THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18425, 4 July 1925, Page 6

THE COURTS.

MAGISTERIAL

FRIDAY. (Before Mr TYyvern Wilson, S.lf.) BY-LAW CASES.

! For leaving a motor-cycle unattended, Frederick John Amos -bus fined 5s and costs. For leaving cars unattended "William Anderson, Ana Joyce Andrews, George Beekwith, John Thomas Houghton, Alexander A. Hutchinson, William Irving, David McMillan, Vernon Russell, Alister Gordon Sanderson, Godfrey R. Cracroft Wilson, Bertel riygur Syberfcou, and Francis John Stewart were each fined 5s and costs. For cycling withotit lights tho . following ■vver-o «ach fined 20s and costs:—Hector Brion. James Brown, William Brown, Geofi'rey Jfindle, Harold Kittelty, Charles Hewitt Sparks, Eva Guy, Afarjorie Rogal, Percy Vincent. Jarncs Henry Forrest was fined 10s and costs for being in charge of a motor-car with no lights. George Berkley Hickman wa3 convicted and ordered to pay Ts costs for being in charge of a motor-car at night without a icr.r light. On a similar charge Felix Johns was fined .is and costs, and Henry Jarnea Parkins was convicted without penalty. Clifford ICen- was fined 20s and costs for using an unregistered motor-cycle, and ]os and costs for being without a driver's license. For cycling on the footpath Robert LesIcr, Wilfred Lilly, Arthur George Munna, Thomas Parnbam, Aaron Power, Harold Prioe, Ernest Richards, and George. Toombs were each fined 6s and costs. Edwardi Morris Ranson was convicted and ordered to pay "s costs for being in charge of a motor-cycle without lights. Fran!; Robertson Mnnro (Mr C. S. Thomas) was fined '2os and costs for driving a tnotor-car negligently. Colin Logic was fined 5s and costs for pillion-riding. James Henry Forrest was fined 10s and costs for being in charge of a motor-cycle without lights. DISMISSED. Amy Evelyn Jarden (Mr C. S. Thomas) pleaded not guilty to charges of negligent driving and driving in a manner dangerous to James Frasor. After hearing evidence for tho defendant, the Magistrate said he thought Eraser had developed the habit of keeping well on the side of the road, m near the gutter as possible, so as to be on the aiu'o sido. He thought tho accident was not the fault of tha driver, but the misfcrtruna of the cyclist. Tho information would be dismissed. NEGLIGENT DRIVING. Vivian Brown Sullivan (Mr J. B. Batchelor) was charged with having driven a milk-cart negligently in Ferry roacL William Smith, labourer, said he was riding his bicycle along Ferry road at about IU miles per hour, when the milk-oart collided with him. Ho received injuries to his knee and was in Hospital for five weeks. The cart was on tho wrong eido of tho road and it was "boring" towards witness. Defendant said that he waa. driving down the road on his right side. Ha had to pull out to avoid » timber dray, and then he saw Smith approaching. Smith was doing something to his petrol tank and ha did not havo both handa on the bars. He had admitted when in Hospital tha* ho had swerved Into the call. The Magistrate, after hearing further evidence, convioted defendant and fined him £1 and costs 375. DEFENCE CASES. For failing to register for military service, tho following woro fined:—Charles Erio Burrows, Harold Burney, Leonard Victor Ford, Oswald Newton leaacs, Leonard Methven, John Henry Mooro, Reginald J. McEvedy, Richard John McGee, Eric JJcPherson, Harrv C. McPherson, Hector McPherson, Clifford A. B. Scott, each 10s and' costs 7s y Reginald Harold Davis, Clarence Edward Hobbs, Leonard Timothy Kirton, Josaph O'Brien, John Sonior, costs 7»; John Joseph Donovan, Ss and oosts 7s; Norman William Waghom, on a simliar charge, was convicted -without penalty. Roy F. Cooke and George John Den_V eey were each fined 40s and costs 7s for failing to resistex for military training. SPEEDING. Roy Fisher pleadbd . guilty to having speeded dangerously on a. motor-cycle and to having had no certificate of ability. . Evidence was given that defendant did not take the bend at the corner of Rolleston street, but collided with, tho door of a ■shop. . ' "The circumstances of this case aj» very bad," said the Magistrate. "More by good luck than, anything else nobody was killed. That kind of thing cannot by unlicensed drivers in the city." • Fisher wss fined £o and costs on the first charge, and 10s and costs on tho second. (Before Mr H. Y, Widdoweon, S.M.) CONCERNING A MOTOR. ■ A bus •proprietor named John Ramsay, of Akaroa, (Mr W. F. . Tracy) sued Smiths, Ltd., Central Garage, Worcester street, Christclvuroh (Mr K. At. Gresson) for tho sum of £75 as damages. Plaintiff alleged that certain repairs effected to an engine belonging to him were negligently done. . i . Tho deJonco was that the defects an the. engine were not duo to negligent workmanship but to wear and tear. After healing lengthy evidenco, the Magistrate- .adjourned the case till next Friday.

QUARTERLY RETURNS. The return of business done- in the Christelmrch Magistrata'a Court during the quarter ended Juno 30th is as follows (for the purpose of comparison, the last quarterly Ijfurcs aro staled in parentheses): Civil cases—The Civil Court sat twice weekly. Tho number of sittings presided over 'bv a, Magistrate, 32 (28); total number of sittings during quarter, 32 (38); namIjov of civil cases tried by a Magistrate, 49- total number of civil cases, 49; total amount sued for, 427,337 lis 2d (£30,488 Sa "d) number qf applications heard in court or chambers, 110 '(174); number ot plaints entered, 1763 (1891); number of distress wan-ants issueS, 110 (114); number of judgment aunimonses issued, 392 (484); number of warrants of committal issued, 17 (2fl); number of summemsea and other processes served by tha bailiffs, 1127 (1183); number of warrants executed by tho bailiffs, Criminal Cases—Tho Criminal Court sat d;uTv Number of criminal caewa against males. 1313 (1049); against females, 89 (81); ma kin'-, a total of 1403 (1130). Fees and Fines,—Civil fees paid !m stamps, £I92G ISs Gd (£3041 10s 6d); oriruinal fees paid in stamps, £255 15s (£IBO 17a); fines paid in stamps, £936 5s (£GS7 7s); licensing fees paid in stamps, £S9 3s (£l4 7a); making a total of £3203 la 6d (£2891 Pnnsions—JSew claim* for old age peuc sions, 64 granted, 8 refused, 2 pending. Xew claims for -widows' pensions, 23 gxwnfr ed 1 rofueed. KenewaJa of old age pensions, 856 granted, 6 refused. .Renewals of widows' pensions, 107 granted, 5 refused, X" pending. ASHBURTON. (Before Mr ft. T). Mosley, SJtL) Judgment for tho plaintiff by default was entered in each of the following cases: S. Baughen v. J. E. Newitt, £4 36s Sd; Tvre Repair and Sales Co. V. D. L. Amodeo (Wanganui), £(> 13s 2d. Patrick McGinn (Mr R. Kennedy) was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence i when called upon for procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. For a similar offence John Hunt wae convicted' and fined £2 and costs, in default 14 days' imprisonment. For exposing lice-infected sheep for gale in the Tinwald yards on May 26th, H. L. linrker was convicted and orderod 1 to pay 7s costs. Martha Alico Pennal (Mr A. K. Forth) proceeded againat P. Burke and Co., Irfcl., of Christchurch (Mr V. W. Russell) for the sum of £9 19s 5d by way of compensation through having received injuries while in tho employ of tho defendants at the Asnlyurton Bacecourso on December 2Gth, 1024. Judgment was reserved, The Probation Officer applied for an affiHation_ order against H. Skilling (Mr A. K.. North) in respect of an illegitimate child. The prooeedinpa were adjonmed for three weeks for further evidence. IN OTHER PLACES. - "ON APPROVAL." In dismissing a chargo of theft preferred against a young single woman, Elsie Mav Jackson, in the Magistrate's Court at VTeflington, on Wednesday, Mr W. G. Riddel), S.M., remarked that if the matter was sent to a jury accused would not be convicted, and he would not convict her. The case would no doubt be a lesson ta her. In outlining the case for the prosecution, Chief-Detective Kemp said that accused called at Te Aro House on May 12th, and represented that she was a member of a J. 0. Williamson company. She was allowed to take three dresses away on approval, Next momipg-, ono of the dresses was returned, but the

(Continued.-at foot of jpet xpltran.)

others were not sent back. Accused was arrested at Christchurch. Counsel for accused stated that on a previous occasion when she took goods awav from the shop very careful enquiries were made as to whether she had any money. On tha second occasion, she received three dresses on approval, and returned one. He submitted that there was no case against accused, and the firm s only remedy was to bring on a civil action. Accused said that none of the dresses suited her, and she would have returned thesn all, but a friend of hers liked one of the garments, .and _ accused left two of the dresses with the fnend while she returned the third. It was understood that this friend was to send the dresses back if s ha did not take them. "So far as accused is concerned." said the Magistrate, 'I am of opinion that the ppsition is that a civil debt is duo by her to the firm from whom she obtained the'dresses. There is no snggestion of theft." The information was dismissed. BREAKING GAOL. (JBESS ASSOCUTIOK TELEGBAM.) NEW PLYMOUTH, July 3. Walter Batterbee, who recently escaped from gaol and waa recaptured, has been sentenced to three months' imprisonment in addition to the term of ten years he is now serving. A DRUNKEN DRIVER. (PEESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAII.) TATJMABUNUI, July 3. James Haynes, on a charge of being drunk while in charge of a motor-lorry, was fined £a by a Justice of the Peace.