MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 793, 16 April 1910, Page 14

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

HE SHADOWED THE BOOKMAKER. THE POLICE DID THE REST. (Before Mr. W. G. Riddoll, S.M.)' A considerable portion of the. morning sitting of tho Court' was occupied by the hearing of evidence in the case ■of George Miner, .sometime bookmaker, who was charged? with having stolen £6 from- Peter ; Keith' Buchanan. Accused, who was represented by Mr. P. Jackeon, \ pleaded not guilty.. Chief. Detective Broberg conducted the prosecution. Peter Keith Buchanan described the history of his relations with the accused.. He had come to town on business connected with the sale of certain tfoorseß, and met the: accused at; the fhoarding-house where he stayed. On rthe evening before the races (April 8), le and. thei accused entered into conversation on the subject of raoing, and rthe latter .informed him that' he was fin ,a position to know a'certain "good (thing," upon which he could-get odds fat 9to 1. Then some whisky was profduced from a bottle which he (witness) yiad in his bag; and after more talk, .'£6 in gold was handed over for investment with', a bookmaker. ' Accused furged-the witness ■ to'risk more on a ."good thing," and make it £20. Wit'less said he could: not afford: to fly ! that height, but would be content to '"flutter" to the extent' of £15, and *n that ■ basis the negotiations were ifixed. Just before retiring, about 1. a.m., he (Buchanan) .suddenly.rememilered that ; he had not received his •change and asked ior it. Accused, ihowever, crashed the cheque in his -hand and replied that they would square up' in the morning. ".This; aroused.wit ness's suspicions, and evidently acting on the precept that "the early bird catches the worm," got up before.7 : o'clock to make sure of his man. He got him, and asked for his money to be refunded; .as Hβ iad changed his mind about the bet.- The accused replied that' he had 'invested it, an obvious impossibility at that time of day. After some further argument, the cheque was given up, but not the money. The two then went out for a walk, and during tne morning the.accused "shouted" for witness several times,, .about eight, drinks being called for. According to witness, his drinks were but "tastes," as he was . growing hourly more uneasy over his money, and determined to keep aober. During their rambles, they inet accused's wife and another lady »t the Pier Hotel, when drinks were called for. Buchanan. then asked tho accused's .wife about his six sovereigns, and she confessed ignorance of them. Accused thefc suggested that Buchanan ': should take charge of the Jadieß, while he went to buy the tickets, but Buchanan, more suspicious than ever, stuck to the accused like '/a poor relation;" and ultimately, despairing of ever getting his gold back, invoked the. assistance of a policeman, the ladies meanwhile having gone on ..to the railway station to : board £he race . train. In the presence of the policeman accused said that if they would go along with him to the station ho would get some money from his wife,, and. give "the mongrel" his money, ■ sooner than be 'arrested and miss the races. However, the constable thought that the police station was the better place. They went along, accused was searched by Detective Hammond, and the "wash . up,"-so .to .speak,■ yielded sixpence. The defence: was a general denial of Buchanan's statements with regard to the £6. No six sovereigns, protested the accused, had been • handed over. Cross-examined by Chief-Detective Broberg, tho accused said that he had once been a licensed bookmaker. .-

-Detective Hammond, examined, gave it a< his opinion.thai thb accused was a racecourse "guesser."

Mrs. Miller, wife of the stated that she searched her.'husband's clothes about 3 o'clock that morning for matches. Ihe cash in the pockets only amounted to about eight shillings in silver. It was not a fact/that she had slipped some gold into her stocking. His Worsliip held that the evidence was against tne accused." The informant, Buchanan, had not ehowed much discretion in tho matter, and the loss of his money .served him right. The ' accused would be sentenced to one month's imprisonment. ,

THE GAME OF HAZARD: The sequel to an interruption in a game' of hazards which was in progress on ,the Ferry Wharf, on Thursday about noon was the "appearance v before the Court of Thomas Henry Hughes, Alfred George Sutton, and Francis Walton Williams to answer to a charge of having taken part in a game of chance. Williams pleaded guilty, while the other two pleaded not guilty. 'J Constable Callery, who,:with a another constable, arrested the accused, Baid that he-was'detailed for plain clothes duty on the wharf on the day in question, and observed a number of men absorbed in some occupation. He approached, the scene, and eaw what was going on. Subsequently, he arrested the three accused, Sutton,held monej in his hand. Dice and a, quantity of coin, including a half sovereign, were also seized; ■■■■■■■ =•■.'. .•■ ■>;j , *;i ....

Asked if he -.had "".any questions to put tq,the witness, Sutton initiated an amusing interlude. He was evidently a person of some parte, for he spoke with an.air of learning. "It is impossible that this can be true," asserted,' throwing out his. arms dramatically. ;'■'■'; ; ". K 'V'\ ', "Have you any'questions'?" repeated his Worship. . ■

