rv>n> pleaded Ri'iity to a charge of having used indecent language to a woman I in Victoria- street en Wednesday afternoon. I "In other words.'' said the Magistrate after bavins read the language which was typed on the charge sheet, '""this was ioiicilin? in an indecent way." "Tbat id so, yaw- Worship,'' said Subj Inspector A. Ca-.aerou. j Mr Brassinston .v.vlr.utled ihsf the accus- | cd had no criminal intent when he used the i 'ansr.aec. He was old, and ho sometimes l list his memory, arid i:erha\>s on this occaI sion lie was RPiierin? from a iap.-e. ConnF ,,' n.cked his Worship io deal leniently with the man and u.«gcd that he be released on probation. Fox was for many years a, resident of Gera'dinr. He h.ul a grown-uP fr.iuiiv, aid for {he famiiv's ?al;e he wished bi.i Worship 1> snppres'3 his name from pub-lir-Ji t i.-m. The Magistrate Said it was difficult, to know wl'pf to do with itn old man in such a cs?e. The public had to be protected, and lie had sent men (juiltv of indecent exposure ;o six months' imprisonment without any hesitation. However, he did not think that l.lie preieiit cpse wes one in which imprisonment should be the penalty cr the accused released on probation. In his Worship's opinion a substantial fine would suffice. Fox was convicted and fined £'lo and costs, in default one month's imprisonment. The application for the suppression of the name was refused. CIVIL BUSINESS. Judgment by default was given for plaintiff in each of the following cases: J. W. Trott v. A. L. Bland (Christchurcb), £2 I ss; A. P. Hobson v. H. French (Kaikoura), costs onlv; Adams, Ltd. v. H. 11. Hudson (St. Albans), .-£34 '2s 6d; Christchurch City Council v. Ethel Swanslon (Sydenham), £o IDs Sd; W. J. llvliter v. C. Trcon (Pnpanui), £1 13s Gel; F. W. Gresham v. Mi so M. Stone (Linwood). £:i 17s Gd; Rodger Importing Co. v. 11. Rowney (Woiroa). £8 9a fid; same v. A. D. Fletcher (Dunedin). £3 13s 9d: George Buist v. E. .T. Dames (Wellington!, £l6 15s: Beath and Co., Ltd. v. J. Dunn (Gieymouth), £2- 7s; Drivers' Union v. G. Egan (Sydenham), £1 9s 6d; same v. R. Cooke (St. Albans), £2 Cs Gd:_ B. \V. Johnston v. J. Arnold (Opav.'a'i, £7 U 4d; A. J. While, Ltd. v. A. M. Blain (Methven), £2 15s 10d: same. v. Joe Wil- I liarns (Otira), £1 5s lOd; F. B. Tavlor v. A. Wood (Dunedin), £4 4s lOd; William Allan v. Mrs M. Taylor (Sydenham), £3 19s 0d; Para Rubber Co., Ltd. v. James Kerr, jun. (Kaikoura), £S 163 sd; F. G. Dunn v. W. W. Mcikle (Linwood) £lB 4s; F. D. Wilson v. J. T. Moore (Sydenham), £3 153. J. Webb (Christchurch) was ordered to pay the sum' of £6 5a 2d to H. Bromley, butcher, Papanui, in default 7 days' imprisonment. COLLISION CASE. Norman L. Reid, traveller, Christchurch (Mr W. F. Tracy) claimed from B. Shillito, carrier, Christchurch (Mr F. W. Johnston), the sum of £lO as damages sustained in a motor collision which was alleged to have been caused through the defendant's negligence. Shillito counter-claimed for the slim of £3O alleging negligence on the part of Reid. The Magistrate said he was satisfied that the plaintiffs story was true. The defendant had an opportunity to avoid the accident, but it seemed that ho hardly knew how to drive a car. • Judgment was given for Reid on the claim and counter-claim. IN OTHER PLAGES. HOKITIKA. (special to "the press.") HOKITIKA, October 30. Mr W. Meldrum, S.Ai., presided at today's sitting of the Magistrate's Court at. B.okitika. S. Godfrey, who did not appear, was proceeded against on a Judgment summons by J. Lock. An order was made for the payment of the amount claimed forthwith, in default 21 days' imprisonment. J. Bernhaidt was ordered to pay J. Lock £1 a month on a judgment summons. Richard Heruy Wukelin was convicted and oidered to pay coste for being on licensed premises after hour*, and fined 5s and coats on each of two charges of giving a false name to a constable and committing a breach of his prohibition older. Thomas and Robert Spoor, of South Spit, were charged under Section 9 of the Arms Act, 1920, with having unregistered firearms in their possession. The police asked for the forfeiture of the weapons, but this was refused, and each of the defendants was fined 5s and costs. ) An application was made by tho police for a declaration as to the ownership of the ajtictes of jewellery which figured in the recent Supreme Court cases, in which two ycung men were acquitted on charges of breaking and entering the shop of Peter Stevens. An order was made that they be returned to Stevens. Jos ph. Krakowsky was charged with selling; milk containing less than 3,25 per cent, of butter-fat. He pleaded not guilty, and was fined £2 and ccsts. A formal plea of not guilty was entered by Frederick Heniy Ga.lop (Mr Elcock), who appeared 1 on a similar charge. ■ The Hca'th Department was represented by Mr J. Park. A fino of £2 and costs was imposed. Jas. White (Mr Murdoch) proceeded against j Thomas Howard (Mr Joyce) with the object i of having the defendant bound over to keep the peace. Trouble arose b:tween the parties over the position nf a whitcbaiting platform. The Bench refused to make the order sought, and dismissed tho caae with costs against the nlaiutiff. It 'is only upon rare occasions that applications-- are made by women in the Warden's Court, but at to-day's sitting at Hokitika, Mary C Lawrence was granted a prospect im? license f:r 21 ysmrs over an area of 16 acres at Westbroc-k terrace, near Kumara. Mr Murdoch appeared for tho KppHcaEKJ SMART WORK BY DETECTIVE. I (PEESS ASSOCIATION TKLEGBAM.) j WELLINGTON, October 29. ' A smart >iiece of wo k by Detect.ve Sinclair this morning resu tod in the recovery of a" small bar of god which had mysteriously disappeared from a local dentist parlour. . . A man visited the premises or VY. P. Somerville, a d.'ntist, in M-oksw-rth street, at about 9 a.m., a r -d it is stated that he effected the purchase of some scrap metal. An hour or so later the d:scovery was made that a bar of go'd, measuring about two inches, and valued at approximately £8 Bs, had disappeared. ~,.,, , The matter was placed in the hands of the police, and just before noon Detective Sinclair, who had charge of the enquiry, located tho missing rcld, and arrested a man named Alfred Aidis. The suspect later appeared before a Justics of the Peaeo o.i a charge of theft, and was admitted to bail in the sum of £IOO. REMANDED FOR SENTENCE. (PBBSS ASSOCIATIOK TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, October 30. In the Supienis Court to-day, Henry Harris Tunnicliffe, who had previously been found guilty on three charges of theft, pleaded guilty to failure to account for i 4 10s 6d d'to to the Stewart Timber Co. He was remanded for sentence until tomorrow. „«—«—— ■