MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 766, 15 March 1910, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

ADDRESSED AS "AMY BOCK." APPELLATION RESENTED. (Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.) Two wharf workers were concerned in a somewhat unusual case, in which Jas. Hooper (Mr. Hmdraarsli) proceeded against Joseph Thomas (Mr. P. W. Jackson) on a charge of having, on March 3, on Wellington wharf, used insulting words: "Hullo, Amy; Amy, Bock—hullo, Amy Bock," with intent to provoke a breach, of the peace. Hooper stated that defendant, had been in the habit of calling out, "Hello, Amy Bock, hullo Amy," whenever witness passed him. He had asked defendant to desist, but defendant took no notice, and witness now sought the protection of the Court. He believed that Amy Bock wa£ a criminal, and he objected, to bo in p. called after any criminal in. New Zealand. Defendant denied having called plaintiff "Amy Bock." It was a common thing on the . wharf ; for a man'to say to another, "Amy Bock could do better than that," ithe' implied meaning being the reverse of complimentary. His Worship, who listened patiently to the evidence, held that defendant musl be convioted. The words, as used, were insulting. : Persons working on tho whari were not, as a rule, thin-skinned, and they could stand a good deal of chaff. Itmighf not be an offence to 'call a person "Amy Bock" once,, but persistence in so calling would make it insulting. Defendant would be fined 205., and costs 405., in default 6even'days' imprisonment, . EACING OLTJBS AT VARIANCE. The rights. of officials of unregistered racing clubs in regard to entering: the course of.', a registered racing club were concerned in the cases of James Walden, racecourse detective v. J. 'St. Ciimming, an officer of the Wellington Pony and Galloway Racing Club, two charges ol having, on January 22 and January , 26, wilfully trespassed on the Trentham Racecourse, and against J. H. Williams, alsc an official of the Pony Club, charged with, having, 1 on January 24 and Januarj 28, wilfully trespassed on. the Trentham Racecourse. Defendants,, for whom Mr.' T. Yount appeared; pleaded not.guilty. Mr. W. EL D. Bell appeared for. informant. After hearing " evidence at length, his Worship resented his decision. i MAINTENANCE CASES; Edward Pointon, iabourer, was charged .with failing to maintain and educate his child,'an inmate of St. Mary's Industrial School, Nelson. His Worship ordered defendant to pay 2s. Gd. per week towards the support of the child; • ■ , John .Wni. Leslie was connoted and sentenced., to 14 days' imprisonment for disobeying an order.for the maintenance of his wife and'two children' (arrears £3), tho. warrant to be suspended so long as ,10s: per week is paid off the arrears. An information charging Eliza Jane Starr with;failing to support her mother was: dismissed, after hearing tho evidence of defendant, who stated' that sho had not the means to' make a regular payment, Martin Pollock failed to appear on a charge ■of disobeying an order,. for the maintenance of his illegitimate child (arrears' £5 55.). Defendant .was convicted and sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment.'- '. :. unsound . grapes. .., ~ . > (A-fruit'- hawker.named . Walter Miles pleaded not guilty to a charge laid under the Sale'of Food and Drugs Act of having s<jld. unsound, grapes to 'one Frank Newbury.-. Evidence, snowed that on- Januarj 29 -defendant was' ; selling grapes jiri Cuba Street. Newbury, a'- tourist, ''purchased a; pound aad a, half of grapes; from defendant, and on finding that 'they wcr< not sound drew, the attention of a con- : 'stable tq, them. Defendant was -fined 10s. i jdffd;CO^tso7Si ! ' I 1 OTHER .CASES.; •";/ '/ . 'For .leaving" a horse 'uncontrolled ir Wallacle;Street,'' Edward' Lansley 1 was -fined 205;,. and costs 9s.- • George Stupples, who failed to appear, was fined-20s. and costs 7s. for leaving. t vehicle standing in Tinakori - Road foi more than- five minutes without»someonf being in charge. The default was fixec at 7 days'.imprisonment. . An olderly. man named' Hugh: Adams »Was M'Dougall, pleaded not guilty, to t chargo of having unlawfully. assaultec : one Frank Lawson. A conviction and fin< of 40s.* and costs 4s. in .default 14 days imprisonment were imposed. Frank Roberts pleaded . guilty to • i : charge of insobriety, and asked , that , f prohibition order ' should i issue . againsl him, as he had a wife and family de , ppndeht on him. His V/6rship enterec conviction and fine of 55.; and issued the order.'■ Tltfeo first offenders wh( failed to appear were fined 10s., and twe other first offenders who answered theii chargo were .fined-ss. '. '