MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2321, 1 December 1914, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

TROOPERS IN TROUBLE N UNLAWFUL ASSAULT. ' 'A sitting of the Magistrate's .Coiirt was'hold yesterday morning, before Messrs. H. P. Davies and J. B. Speed, J.'bP. -" ' Trooper Robert' M'Kay was charged with unlawfully assaulting some person unknown, and' with damaging a constable's helmet, and Sergeant Gordon Brown ; was charged with obstructing Constable Jerrold in the execution of his cluiy- Mr. J. J. M'Grath appeared to defend.- . Evidence was given by Constable Jerrold that on Saturday evening, while he was arresting M'Kay on a charge of assault, Brown, who informed the constable, he was a member , of the military police, told the constable not to interfere, and. tried to release M'Kay. Inspector Hendrey said that no doubt Brown's case' was one of mistaken authority. Brown; ho was .told, was one of the best non-commissioned officers under canvas at Trentham. ■ The Inspector thought the case-was one_ for the military authorities to deal with. The Bench; adopted this suggestion, but M'Kay was convicted, and ordered .to'be handed over to the military authorities to be dealt with. M'Kay was also -ordered to pay the cost of the damaged helmet, fls.

: CHARGED. AVm. John O'Connor, alleged to be a dismissed member, of the .Expeditionary Force, :was charged (1) .with drunkenness, (2) : not being a member of the Expeditionary Force was found wearing a, uniform without permission, (3) assisting .Private Collins to desert. It was alleged, that _o'Connbr, who was 'discovered- wandering about Trentham camp in a. drunken condition in Collins's uniform, and had worn the latter's uniform so that Collins might desert. There .was. no evidence, how-ever,-to prove that O'Connor had assisted,Collins to desert, consequently "this charge was dismissed. On the charge Of-drunkenness accused was convicted and. discharged, and on the second charge fined £5, in default one month's imprisonment.

. OTHER' CASES. . ; Another trooper charged with drunkenness was handed over to tho military authorities to be dealt with. . For drunkenness, May Harding, Daniel Elliott, and John Christiansen sere each fined 10s., in default'fortyeight hours' imprisonment, and Charles Lindholme and James Patterson each fined 55., or twenty-four hours' imprisonment. Four first offenders wero dealt, with. ' . . James M'Crea was'charged with using' obscene language. He was convicted; and ordered to pay Court costs. .