MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 452, 10 March 1909, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

. POLICE CASES. (Bofcre Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.) ■ A FRIEND OF THIEVES. A strong-looking young man named Wm. Baker, alias Barker, pleaded not guilty to a chdrge of being an idle and disorderly perBon within tho meaning of the -Police Offences Act, 1908, ill that he habitually consorted with reputed thieves. Detective Cassells stated that he had known accused for tho past twelve months, and had seen him 'about the town off and on for the past five weeks. Ho had been loafing about the public-houses and doing no work. Witness detailed' the names of various thieves whom he had seen accused with. •' ' Detcctivcs Cameron and Andrews both deposed that they had scon accused on various occasions witlin the. past fivo, weeks in company 'with reputed; thieves. - ;: . Accused said that'-he had been away in tho South Island, and only returned to Wollings ton two weeks ago. His Worship entered a conviction and soilthxea .mm&hft'- -imiujsaarjiept-,...-

"SHADOWING" DRUNKEN MEN. s " The same accused was also charged with being an idle and disorderly person within tho meaning of tho I'olico Offences Act, 1903, in that ho lias insufficient lawful means ef. support. iii Detective Cassells said that accused had been kuocking about town lor tho past five weeks, but had done no work. Last week ho called on Mr. Bell, Crown Solicitor, and asked him for an order for a steamer ticket to Dunedm to gol work. Ho got tho order, and presented it at the Union Company and was given a ticket. Later in tho day he went baclc to tho Union Company and got a-refund orV the ticket;' Ho had no money when ho was arrested, and, as f&r as itness know,' ho never worked, but made his living by robbing drunken men. . -Accused: "Havo 1 ever been convicted of robbing drunken men?" Witness: "You wero convicted or assault and robbery in C'hristclnirch." Deteetivo Andrews stated that accused was ahvavs knocking about hotel bars shadowing drunken nieii. AVitncss had not known lum do any work. ; , , . Accused averred that-ho had been harvesting in tho south/ and had £11 when ho returned to Wellington. He had only boon released from prison on 'January 20. His Worship entered a conviction and sentence of three months' imprisonment, to run concurrently with the first sentence. ' EVENTS IN A BAR. Daniel Sullivan was charged (1) with insobriety, and (2) with disorderly conduct on licensed premises, and refusing to quit til. premises when ordered to do so. Evidence showed that defendant went into tho Uty Buffet Hotel and refused to go out when tho manager ordered him to leave. Sullivan admitted that ho had had a few port-wines, but pleaded that ho had been aggravated by one of tho barmen who had "no time for him," and commenced singing off" at him as soon as ho went into the ba On the first charge accused was co'ivKited and fined os., and on the second charge ho was convicted and fined 205., m default i days' - imprisonment MAINTENANCE. ; A wharf labourer named Allan Warner, charged with failing to provide for the maintenance'of his illegitimate child, was o l derc ( 3 to pay 7s. 6d. per week towards the suppmt of the child and to pay costs £4 Ms. Defendant was also ordered to find suretj for compliance with the order in the sum. o£oo and two" sureties of £25 each. Ihe difault was fixed at threo months' imprisonment. OTHER CASES. The -old woman Ellen Sommervillo was brought forward again on tho charge ot navin<r insufficient means- of support, .but was still further remanded to this morning, as no arrangements had yet been-made for hoi. The matter was : to bo brought before the Benevolent Trustee's in the afternoon. ... A young man named Frank Ackerman appeared in answer-to a charge of v, , n ' obscene language in the Family Hotel, Otaki, on December 12. On the app ication of Chief ■Deteetivo Broberg .a : remand-to. appear at Otaki on March 11 was granted. One first offender for drunkenness - was convicted and fined -55., with tho alternative of 24 hours in gaol.