LOWER COURT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1925, 6 December 1913, Page 14

LOWER COURT.

FIRE IN THE LAHBTON CELLS: ECCENTRIC WOMEN'S ACT, PECULIAR UNITED STATES CASE. Tho strange- act of two women who bad bccii) lodged in the Lambton Quay polico cells on Thursday was related in tlio Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, when Violet Paton and Kathleen Stanley wero charged with having committed mischief by burning two panels in a padded cell. Thoy were also charged with insobriety. Senior-Sergeant Mullaney stated that the two women had been placed in tlio cell at about 2.30 on Thursday afternoon, and at about 6.30 p.m. it was noticed that tlio panels of tlio cell door were on fire. Tlio women wero then put into another cell, and an hour later tlio blankets in that cell wero burning. The women stated that they could not remember what had occurred. On the charge' of insobriety they wero each fined £], and for their mischievous act a penalty of £2 was imposed. Subsequently the Court was informed that the woman Stanley had expressed her willingness to go to "tlio Mount 31ngdala Homo. The' Court then altered its decision respecting her, so as to merely enter convictions, and order her to come up for sentence when called on. The condition was that sho remains six months at the home.

THE.UNITED STATES CASE. A young man' who gave his name as Soberer was arrested on tlio arrival of the steamer Tahiti, from San Francisco 011 Thursday. Tho step was taken in consequence of a cable message from the San Francisco police, stating tlia/t tlioy believed that Schercr was identical with one Henry A. Briene, who is wanted by tlio United States police 011 a charge of forgery. ScJierer appeared in Court this morning. Chief-Dctcctivo Broberg stated that after the • arrest yesterday tho ■Wellington polico had cabled tho San Francisco police, and had later received from them this message:—"Have some doubt about Scherer being tho man. Please release him.'' Tho Court accordingly released Scherer. DISOBEDIENT SEAMEN. "Warren Bates, Harry Walsh, John Gibbnrd, and John Gilchrist, four seamen belonging to tho steamer Canada Capo, were charged with disobeying tho lawful commands of Captain Friend, master of the vessel. They wero each ordered to forfeit two days' pay, with costs 75., in default two days' imprisonment. Mr. P. Levi, who appeared for Captain Friend, said that the four men had flatly refused duty. There was no reason to think that their action had anything to do with the strike.

STOLEN FUEL. Maria Jane Hare was convicted and ordered to pay costs, 'Is., 011 a charge •of stealing three empty crates, valued at Is. Gd., tho property of Hatiley Burgess. It was explained that tlio defendant had been met by a constable in ltiddiford Street at four o'clock in the morning with three fruit boxes in her possession. When asked where she hail got them, sho -returned evasive answers, lint eventually confessed that she had stolon them for fuel. MISCELLANEOUS CASES. . Jeannio Ryan, who pleaded guilty to breaking a pane of glass in the Royal Tiger Hotel, was fined 10s., with costs IDs. Thy defendant had refunded- tlio value of tho broken window (10s.). On a charge of using certain language in Cuba Street, William Hobson was lined £3, with costs 'Js. - William Ballantyno was fined £2 for insobriety. , BY-LAW CASES.

For commencing to lay a drain at Ivhandallah without having a drainlayer's license, John P. Casey was fined lUs. ,w.ith costs 17s. Gd. For allowing stock to wander at Itarori, Arthur Lower and Elizabeth Wal-. ker were each fined os., with costs 7s. For allowing stock to wander at Miramar, William Adams and Mrs. Fyfe were eacli lined 10s., with costs 10s.; Charles Gadd was fined 55., with costs 10s.; and Roland Eager was ordered to pay costs 10». Sydney Heal was fined 55., and 7s. costs, for failing to observe the mlo of. tlio road when riding a bicyclc round the corner of Manners and Cuba, Streets. For negligently riding a motorbicyclo in liilbirnio Crescent, Roy C-'oad was toed 10s. ,v/ith costs .61 3s, 'A CIVIL CASE. Georgo Pinnock sued Burns and Sons, of Pctone, for £20, for alleged wrongful delivery of four motor <Mars to 'J„ IS. Fitzgerald. The, evidenco showed that Fitzgerald had bought the plaintiff's taxi-cab business, but tho plaintiff had paid for the gears. The defenco alleged that'tho plaintiff had sold all his interests to Fitzgerald, and tiat he had raised 110 objection regarding tho gears prior to the commencement of tho case. Mr. 0. Bcero appeared for tho plaintiff, and Mr. A. Dunn for tho defendant. Judgment was reserved.