PETONE S.M. COURT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1780, 19 June 1913, Page 7

PETONE S.M. COURT.

Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., presided over the monthly sitting of the Petone Court yesterday. 11 r. K. Mothes, J.P., was also on the bench.

H. Wallace was fined 55., and costs 75., for leaving a vehicle unattended. For trespassing on a railway lino Fleming Ross (who did not appear) was fined 55., and costs' £1 Bs., or three days' imprisonment. Prohibition orders wero applied for and granted against the following:— Anthony Martin, Albert G. Hobbs, and James Coles. Charles Kevil was charged with the theft of a sovereign. Ho pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr. T. JI. Wiiford. Evidence was given by l Kathleen Shaw, to tho effect that accused came into the shop which slio was serving in, and tendered a sovereign for a purcliaso. She gave him 18s. 9d. change and left the sovereign on tho counter. When she turned round again the coin had disappeared. Mrs. Shaw's evidence corroborated that of her daughter's. Evidence for tho defenco was given by Messrs. J. P. Gaynor, W. Wearne, and H. J. Palmer. His Worship dismissed tho case, ihe Bench, lie said, was perfectly satisfied that accused was not guilty.

In tho civil list judgment was piven for plaintiff by default in the following cases: —J. \\'. M'Ewan v. J. Barnes, 17s. Cel., costs Gs.; same v, A. E. House, <£(• 2s. 3d., costs Gs.; Short and Fraser v. Ge<jrgo Harris, £i 55., costs 135.; .(. W. M'Ewan v. James Norman, .£3 12s. M., costs ss. A large batch of Territorials were charged with breaches of the Defence Act. Thomas H. Stevens, who was represented by Mr. P. J. O'Regan, was the first youth to api>enr. Counsel said there was really no defence to offer—he merely wished to state the facts. Ho then proceeded to do so. Some of the "facts" regarding the treatment of Stevens in gaol have already been denied by the authorities. His \\ orsliip said that he would !>e lenient v.'itli Stevens, who would be convicted and fined <>05., and costs .£1 Ids., on the first charge, an 'option of one week's military detention being allowed. On the two other charges lie would be convicted and discharged. „„ r , . , V Hawthorne, E. 11. Cunningham (two charges), U. J. Lucas (two charges), and 1! House were convioted and fined 205., with costs !ls., on each charge, the alternative living one week's military detention on each count. AV. G. N. Child? was convicted and ordered to pay costs !)s., while the cases against W. It. Nunn were adjourned for three months, to giyo him an opportunity to attend drill in the meantime. The following were convicted and discharged:—H. liiddler, L. L F. Fleet, A. L. Elvines, and J.. L. Elvines, Jacob AVaka, Archibald Cooper, Bank»-