MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1091, 1 April 1911, Page 13

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.) A CROWDED CAR. AND A MAN WHO MADE AN EFFORT. Otto Wilton pleaded not guilty to a charge of having failed to pay liis tram faro when it was demanded by a conductor. The city solicitor (Mr. J. O'Shea) prosecuted, and Mr. A. R. Atkinson appeared for the defendant. Kvldcnce for tho prosecution was called for, tho purpose of showing that tho conductor of the tram from the city to Brooklyn had called "Fares, please 1" on each section, but, when the inspector went round later lie discovered Wilton without a ticket. Wilton refused to givo his name to tho conductor, but subsequently told the inspector his name. This was at tho tram terminus. For the defence evidence was called to tho elfect that .Wilton had endeavoured to attract the attention of tho conductor to pay his fare, but had been unable to do so owing to the crowded state of tho car, The magistrate dismissed the information, but refused to allow the defendant costs. His Worship considered that a more forciblo effort to pay tho faro might havo beeii made. THE SHOP AND OFFICES ACT. On March 14 last, Mr. W. G. Riddell, S. M., convicted James Rod and Co., butchers, of a breach of tho Shops and Offices' Act, in that during tho week ending on Saturday, February 18, 1911, they employed a shop assistant for more than nine hours, excluding meal times, on more than ono day in sucli week. A fino of os. and costs was imposed, and security for leave to appeal was fixed at £7 7s. Pending tho appeal tho eases against E. Barber and Co., Garrett and Co., tho Gear Meat Co., mid the AVaingawa Meat Co., in which tho facts were tho same, wore to stand over. losterday Mr. A. L. Hcrdman intimated that Rod and Co. did not now intend to appeal, and pleas of admission ivero entered on behalf of the other defendants. Tho magistrato fixed tho penalties tho same as in tho test case — 55., and costs 7s. For failing, to allow ail assistant a lialf-holiday during the. week ending March 11, Arthur Albert Edward Hardjastlo was fined ss. and costs 7s. De;endant explained that tho assistant lesired to work that week in order to ?et extra time off later. TH EFT ADMITTED. : A well-dressed young woman, named Dorothy Dent, admitted stealing a gold ring, valued at £7 10s., tho property 3f Ellen Colo. Sub-Inspector Shcehan stated thai ft"! , r ' n = had been missed from Mis. bedroom, to which accused had iceess. It was subsequently traced to i pawnshop, whero it nad been pledged for £1. Accused was a first offender, and had been in constant employment for the past; 18 months. The magistrato. after admonishing ae-1 :used, recorded a conviction, and or-1 lored. her to pay £1 (the price for ivbich the ring had been pledged) and to como up for sentence when called >n. OVER-DRIVING ALLEGED. Frank Brown, who was defended by Mr. P. W. Jackson, pleaded not guilty to a charge of having cruelly ill-treated i horse by over-driving it. Mr. V. R. Meredith, for the 3.P.C.A., called evidence to the effect that the horse camo to a standstill, and ■vas unable to proceed, while being Irivcn by Brown. There was no evidence, however, to prove that the horse had been hardivorked by Brown, and the latter absolutely denied having ill-treated tho norse. The magistrate said that he was not prepared to 'convict on tho evidence,' md the information was dismissed. Mr. J. J. M'Grath watched the case 311 behalf of the owner of the horse. ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES. William James Geddys Hughes appeared on rem and from Nelson to inswer a charge that, between June 28, 1910, and November 11, 1910, at Wellington, he obtained from Elizabeth lilake and John Baptist Blake tho sum if £52 10s., by means of false prepuces. Oii the application of ChiefDctectivo Broberg, accused was remanded until April 7. Mr. 11. F. O'Leary, who appeared for accused, asked for bail, winch was Ixcd at £50, and ono surety of £50 jr two of £'25. BY-LAWS 'BROKEN. Two defendants, charged with failng to comply with a dranage notice, i.id not appear. Edmund Burnie Garvin was lined 205., with costs 75., and solicitor's feo £1 Is., in default seven lays' imprisonment. Sophia Amelia S'aughton was mulct in the same penllty, with tho alternative of 48 hours' mprisonment. The City Solicitor (Mr. ). O'Shea) prosecuted. . Julius Ahlers, a driver, admitted havng unlawfully passed through the Kilbirnie tunnel without a permit on March 13." In explanation defendant stated that ho had not been driving 'or more than a few weeks, and was not veil acquainted with the city. He was following certain directions at tho time, md had found himself in the tunnel .inexpectedly. The city solicitor informed the magis;rato that he had in. reason to disbelieve the story. Defendant was convicted and ordered to pay court costs lis. For leaving a vehicle unattended for noro than five minutes, William Kirktrick was fined 20s. and costs 75., default being fixed at seven days' imprisonment. OTHER CASES. Violet Campbell was charged with absconding from tho Salvation ' Army [lome, a, reformatory institution under tho Act Accused had only recently served a sentence of two months' imprisonment for absconding from tho same institution. Sho was sentenced to a month's imprisonment, and is to be examined as to her sanity by tho jaol surgeon. James Wallace pleaded guilty to a ;hargo of using bad languago in Taraialci Street, and was fined £3, in default fourteen days' imprisonment. Louisa Maitland pleaded guilty to a charge of drunker.icss and to a further charge ol liquor during

tho currency of a prohibition order. For tho first offeree aho was convicted and discharged, and for breach of the order sho Has fined 205., the alternative being seven days' imprisonment. Two first-olfending inebriates were convicted and discharged. MOUNT COOK POLICE COURT. At tho Mofuit Cook Police Court yesterday, beforo Mr. T. S. Lambert, J.P., Patrick Dooley pleaded guilty to drunkenness in Tory Street, and was lined ss. or 24 hours' imprisonment. William Brady, charged with insobriety, pleaded guilty, and was mulcted in the sum of 55., or 24 hours' detention. William Brew was convicted for the twentieth time for drunkenness, and was discharged, on condition that ho at onco took out a prohibition order against himself. Failing to do soon that day, ho is required to come up for sentence today. COUFiT OF APPEAL. The fol'owing arj the only cases set down so far for tlu sitting of the Court of Appeal, which is to open on Monday:— Edward Butler Harrison, of Waiho, farmer, v. the Waimato County Council and Corporation, etc., of Waimate. H.M. the King v. Wm. Ernest Dawe. H.M. tho King v. Wm. Howard, othorwiso known as Wilson Shepherd. H.M. the King v. Walter Francis Darby. H.M. tho King (on the prosecution of Joseph Ilore) v. Walter Francis Darby. In ro the Declaratory Judgments Act, 3008, the Education Act, 1908, and the Now Zealand Education Institute. Harry M. Skeot and John Dillon v. Joseph Cowie Nicholls.