MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1330, 6 January 1912, Page 15

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S,M.) UNLAWFUL TRAFFIC, SUBSTANTIAL FINES.IMPOSED. In the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, o.Mj, a number of persons were charged With unlawfully dealing in liquor. The informations were the ontcomc of raids made during the holiday season by Senior Sergeant Itutledge, of Mount Cook, and Constable M'lvelvey, of Clyde Quay. Iho prosecutions were conducted by bub-In-spector Sheehan. Arthur Hobinson pleaded guilty to two separate charges of having unlawfully sold liquor on Christmas Day. After defendant had entered his plea, the subinspector asked leave to amend the information by mentioning a previous conviction. Mr. H. F. O'Leary, who appeared for Hobinson, objected on the ground that it was then too lato. _ , . His Worship upheld the objection. Mr. O'Leary then asked his Worship to treat tho "two offences as one. The magistrate agreed to this. A fino of JE2O aud Court costs 7s. was imposed on tho first charge, tho default being one month's imprisonment. On the, second charge a conviction was recorded, and defendant was "ordered to pay Court costs. Arthur Stevens, who pleaded guilty to fovo charges of unlawfully selling liquor in York' Street, on Christmas Day, was penalised in the same manner as the previous accused.

Ernest Hunter, who had been found on Robinson's premises when tho police arrived, claimcd that ho had been invited there to have a friendly drink on account of tho season of tho year. He was a next-door neighbour. The raagistiate considered the evidence was against the accused, and imposed a fine of 205., with Court costs 7s.

William Johnston did not appear to answer a charge of having been unlawfully' on premises when liquor was seized. He was nned 40s. and costs 75., the alternative being seven days' imprisonment. ADJOURNMENT? GRANTED. Adjournments until Monday next were granted in tho cases of Thomas -Elliott and Horace Jeyes, charged with unlawfully selling liquor. Mr. A. L, -Herdma'n appeared for oach of the defendants.' ■ '• William M'Enerney pleaded not guilty to a charge of haying been privy to the unlawful sale of liquor, and, on his own application, wa§ granted an adjournment until Monday next. INFORMATION DISMISSED. A young man named Thomas Robson appeared on summons to answer a charge of indecency at Lyall Bay on Decembers. Mr. T. W. Hislop, who appeared for the- defendant, entered a plea of not guilty. Counsel strongly objected to the wording of the charge, and contended that defendant could not be convicted under tho clauso of the Act cited. After hearing evidence the magistrate considered that the information must be dismissed. He, however, characterised defendant's conduct as indiscreet, and remarked that the experience would probably deter him and others from acting similarly in future. - OTHER CASES. •• For allowing a horse to be at'largo, Percy W. Sharpe was fined 55., with Court costs 9s. and witness's expenses 45.. Albert Henry Hughes appeared' on remand on a charge of carnally knowing at Petone. He was further remanded until Wednesday next. Harry Swanson, alias William Freeman, was charged with stealing- a bicyclo valued at .£3, tho property of C. J. Hickson. A sentence of one month's imprisonment was imposed. Ernest Stanley Mott, • who had been found helplessly drunk in Cambridge Terrace on Thursday, was remanded for a week for curatiTc treatment. A first-offending inebriate, who did not appear, was ordered to forfeit his bail of 10s.