MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 12

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

. : (Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.) . TEAIIDTLLY PENITENT. ■ "Ho is ,0110 of those persons who apparently don't want .work," was tlio'remark of Sub-Inspector J'liafr, referring to a young man named Henry; Lea who pleaded, tearfully, t'oi .a ohance to leave the city, as ho did not want to go to gaol. Accused pleaded guilty to threo charges as followinsobriety;. (2) committing mischief by damaging a cell door, tlio property of the New Zealand Government; and (3) being an idle and disorderly person, in that lie has insufficient lawful means of support. Sub-Inspector l'hiur stated that accused ,\vaa'. naToatod. ui ll oan, oa Thursday, and

.was plaoed ; in:tho.oell. : . About an hour later ho toqk.;,off his. boots, and battered tho slido of the cell door, doing damago to the extent ;of-7s. 6d.: Sinoo ..tho Jattor part of last year 'iio.'.'hnd only been known to do three weeks' work. .Ho■ had several previous convictions against' him for? offences whioh inoluded thor't, perjury, and breach of tho peace. ' His Worship said that ho could not grant accused's request for another chance. Ho had apparently had chances which had done him no good. On tho first charge ho would 'bo fined 55., on tho second he would bo fined 405.,. and ordered to make good tho damago dono, in default 7 days' imprisonment, and on tho third information he would bo sentenced \to three months' imprisonment! BOARDINGHOUSE CLOCK AND TOWELS. '■. .., , A strong-looking young man, named Robert Phr, entered a plea of gnilty to a filiargo of theft of a clock and throo teatowels, of a total value of 305., tho property of Jonathan Jone3. Chiof Dotectivo Broborg informed'the Court that _accused had stolen tho articles from a boardinghoußO in Courteuay Place, and sold tho dock for 35., and-tho linon for la. 6d. Ho had forn> erly. been employed at' the boardinghousft and during tho past 20 months had boon convicted of theft'on five occasions. A sentence of three months' imprisonment was imposed'. DISOBEDIENCE ON THE. HIGH SEAS. A seaman "belonging to tho Now Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Uakaia, Nicholas Tatterson, pleaded not guilty to a charge of; having, on April 21, whilo ohi; tho. high

seas, wilfully disobeyed the lawful-commands of Francis W. W. Beavis, chief officer of the vessel. Evidence waa given by tho chief oHicer that defendant refused to take his wateh on the bridge when the vessel was off Stephens j Island on Wednesday afternoon. When witness approached defendant,: ho said that he would not work, as he had not been treated fairly. Defendant had joined'tho vessel in London three months ago, and,, up to the time the vessel arrived.in Nelson, he gave every satisfaction. .Ho had been/on various ships belonging to the company, and had excellent discharges. . . .! Defendant said that ho was unfit for duty for, tho four hours complained of, but ho did not remember disobeying orders, When he got a paper notifying that ho had been logged, he epoko to tho'chief l officer about it, but the oih'cor would not give him a hear; ing,, and he (witnoss) was a bit reckless when the officer spoke to him later. : •., : His Worship hold I that defendant' r was guilty of disoDodienco, but the fact that bo bore an ■ excellent character up to this apparently isolated act would do .taken into oonsidoration. He must be penalised, however, as a'warning to others that they must obey the commands of their officers. A find of 20b., and costs 75., in default: 48 hours' iraprisonmout, would be imposed.- \": .■■■ ';';."; :oTHEii : oases.;; ; ;; ; An elderly man, named Edmund Meelian, said to be, a Tecont arrrval'from the Main Trunk railway works, appeared in' answer] to a charge of indecenoy. Sttb-Inspecto? Phair stated that he had been askfed by Mr.' Wilford to apply for a remand for accused until April 30. Bail was aUjived in s thb sum of £40, and two sureties af £20 .each.

Kdward James Thompson pleaded guilty to' a chargo of having used obsceno language in the'bar of tho Cambridge Hotel,' and was convioted and fined £3, in default 14. days' imprisonment. ' tfive first' offenders for, drunkenness were paradod, and'one was fined 10a.. 1 throo were tincl os., and another was . convioted and discharged, / ; . ■ ■ : '■ i MOUNT COOK POLICE COURT. At the Mount Cook Ponce Court yesterday,' before Mr. J.' Coogan, J.P., three first offenders for drunkenness w«ro convioted and discharged. ■> "• .