LAW REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1780, 19 June 1913, Page 3

LAW REPORTS.

LOWER COURT. THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZEN. WOUND IN THE FACE. BRAWL IN TARANAKI STREET. Unheard-of incidents of a somewhat violent nature occur at intervals in some of the thoroughfares of tho city. Something happens, a crowd collects, and scatters again, and that is the last of it. Occasionally, however, cases bearing on. the subject of the safety of the citizen— quarrelsome or otherwise—come into court for trial. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, an alleged stabbing affair in Taranaki Street was ventilated. It appeared from the particulars set out in the case for the prosecution that, on tho night of June 2, a brawl occurred in Taranalci Street. In this brawl a man named Alexander Francis M'Lean is alleged to have been stabbed in the nose. Tho incident happened between 9 and 9.3D p.m., and some of those who wero on the scene at the time were under tho influence of liquor. In. consequence of the affair, and tho injury sustained by Al'Lean, James Grennell, who (it is understood) is an ex-member of the Liverpool Fire Brigade, was charged before Mr. W. G. Itiddell, S.M., with having assaulted and wounded M'Lean. Police Inspector Hendrey prosecuted, and Mr. O'Leary appeared on behalf of the accused.

Alexander Francis M'Lean, the man who was injured, is a driver by occupation. He stated that, at about 9.30 p.m. on June 2, he was standing outside the Mission Hall in Taranaki Street, when G'renn-ell came up and said: "Are you looking for anything?" Witness -replied in the negative, and then, without warning, Grennell struck him in the face. A second blow knocked 'him (witness) to the ground. As ho was regaining his feet, Grennell "cut him down from the forehead to the nose, with something like a knife." A friend named Kanliin took him to Dr. Martin, whore the wound on tho nose was temporarily dressed. On the following day he went to the Hospital and had his nose restitchcd, remaining in the institution for five days. Some time later he Tecogirised GAnnell o.u the wharf, and hei at once asked a constable who was standing nearby to telephone Detective-Sergeant Cassells. The constable did so. Subsequently Grennell was arrested, and charged with tho offence. Counsel for the accused man Grennell then proceeded to examine witness about his movements on the night of-June 2. In reply to questions, M'Lean stated that ho and a friend named Rankin had had a drink at about 8 p.m., and had -then proceeded to Tory Street Mission Hall, where they sang hymns for about half an hour. From the Mission Hall they went to tho Cricketers' Arms Hotel, and had another drink, and then went back to the Mission Hall in Taranaki Street. Counsel: Case of beer, mission, and more Leer, eli? Witness: Yes. Counsel: You got another religious fit after the sccond beer? Witness: -Yes. Continuing, witness said that he went from the Mission Hall in Taranaki Street to tho Panama Hotel, where he had another drink, and returned to tho hall again at about 9.10 p.m. There was a crowd in the vicinity of the hall, and it appeared as if there was a fight in progress. There was a man lying in. the gutter near by, and there was anotherman standing near with his arm in a sling. Witness, howover, denied that Tie had been in tho company of any persons who knocked the man down. Counsels The influence of your three drinks had not • put ; you in a pugilistic mood, eh?—" No.' Dr. Albert Martin deposed that at about half-past nine on the night of June 2 M'Lean was brought, to his surgery in Vivian Street. Ho described the injuries to nose and face. Dr. William M'Coll, house-surgeon of the Wellington Hospital, also stated that M'Lean came to the institution on tho morning df June 3 with a nasty wound on his nose. William Rankin, who was with M'Lean on the night of the incident, also gave evidence. Constable Holmes Stated that lie was on duty at the Mount Cook Police Station on the day of June 9, and the accused had said in his presence that ho was not present when tho to 4 was on, but ,was homo in bed. Subsequently he stated that he was present at the brawl, and that ho saw all. Accused told a different story. Ho said that a party comprising himself, a drunken half-brother, and a man named Whitburn, worn set upon by M'Lean, Rankin, and others, in Taranaki Street. He admitted that ho struck M'Lean, but denied that he had used a knife. James H. Whitburn gavo evidence in support of this. At the conclusion, of the hearing accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in tho sum of .£lO and one surety of £iO. FORGED CHEQUES. OPERATIONS ON TRADESMEN. Yesterday afternoon, George Maxwell, I alias Christopher Francis Dittmer, was I brought before Mr. W. G. Riddell on | three charges of forgery. The charges were: (1) That on April 8, 1913, at Wellington, ho forged the name of H. Jensen to a cheque for £11 jis., drawn on the NrAionalJ Bank of New Zmianfd, and uttered the same to Harry Baker; (2) on April 12 he forged tho name of H. Lee to a cheque for £7 35., drawn on the Bank of New Zealand, and uttered same to William Allan; (3) on April 19 he forged the name of J. Wiltshire to a cheque for £2 175., drawn on the Bank of New Zealand, and uttered the same to George Alexander Scott. Chief- Detective Broberg prosecuted. The accused was not represented by counsel. Harry Baker, tailor, of Manners Street, stated that on April 2 accused came into his shop and ordered a suit. He stated that he had been working at Odiin's Mill, a (J Waikanae. Two days later he again called, and tried the suit, which was to cost £5 55., and ho paid £2 down. On tho following day he came in in a hurry and borrowed £1. On April 8 he again called and got his suit, and gavo witness a cheque for .£ll 4s. Witness cashed tho chequo and gave him .CO 19s. chango. James Flynn, shop assistant, employed at Veitch and Allan s, Cuba Street, stated that accused came into tho shop on April 12 and purchased goods to the value of. 14s. Cd. Accused handed in a cheque for £7 3s. Witness gave him ,£6 Bs. 6d. change. George Alexander Scott, manager of R. H. Scotfs mercery business, Willis Street, stated that on April 19 accused camo into the shop and purchased goods to tho valuo of 12s. Gd. Accused gavo in a chequo for £2 175., and in endorsing it signed the name "Percy Leo." On April 21 witness paid tho cheque into the Bank of New Zealand, but on the following day it was returned marked "no account." Cyril St. George Mander, teller in tho National Bank of New Zealand, stated that no pcrsan named "H. Jensen" bad an account in tho bank. Leslio Harold Fee, teller in tho Bank of New Zealand, stated that "H. Lee" did not have an account at the bank, neither did "J. Willshire." Detective Abbott gavo evidence as to arresting accused, who had thou intimated that he intended to plead guilty. When charged with the offences, accused said that he would plead guilty if tho name Dittmer was struck out from tho charge sheet. Tho polico had no objoction, and the amendment being made, tho accused pleaded guilty to tho three charges, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. JEWELLERY THIEF. With a long list of convictions standing against him, James Henry Sergeant, alias James Geoffrey Grahame, pleaded guilty lo a charge of theft of a gold-mounted ribbon guard, a gold chain, a greenstone heart, a silver matchbox, and a lady's neck-chain, valued in all at £o, tho property of James Miller." In conjunction with James Whitaker, the accused was also charged with the theft of tarious »"W«l6s of icwcllery, of a.

