MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2362, 19 January 1915, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

• » ■" . STOLEN MILITARY OVERCOAT ACCUSED CONVICTED. Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., presided over a sitting of the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Moro wub Iheard about the military overcoat which John Davio was charged on Saturday last with having stolon. Tho overcoat in question had been disoovored in accused's louse when a visit had boon paid there by %} police in response to a complaint received from accused's wife as to ill4reatment. The coat had had the military buttons detached and the name or tho owner blotted out. Unfortunately for the accused he had neglected to blot out one incriminating sentence on the coat, as to it having belonged to So-and-So of the Fio|d Artillery. Accused proffered soveral explanations fts to hpw he becamo possessed of the coat. He called his wifo to givo ovidenco on his behalf, but sho said her husband was going to dye the coat and wear it. The Magistrate remarked that accused was liable to two yonrs' imprisonment, but as this i was his first offence a sentence of six months' imprisonment would bo. imposed. TAXI-DRIVERS AT ODDS, A case arising out of a disagreement botwoon taxi-drivers on a taxi-stand in Dixon Stroot on election night, in Deopmber last, was that Walter Henderson was charged with using ■ obscene language. Accused pleaded not guilty an<F was defonded by Mr. W. Perry. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate entered, a, conviction against accused and fined him £2, with costs £2 Bs., in default 14 days' imprisonment". A TROOPER IN TROUBLE. Thomas Roston, a trooper, pleaded his ignorance, on account of being drunk at the time, to two charges preferred against him: (1) with assaulting Alfred John Reid; (2) damaging an umbrella valued at 155.. the property of the same person. Evidence was given by Reid that h'e was walking home on Saturday night with two people when accused came from the other side of the street, struck hj'm on the' chest, and then seized his umbrella, End smashed' it- .The Magistrate Baid he would convict accused and order him to be handed over to the military authorities. "How about my umbrella?" queried Reid. _' ; ''You can have the pieces back if you like," was the reply. A VICTIM OF DRINK. . The case.pf. Catherine Begg, chajged. with drunkenness and with being idle and. disorderly in that she had insufficient means" of. Support, again came before the Court. Evidence TO given by Archdeacon Harper that he 3ia3 known accused for some time..past and that she was, a thoroughly good worker and a good mother, her pnly trouble being drink. Inspector 'Hendre.y asked .that tlio second charge be withdra'ivinj' and aftm' further discission on'the case, accused agreed to go to Pakatpa' Is? land for a period of 12 months. "." CALLED A "SCAB." Wm. Cassidy, who received provocation from some passers-by, and used obscene language, appeared charged with this offence. Cassidy who works on the wharf was oalled a "scab," and attempted to' rush out of his house which Tie was in at tie time, "and %aj with his provpkersi but was restrained, It was then that he used tho bad languagp. The Magistrate'nejnarked that under the circumstances he wtfuld. convict and order accused to come up for sentence when called upon,' Mr. J, J. M'Grath appeared for Cassidy. OTHER CASES. . Henry Firth, who while arguing with a friend outßide the Movrat Cook Police Station, used bad language, was charged ; (1) witli drunkenness, and (2) using obscene language. On the first charge he was convicted and discharged and on the second fined £2 or <ine month's, imprisonment, Peter Hughes, who was drunk and U6ed obscene language in front of some little children, had the two. charges preferred again him- : He was fined £2 or seven''days' imprisonment for drunken,': ness., and £3 or one month fojr using the language. Carolina Smith was sent to gaol, for 1 six months on a oharge of being a, rogue and a vagabond in that she was founqV bj night in an enclosed area at Te Aro railway station. Fpr dr-unkehness Edward Cunnings ham was fined 20s. or three days' imprisonment and William Stride fined 10s. or 48 hours' imprisonment. Three first offenders'were dealt with. Penalties were imposedon-the following for committing breaches of their prohibition orders:—Mary Irene Williams, fined £2 with costs 75., or seven days' imprisonment; Kenneth Minahari and John Hyde, each fined £1 with costs 75., or three days' imprisonment; Bessie Tattle, fined 10s. witn costs 75., in default 48 hours' imprisonment. MAINTENANCE AND SEPARATION OASES'. Alice Matilda O'Halloran applied for separation, maintenance, a,nd guardianship orders against Timothy 0 Halloran oa the grounds of failure to maintain, persistent cruelty, and habitual drunkenness. A summary separation was granted and defendant ordered to pay £1 10s. a week towards cpmpiainani's maintenance._ The following were penalised for disobeying maintenance orders John Anderson, ordered to be imprisoned for seven days, warrant to be suspended on payment of 12s. 6d! weekly off arrears (£4); William Carl Frederick Anderson, 14 days' gaol or payment of £1 weekly off arrears (£lO 55.); Charles Mercer, 14 days' gaol pr payment of 10s, a week' off arrears (£lO 12s. fid.). I