MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 178, 23 April 1908, Page 5

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

POLICE CASES. - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22. (Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. ~ ■ A,first offender for,drunkenness was convicted and discharged. Anothor first offender . was convicted and fined 55., in default 24 hours' imprisonment. Stephen. Cairns, who had been convicted of this offer.co three times previously during tho past, six months, was sent to prison for one month. OBSCENE LANGUAGE. John Broadbent admitted having been drunk in Willis Street tho previous evening, but. denied having used obsceno languago. Constable Mackay and Sergeant Dale gave evidenca as to tho languago used. . Accused was convicted and fined ss. on tho first charge, and £5, in default twentyono.- days' imprisonment, for tho major offence. BREACH OF THE PEACE. Max Wolfo and James Conlon were charged with having, on April 21, behaved in a, manner whereby a breach of the peace wa-s occasioned. Both, pleaded guilty. .Sub-Inspector . O'Donovau .informed the Court that tho mon -fought so fiercely in Cuba' Street that they attracted a large' crowd. Both had been convicted of various offonces. Thoy might'fairly be described as a . pair of blackguards. ■ Each of the accuscd was convicted and fined £3, in default twenty-one days' imprisonment. ■ ' ■ , • BOTANICAL GARDENS NUISANCE. Robert 'M'Arthur pleaded not guilty to a charge of indecency in the Botanical Gardens on-April 16. / Chief-Detective M'Grath • pointed. out that offences of" this/sort were becoming far too common at the Gardens. In fact,- women and children were now afraid, to go into them. Tho accused had been in the Dominion only, about threo months. His Worship sentenced accused to three months' imprisonment. • THEFT. - v William Woods, alias - Albert Murphy (17 years), and Edward Wilton (18 years), were brought up for sentence on a charge of having stolen a quantity of copper valued at £2 10s.. the property of Robertson and Co. Tho Sub-Inspector pointed out that the lads got into tho premises at night through a fan-light., Both had been convictod of theft onca previously. Mr." Johnston, who appeared on behalf of Murphy, asked that his client be either ordered to come' up for sentence when upon or fined, ! ■A . similar application 'was made by Mr. Dunn on behalf of-Wilton. '■: Tho Court fixed tlio penalty at £2- each, in default fourteen days' imprisonment. A SIMILAR CHARGE. ■ Antonio Stuparich, who had admitted having, stolen' olbven silver-mounted purses, valued at six guineas, the property of Thos.' Crouch, was presented for sentenco. / Mr. O'Leary, on behalf of tho accused, submjtted that the custom of displaying goods in showcases. outside' premises -was a. great temptation .to weak-willed persons. • J - Tho'Sub-Inspector , stated that business people had: been interviewed on the subject quite nine months previously. ; His-; Worship, who stated-that tho practice had on; former o«sasions been' the subject of .com'mcnt,' convicted the accuscd, and fined ■ him 40s.', in de-fault seven days' imprisonment. :