total value of «fi7s, from the dwellinghouse of Charles Jenkins, at Levin. Both accused were remanded until next Wednesday 011 this charge. In stating the facts relating to tho first charge, Chief Detective Broberg said that on May 30 accused rented a room at No. 10 Ingestro Street. On June 2 Mr. Miller, who resided there, went a v." ay for a few hours, ancl on returning found that both accused and the jewellery were missing. On Juno 9 the accused was arrested on another charge, and in his possession was a pa.wn ticket, which led up to tho recovery of Miller's property. Continuing, tho chief detective stated that Sergeant had a bad record. Sonio years ago 110 was sentenced at Auckland to seven years' imprisonment 011 thirteen charges of larceny, and in 1908 110 received five years for theft. . The accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. PERCY FABIAN'S CASE. Three charges of theft were preferred against Percy Alfred Fabian, who appeared on remand. Ho was charged (1) with theft of an overcoat and felt hat, valued at M 2s. 6d., the property of James O'Malley; (2), with the theft of an overcoat valued at J23 7s. Od., the property of James Fred. Brown; and (3) with theft of a gentleman's overcoat, valued at JC2 10s., tho property of John Herbert Hinton. Chief Detective Broberg stated that, he desired a remand, as there were four other charges against the accused under investigation. The accused was remanded until Wednesday next, bail being allowed in the sum of and two sureties of ,£ls. Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for tho accused. OTHER POLICE CASES. George Sampson and Alfred Olu'nd were fined .£3 each, in default 14 days in gaol, for committing certain acts. Thomas Pater Eon was convicted a.nd discharged for insobriety, but for using certain objectionable language in a public street, was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment. For insobriety, Arthur A. Granger was fined 205., in default seven days' imprisonment, and was also made the subject of a prohibition order. I'ivo first offenders for insobriety were leniently dealt with.