MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 853, 27 June 1910, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

=■ (Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.) y THE S.S. MOANA HELD UP. MELEE AT THE GANGWAY. Tlio sequel to the fracas which occurred on tho Queen's Wharf as the 3 iloana was about to sail for Sydney 5 on Friday night was the appearance in , the dock of a seaman named William M'Crae, who was charged: (1) that j ivhile drunk on the Queen's Wharf he ) was guilty of disorderly conduct; (2) i that at the same time and place lie i used certain obscene language; and (3) . that he resisted Constable Fleming . whilo the latter was in the execution . of his duty. Sub-Inspector Norwood 'explained that i the accused was a scailloh employed on . the Moana. Ho refused to go aboard j the ship when requested to do so, \ and the assistance of the police had to 3 be requisitioned. The sub-inspector 1 then detailed the fracas which ensued t (reported in Tub Dominion of Saturday - last). Tlio accused pleaded guilty and was b convicted upon all throe charges. For l the first he was fined 205., with the r option of sevon days' imprisonment; - lor the second he was given 21 days - without the option of a fine, and for I tho third a sentence of fourteen days, 1 without tho option, was imposed. THE STOHEMAN AND THE OPIUM. William Walter Burgess, charged with t having stolen 36 ounces of opium, . valued at £10, from Alexander Young - and others, pleaded guilty. 3 Chief Dcctectivo Broberg, for the J police, stated that tho accused was em--1 ploved as assistant storeman at Young's r Chemical Works, Little Tarauaki Street, f It was his duty to lock up at 5 p.m., - and take the keys to Mr. Young's 1 house. On June 10, instead of properly - locking tho promises, he left the main door unlocked, took the keys to Mr. Young as usual, and, returning again ill the evening, abstracted 3Goz. of opium, in tins, from a chest which lie f broke opon. This opium he afterwards - endeavoured to sell in Raining Street, 1 and succeeded in disposing of one ounce I for 2s. Being unable to sell the re- - mttinder, he threw it into the harbour. 3 The accused, in 100", had been admitted to probation, for two years on a charge of arson, and he had also been convicted of assault. Mr. Jackson, for the accused, said that Burgess had no excuse to offer, p save that he committed the theft in a ' moment of weakness. He had had an excellent record during the past two • years. His Worship, in entering a oonvicii Won, said that bis past two years' rc- ; cord would be taken into coiis.id.ora- •' tcoii. The accused Would'bo fined £ii, ? with tlio altornativo of olio month's t imprisonment. ii HORSE'S GALLED BACK. 0 A fine, of £3 was imposed upon Al- *" fred Gamdorton (who pleaded guilty), = for. having worked n horse which wa.s 0 suffering from a sore- back. The atter- " native was 21 days' imprisonment. It r was (/tilled Hint the accused was tlrivII img a milk ca-ft owned by Duffy Bros. 8 Ho made a statement that a pad had e been placed on the horse's back by his 11 employers. 0 ■ His Worship observed that Gandor- ;' ton, who pleaded guilty, must havo been aware of the condition of tho horse. d CASE ABOUT A LANTERN. 0 Richard Duignan, who pleaded not 0 guilty to a charge of stealing a la.ntorn 1 valued at 3s. Od., the property of somo } person or persons unknown, was remanded till to-day. ii ii INSOBRIETY. 0 Two first offenders were, convicted " upon a charge of rlnmkcraiers, and *' fined 55., with the option of 21 hours' ■J ■imprisonment. { Once previously convicted for drunkenness, Thomas Murphy was fined 0 10s., with the option of -18 hours' im- ? prispnment, for his second lapse. ' Timothy Donovan, once previously " convicted for drunkenness, pleaded F guilty to a second offence, a.nd was s convicted and fined 10s., with the op- • tion of IS hours' imprisonment. On • a second charge of having refused to 0 leave licensed promises (the Pier Hotel) > when requested to do so by an om- ■ ployee of tho licensee, lie was convicted and lined 205., the alternative bc-in;; seven clays' imprisonment. John AYeldoTi and James Byrne, each , with three previous convictions for e drunkenness against iiis name, pleaded guilty to another lapse, and were con- _ victcd and sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment.