MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2149, 15 May 1914, Page 5

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

, DAMAGES CLAIMED. . OPEN TRAPDOOR IN HOTEL. A claim for damages resulting from a tall through a trapdoor'in a hotel ixcupied the .attention of ; Mr. W G Eiddell, S.M., iii the Magistrate's Court yesterday. . ■■. . John Nelson/, a labourer'by occupa™n. s'led David Sullivan, proprietor of Wio Caledonian Hotel, Wellington, for the sum of £75. Plaintiff alleged negligence on the part of ,the defendant in that he left a trapdoor open and •uncovered, in tho floor of tho hotel, without giving plaintiff notice or warning. In consequence of this, tho plaintiff at tho invitation of the defendant, entered the hotel on February 16, and fell through tho -trapdoor into the cellar below, and thereby sustained fracture of several ribs. In the course of evidence, plaintiff stated that,he had entered the jug and bottle department of the hotel for. the purpose of obtaining liquor. It waa then, that tho accident occurred. The defence was that the public entrance to the jug and bottle department was not only closed, but locked, at tho time of plaintiff's visit. Tho trapdoor was constructed in such a manner that when it whs raised it locked the door of the department, and it was in thia position when the accident took place. Plaintiff had entered tho hotel at; a very early hour, just when tho premises wero being opened for tho day, and he had come in through the private entrance and made his way into tho jug and bottle department, coming through a door in tlio private bar Plaintiff had no right to enter this way, find tho accident, although unfortunate, was entirely due to his own fault. ( After hearing the evidence. His Worship reserved decision. Mr. J. F. W. Dickson appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. J. J; M'Grath defended. ~ JUDGMENT By DEFAULT. Judgment for plaintiff by default was given by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., in the following undefended cases:—Commercial Agency, Ltd., v. James Shaw, £50 los. 10d., costs £4 11s.; Fullers' Biograph' Supplies v. John Payne, £105 165., costs £5 135.; J. H. Bethuuo and Co. v. W. W. Townshend, £1 10s., costs 55.; Laery and Co., Ltd., v. J. Hyanis, 175., costs 55.; Robert George Thompson, v. J. A. Smith, £3 55., costs 10s.; 0. Page and Sons v. E. Cortzen, £10 ss. 10d., costs £1 10s. 6t1.; liarori Borough Council v. Evan Williams,, £4 2s. 3d., costs 55.; samo v. Hugh Logan Cartwright, £2 17s. Bd., costs Bs.; same v. Charles H. Mauson, costs only 65.; Frederick Land v. E. H. Russling, £1 Is., costs 18s.; John Williams v. Allen Herbert Davis, £2 14s. 10d., costs 55.; Restaurant Workers' Union v. D. Bouleris, £1 16s'., costs 55.; Vacuum Oil Co. Proprietary, Ltd., v. W. L. Carey, £13 S)s. 9d., costs £1 10s. 6d. JUDGMENT SUMMONSES. David Morris Owens was ordered to pay John Nicol tho sum of £11 18s. 6d. on or before May 28; E. D. Eichards to pay Charles Pratt and Co. (as assignees of James Stellin) the Bum of £15 Bs. 3d., before Juno 29. POLICE GASES. "YOU ARE A WRETCHED WASTER!" Tho police cases at the Magistrate's Court yesterday were dealt witli by Mr. : D. G. A. Cooper, S.M. A plea of not guilty was made by William Stevens when charged with lining an idle and disorderly person with ; insufficient lawful means of nupport, ; In giving evidence, accused s father J

a stated that his son had not done any 111 work for years. The trouble with him ;d was drink. Accused had threatened Iβ is turn witness out of tlicir hutsio. t, Accused cross-examined liig father at some length, and Sub-Inspector Slieelian t- remarked that instead of the son hclpii ing the father he had "sponged" upon > him instead. Mis Worship (vigorously): Well, Stevens, in convicting you, let me tell vou this: I think .you arc a low blackguard for the manner in which yoti questioned your father. You are a wretched waster, and will bo sentenced ;0 to three months' imprisonment." t THEFT OF OVERCOAT. James M'Donalc!, alias Chafe, pleaded not guilty to a ckirgu of theft «f an , overcoat valued at £l"lOs.. tbe property J of Simon Fraser. ; Nathan Phillips, eccond-hiind denier, stated that the accused had soH witness an overcoat, 'flic coat Was marked "S. Fraser." Accused stated that a man in the r ) street had.given-Mm the coat to sell. The Magistrate ifnposed a scntflflco , of one month's imprisonment. : s otherTcases. Fcr insobriety, John Vobbe was fined .) 405., and Frank M'Gwe ant! Edward 1- Nolan were each fined IDs. Two first •. offenders, similarlj' charged, w«re con- ■. vioted and discharged, a Mary Joyce was fined 10s, on a charge ; :- of insobriety, and on a charge of clamacing three panes of glass valued at j ■. L'os., the property of Janft Milne, the :, transgressor was ordered to pay tira ;. damage done, in default one month in ■ gao, ' . . - A sitting of the Jnrenile Court was , held yesterday, J[r. ]3. G. A. Cooper, S.M., 'presiding. Two boys, under Iβ years of aae, \vore convicted and discliarged for disetarg- ■ ing firearms at Kilbjr'nie. Another boy ediarittod throwiiiß a stone to the damage of property. After • being admonished he was disdtaanrod. 1 For wilfully damajrjng a plate-glass 1 window, valued at £9, the property of Frank Cooze, a lad received a severe admonition, and was then discharged.