-The accused reflected. "Yes," he said at length; r"I Vhave. Did you rush in and'knock "the money out of my hand?" Then, without waiting for a reply, .turned;ta.his., Worship,.and.again attempted to present his view of the circumstances. "If you wish to go into the box and give evidence, you may, but now is your chance to' ask questions; , ' said his Worship, severely. ' ■ This went', on' for some-time, until' his Worship applied the closure. "That /jviU'do;; stand' down?') and-,;Mj. Sutton 'stood dpwn. - . •'Each accused was-'convicted and fined £2, with'.costs , M,''. with:the"option of seven days' imprisonment. '••■ : EX-SOLDIER IN- TROUBLE; A young man named Donald Baltrop appeared on : remand in answer to a - oharge \ of. having, ■ on April 6, stolen from the Tβ Aro House Company 3 ladies' Hits, 5 blouses, and 13 ostrich feathers. " There was m> defence. Mr. .'appeared pn;.aCc'used'B behalf, entered a-'.plea of g_uilty, v and made a strong appeal to leniency. Baltrop, he said, was a young man of .25, and had served in the South African War with, distraction, being awarded. . the Queen's Medal (five clasps). His previous'life had been honest and straightgoing, ha had good discharges from his late commanding officers,- and testimonials as to good character from others- , ■ . ;,." His Worship said he was prepared to accept the, references,.as;.to previous '.'goe'd':oharacteV.''y'He.'cautibned the accused ;as.-to ' his future mode ,of life, and,entered, up a. conviction, ordering him'.-to come up for sentence when called : upon. ■". . . THREE MONTHS FOR , THEFT* : . Albert' Murphy, alias Wood, alias Nelson, appeared on remand, to'answer to a charge of havin'g.' stolen a bicycle belonging to Magnus Sanderson and Co.,- Ltd.,.-on April 12. He pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Norwood recited a list of previous convictions against the accused. A sentence of three months , imprisonment waa imposed.

:, ORCHARD PESTS. Failure to eradicate orohard pests was responsible for the prosecution, at the instance of the Inspector of Orchards (Mr. George Harnett), of Henry B. and Kathleen Mary Gordon,. Archibald J. Hobbs, Andrew; Luff; Sarah Pye, Edward Joshua Riddiford, Henry and Isabella Tobin, who each pleaded guilty, and were convicted' and fined 10s., with costs of varying amounts! James Warrilow wasj fined 35., with costs. . . .'.'.;■■; ■■ , ■:'.'"■ . BY-LAWJ ! CASESr :' . .: Several prosecutions for breaches of municipal by-laws engaged the atten,tion of the court. ' Charles Cathie, who did not appear, was fined 55., with 7s. costs, in default 24: hours' imprisonmonti .for having . allowed his, cow to wander. There was no appearance of Morris Hassler, who was charged with having allowed his horse to wander. A fine of 10s., with 7s. costs, was imposed, with the option 0f,48 hours' imprisonment. For the same offence, a similar t penalty was imposed' upon Florence I. Hall, who did not appear.

A fine of. 55., with costs 95., and witnesses' expenses ■ is., was , imposed upon David Gillan, who was convicted of having allowed a horse to wander at large. The option was 48 hours' imprisonment. . ' • ' ' . A nominal penalty of 10s., with costs £1 165., was imposed/upon J.'J. Boyd (prosecuted by. the corporation), for having failed to carry. -out ...certain plumbing work after having been duly notified to do so. For riding after sunset, .without a light,- a cyclist named James D. Hayes, who pleaded guilty, was convicted and fined ss:, with costs -75., the. usual option being given. , '•: Henry Gotlieb.rfchafged'swith having drjven his motor-car across the inter-' section of Willis and Ghnznee Streets at a pace faster than a walk, did not appear. His Worship entered up a conviction, fixing the fine at 405., costs 75., the option being 7 days' imprisonment. ' . v-j :;. ;■ ■■■ . . INSOBRIETY.' " One month's imprisonment was tne sentence passed upon Annie M'Grath, described as an nabitnal drunkard, upon her conviction on a charge of 1 having been found helplessly .drunk"*. She was further charged, with being an idle and disorderly person, having insufficient lawful means of support, and pleaded not guilty. His Worship registered a conviction, and sentenced her to three months' imprisonment, to take effect at the expiry of her term ol.j imprisonment on the charge of drunkenness. . : . ■ ' Two first, offending inebriates wero convicted and discharged; ■ :' PROHIBITED PERSONS. Rosie' Somes, a' .prohibited person, pleaded guilty to a charge'of having procured liquor while still. under prohibition, and was convicted and fined ■405., with costs 75., tho option being' seven days' imprisonment. Harry WJlliame, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of ;havmg procured liquor for Rosie Somes, a. prohibited person, was convicted and fined £10, the option being one month's imprisonment. ■■ . - ■ ■• Prohibition orders, in each case by consent, wore made out. against .Wil-. liam' Stevenson and James. Roy, the orders to have effect in-.,tho Wellington and Hutt Licensing districts for twelve months. OTHER CASES. Frank Ayres, charged with having committed an assault upon Frederick Carroll, was remanded till April 18. To a chargo of having illtroated a horse, by working it while it was suffering from a sore wither, Frank

Pettengell pleaded not guilty. His Worship, after hearing evidence, convicted the accused, and imposed a fine of 40s. with, coata, the usual option being given. • . The City Solicitor (Mr. O'Shea) procoede dagainst the New Zealand Times Company, Ltd. (represented by Mr. Dalziell fo ralleged breach of the city by-laws, viz—(l) unlawful encroachment of.Lambton Quay by exhibiting pictures on a screen; (2) causing an exhibition to be shown, causing people to congregate and impede the traffic in Lambton Quay. : After hearing i evidence, his Worship reserved his decision. -~.'• .. ..

JUVENILE COURT. At a sitting of the Juvenile Court, presided over by Mr. AY. G. Riddell, S.M., a six-year-old.girl, who had been living with a reputed drunkard, was oommitted to tie Wellington Reoeiving Home, and a boy of eight, reported to be not under proper control, was committed to the. Stoke. Orphanage, his father to contribute 4s. weekly towards the oost of maintenance.