MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 980, 22 November 1910, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before-Mri W. G. J?id(lell, S.M.) OPIUM SMOKING. A-CHINESE FINED £5. . A Chinese named Now Bee was charged with unlawfully permitting the smoking of opium at Wellington on November 19. Ho; was further charged with manufacturing opium in a form suitable for smoking. Mr. C. S. Nixon,' Collector of Customs, prosecuted, and Mr. P. Brandon appeared for Now Bee. Counsel intimated that a plea of guilty would be entered on the first charge, but his client pleaded not guilty to the charge of manufacturing opium. in a form suitable for smoking. _ . Evidence for the prosecution ivas to the effect that on Saturday last Constables Cummings and Munro entered premises at No_. 3 Haifling Street and discovered a Chinese named Wong Young stirring a pot with a thick mixture in it. Accused was upstairs, and Wong Young called to him to come down. The police then asked accused what the mixture was for, and ho replied .that, it was medicine which.he took for an internal complaint. The police seized the mixture, and then went upstairs, where they seized other opium paraphernalia. For the offence to which accused had pleaded guilty a fine of ,£5 was imposed, with costs 75., in default 21 days' imprisonment. A DISHONEST BUTCHER/; Frank Humphrey appeared on remand to answer three charges of converting his employer's money to his own use during November, 1909, the amounts in the different charges being ,£2 65., 7s. 7d., and 9s. 9d. Mr. T. 'M. Wilford appeared for accused. '• The case had been partly heard last week, when it. was stated that accused, at the time of the offences, had been employed as driver of' one of the Kosher Meat Company's delivery carts, and it was. part of his duty to collect accounts. He. had given receipts to three different customers for the amounts mentioned in tho charges, and. should have .paid the amounts into tho office of the company on the same days that he received them, but no such amounts could be traced in the' books. , When the hearing was resumed yesterday, Minnctte Scott, married woman, residing at 9 .Ranfurly Terrace, stated .that sho kept the books at the Kosher Meat Company during tho time that accused was employed there. .'Accused was supposed to hand all moneys collected to wit- - ness, who promptly entered them. Tho moneys unaccounted for had not been handed to her.'Mr. Wilford, for the "defence, stated that ho did. not propose to call evidence. It was for his Worship to decide whether. or not the prosecution-;; could \ rely ' -6a tho memory of a girl;".^' l " A sentence of two months' imprisonment was imposed on fche-first.charge 'and one month on each of the other charges, the sentences to be concurrent-. ■ ■' ALLEGED ■ WIFE - DESERTION.' . Alfred Tester, charged;'.with unlawfully deserting his wife at-Wellington,, was remanded until. to-morrow. Bail ' was allowed in <6100. and two .'.sureties.-of ; -£50 each. Mr. P. J;. O'Regan appeared'for complainant and. Mr. P. Jackson .for defendant. •' ■ ' • - Francis M'Fadyen,' charged with .'unlawfully deserting his wife at' Auckland, : was remanded until to-morrowj wiien a remand to Auckland may., be applied for. ..INSOBRIETY. On charges of drunkenness, John Gibbard and John David Speight were each sentenced to twenty-one days' imprisonment, the Magistrate directing that prohibition orders should be issued against , them. David Taylor and-Donald M'Pherson, for drunkenness, were each fined 20s. with the .option of seven 1 days' imprisonment. Two first-offending , inebriates wore convicted and dlfcharged, and -another who did. not appear was ordered to forfeit lis bail of 10s., or, as an alterna-. tivo, to: undergo; forty-eight hours' - imprisonment. PROHIBITED ONES. Joseph Scott pleaded guilty to a chargo.i of entering licensed: premises during tho currency of a prohibition order, and was fined 405., witness's expenses 45., Court costs 95., in. default seven, days' imprisonment. A prohibition order was issued against Maud Paton, to take effect for one year. MAINTENANCE CASES. ' Harold Douglas Barton was ordered to pay 15s. a week towards tho support of his wife, and 10s. a week towards the support of his child, together with .£2 2s. solicitor's fee. Mr. H. O'Leary appeared for complainant. For disobedience of a maintenance order, Alfred William Ponting was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended for a month if .£5 is paid off the arrears. . Mr. P. J. O'Regan appeared for the complainant. .An adjournment till Wednesday was granted in the case in which David John Dumbleton was charged with failing to maintain an illegitimate child. Mr. P. Jackson appeared for • complainant, and Mr. F. H. Kelly for defendant. A case ill : which George - Frederick Furby was charged with failing to maintain his. wife, was- adjourned sino die to allow of the completion of certain arrangements in respect to a property. Mr. K. Kirkcaldie apDeared for the complainant, and Mr. P. Jackson for defendant. . Hearing of a charge against Ernest Stevens, for failing to make provision for an illegitimate child, was adjourned until December 5. Mr. Willis appeared for complainant. An adjournment till November 28, was granted in a case in which Charles Stevens applied to have a maintenance order varied. ■ Mr. P. Jackson appeared for the applicant's wife. . Tho case of Hannah Fryer (Mr 1 . T. Weston) v. James _ Fryer ' (Mr. H. O'Leary), an' application for summary separation, maintenance,' and costs, was adjourned until 25. In tho case Theresa SWeiis v. William Stevens, an application for summary separation, Mr. P. Jackson appeared for complainant, and asked leave to withdraw. This was granted. 'OTHER CASES. George Jelley and Arthur Pickjrd wero charged with using threatening behaviour in Luxford Street on November 11, whereby a breach of the peace had been occasioned. Jlr.' E. J. Fitzgibbon appeared for tho accused Jelley, and Mr. T. M. Wilford for the accused Pickard. An adjournment till November 28 was granted to enable . certain witnesses for the defence to bo called. For leaving a vehicle unattended for more than five minutes, Joseph Martin was fined 205., with costs 75., in default •IS hours' imprisonment. George Muiulle admitted using certain language, but as tho olVoncc was not a serious one, tho Magistrate considered that a line of 205., with costs 95., would meet tiio case. A case_ against Whitcnian Brothers lor selling milk alleged to bo adulterated with water was partly heard, and then adjourned until November 2S, to enable witnesses lot the defence to lie called. Sir. T. M. Wilford appeared for defendants.