MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 873, 20 July 1910, Page 11

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(lkfore'Mr. W. G. EiddelK S.M.) CHILD IN BURNING HOUSE. A GRAVE SITUATION'. A woman named Valentino Moiser was charged that during July at Wellington, she wilfully ill-treated Dominica Moiser,' aged four years, in. a manner likolv to cause injury to health. Sub-Inspector Norwood asked tnat accused be romanded till July 29. Ho stated that the present proceedings woto really the sequel to a firo which had occurred on Monday afternoon in a house occupied by a man named FarJoy, iu Charltoii Avenue, off Taranald Street. Other occupants. were the accused, Valetinc Moiser, and two childroll, Louis H. Moiser, aged five years and ten months, and Dominica Mb'iser. At tlio time of the outbreak a passerby, named Carroll, hearing gasping cries, forced in the door, anc| found tho front room in flames. Breaking a window, ho then effected an entrance

into an adjoining room, and discovered the child, Dominica,. almost in 11 state of collapse on account of the smoke. The bedding oh which she was lying was ablaze. The allegation of the prosecution was that.the mother had quitted tho house leaving the child tied to tho bed with a piece of string, which passed round its neck. Constable Doyle, who presently appeared on the scone, took charge of the infant, who was badly burnt about the legs,.besides having sores about the body, and being generally in an emaciated condition. Tho cliiitl was taken to the Hospital, and was now in a critical condition. Tho magistrate committed tho boy to tho St. Mary's Industrial School ..at Nelson, and remanded tho accused as asked. Accused was allowed bail in the sum of £30, and one surety of a like amount.' . , A GUEST AND A HAT. Harold Williams pleaded not guilty' to a charge of stealing a hat valued at 6s. lid., the property of John Blackburn. According to police evidencu, accused went into Ourtis's boardinghouso on Plinimer's Steps, and had a meal, for which ho did not pay. , Mrs. Curtis detained his hat in consequence, but accused sought to make that good by taking another.' , Chief-Detective Broberg mentioned that accused had a bad record for crime, and his Worship convicted tuid lined him £1,-with witnesses' expenses Bs., in default, seven days' imprisonment. The stolen hat was also ordered to be returned, to its rightful owner. OTHER CASES. Charles Henry Rice was convicted and discharged for drunkenness, • and on a further charge.of using disgusting language on the Thorndon Esplanade was fined £5, in default 14 days' imprisonment. On a charge of using improper language in Taranaki Street, an old man named Michael Conway. was convioted and fined £4, with the option of 14! days in gaol. Thomas Troy was fined £1, with the option of seven days' imprisonment, for drunkenness. For procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order he was fined £1, in default seven days' imprisonment. . For insobriety, Thomas Dunn was filled £1, or seven days' imprisonment, Thomas Henry Calvert was fined 10s., or 48 hours' two first offenders forfeited their bail of 10s., and two other first offending delinquents were fined 55., with tho option of 24 hours' imprisonment. CIVfL BUSINESS. MOTOR-CAR SMASH. (Before Mr. "W. B. Haselden, S.M.) As the result of a motor-car collision J. O'Brien and Co., general carriers, of Wellington, proceeded against James Sands Elliott, medical practitioner, also of Wellington. Plaintiff's statement of claim alleged that (1) on March 10 tho defendant so carelessly and negligently drove and managed a motor-car in Constable Street as to run into and collide with the plaintiff's .express and two horses while' they were drawn up on the sido of the said street; (2) that the express and harness were considerably broken and damaged, and one of the" plaintiff's horses was so seriously cut about that it has been permanently injured and was rendered totally unfit for work for four and a half weeks. The amount of claim for damago and ! expenses was £13 12s. • ■• The defendant counter-claims for £1 105.,, being charges and expenses incurred in effecting repairs to damage- , caused to his motor-car, as the result of • the collision with the plaintiff's lorry. . > ■ . ■ . • Mr.. T. M. ■Wilford appeared for plaintiff and Mr. T. Young for the defendant. After one witness had been briefly examined, the case was adjourned until 10.30 a.m. on Friday. THE UNDEFENDED LIST. Plaintiffs were awarded judgment in the following undefended civil cases:— Lawrence Elton Christie v. Telene Moore, .£53 9s. 6d., costs £4 os. 6d.; Wellington City Council v. Agnes Mary D. Welsh, £2 6s. 2d., costs 55.; Wellington Tradors Agency, as assignees of Kempthorne,- Prosser and Co., New Zealand Drug Co., Ltd. v. T. A. Hardio, £5 Bs., costs £1 3s. 6d.; South Pacific Mortgage and Deposit Co., Ltd. v. John Coogan, £21 Is. 9d., costs £1 65.; Ellis and' Manton v. Townsend and Co., £71 10s. Bd., costs .£4 55.; Levin, and Co., Ltd. v. Miramar Athletic Park and Wonderland Co., Ltd., £46 15s. 6d., costs £3 65.; Blundell < Bros., Ltd. v. Miramar Athletic Park and Wonderland Co., Ltd., £20 los., costs £2 145.; W. and Of. Turnbull and Co. v. Ernest Horace Perrett, £28 10s. 2d.; costs £2 14s.