THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19145, 31 October 1927, Page 5

THE COURTS.

MAGISTERIAL. SATURDAY. (Before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. One first offending inebriate was fined 20s, in default 18 hours' imprisonment. When a middle-aged man vras charged .with drunkenness, it wag stated in evidence ihnt he had been drinking for a. considerable time. Mr C. S. Thomas, who appeared for the wife of defendant, said the man terrified' his family when he was drunk. He was convicted and discharged on the condition that he took out a prohibition order. "I am giving you a chance,'' eaid the Magistrate, in convicting accused ASSAULT AND LANGUAGE. John Wakefield was charged with U3ing obscene language and with assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty. Senior-Sergeant Fitzpatrick said accused had been standing with three men at the coiner of Tuam and Manchester streets on Friday night., A constable heard the language complained of, and when he went to arrest him Wakefield kicked, out.. On the charge of using obscene language Wakefield was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment and was fined £'», in default one month's imprisonment, on the assault charge. CHILDREN'S COURT. (Eefore Mr H. A. Young, S.M., Mrs A. E. Herbert, and Mr W. M. Weet, J.P.'s.) TOOK A BICYCLE. A girl, aged 31 years, was charged with stealing a bicycle, valued at £'6. Ii was said the girl had stolen the bicycle fiom another pupil at school. She bad told her mother that a, lady had given it to her. The girl was admonished and discharged, a condition being that sTie does not ride a bicycle for a month. BY-LAW. CASES. Two boys, who cycled at night without lights, were each fined. ss. Another offender was fined 23 (sd. A boy, who cycled on the footpath, was fir.ed 2s 6d. SET OFF EXPLOSIVE. Three boy.3 were charged with setting off an explosive ■in a public, place, with wilfully damaging a wive fence, and with placing an obstruction on the road. Sergeant .Kelly said the boys had gone to a, house where a party was being held and had set off explosives out3ide. One boy had cartridge cases which he filled with explosive of his own manufacture. The other boys had cut a, wife fence and had left the wire on the footpath. They had also emptied some sacks containing cemem and stones, on the roadway. Mr C. S. Thomas, for the boys, said they had received a thrashing at school for what they had done. The Magistrate lectured the boys on the mischief and trouble they had caused. As their' conduct had been satisfactory in the past, they were admonished and discharged.

LEESTON. (Before Mr H. A. Young, S.M.) MOTORING CHARGE. Arising out of an accident on the evening of October sth, at the Polico Station corner, Leeston, D. W. Hayes (Mr A. S. Nicholls) pleaded not guilty to a charge of not keeping on his right side of the afreet when attempting to pass another vehicle. Defendant was driving a two-seater car and the other vehicle concerned was * ciosed-in motor van. Evidence was given hy the driver of the van, Reginald Burgess, and by Constable Moriarty and defendant. The Magistrate held that the van driver should have given warning,' in the circumstances, of his intention .to turn into the street on his left. He was not satisfied that the car had attempted to pa»s the van. The information would te dismissed. Charged with not having a driver's license, R. A. Burgess, the wtiness in the previous case, was fined 20s and costs. DEFENCE CASES. For failing, to attend parades regularly as required' under the x Defence Act, T. A. McDonald was fined £2 and costs, R. J. "Wallace 30s and costs, Hector Armstrong 10s. and costs, and William James Graydon £3 and costs. . • ..:.,..• .:' FIGHTING.- .-. •Frederick O'Neill- and CharUs■'McKiver "were charged with fighting in a public place. The former, did hot appear and McKiver pleaded not guilty, claiming that he had been forced to fight in aelWefenee. The case against McKiver was dismissed, and O'Neill was. fined.3os and costs. LICENSING CHARGE. A licensing charge wais ■ adjourned until the next sitting of the'Couit, in order that defendant would be able to appear.