MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2416, 23 March 1915, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

LIQUOR FOR A SOLDIER BUYER FINED-£5 Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., presided over a sitting of the Magistrate's Court yesterday. A charge was brought by the police under the War Regulations Aot against William John Stephens, for purchasing liquor for a, member of the Expeditionary Force. The particular regulation was that prohibiting any person to act as the agent for a soldier, in purchasing liquor for consumption by him off the premises of an hotel. Inspector Hendrey said that the regulations had been passed to prevent drunkenness. Soldiers did not get drunk on the premises, but used to buy the liquor at night and drink it in the street. The regulation had been very,- beneficial. Evidence was given oy a constable to the effect that ne saw accused secure for the , soldier a parcel containing a bottle of beer from the White Swan Hotel. He accosted the 6oldier, who said that he found the liquor' on the footpath. James Hamilton, a member of the Expeditionary Force, said that accused did not give him the bottle of beer. He picked it up on the footpath, and it was addressed to a "Mr. Smith." Inspector Hendrey: You know that you could not go to the hotel and ask for the liquor yourself ? —"Well, I never tried it."

Inspector Hendrey: What were jou doing going down the street with this parcel? "Witness: Well, I was looking for the owner. (Laughter.) The Magistrate: Do you expect me to believe that? Witness:-Well, I am only tolling you what is true. inspector Hendrey: This is a tougher story than the one the soldier told the officer: That ho killed the sheep because it hit him. (Laughter.) Accused pleaded not guilty, and also said lie know nothing about the regulation. The Magistrate pointed out that the maximum penalty was £100. He would impose a fine of £10. Accused: I am a married man getting £2 12s. 6d. a week. After further argument the fine was reduced to £6. | PREVALENCY OF COAT-STEALING. An elderly man named .Tames Pomfret was charged with the theft of an over-

An elderly man named .Tames Pomfret was charged with the theft of an overcoat valued at 17s. 6d., the property of Moses Davis. Accused said that' he had been suffering from the effect of drink, and knew nothing about the matter. There were numerous previous convictions against accused, and he was further convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment. His Worship said that coat stealing was becoming too prevalont, and ho was going to try and put it down. PETTY THEFTS. Patrick O'Sliea was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment for the theft of a swag, valued at £1 10s., the property of Ocorge Regan. Jobn Tuck was sentenced to 14 days' i imprisonment for the theft of & rus

valued at 18s. 6d., the property of T. W. Quinton. DESERTING SEAMEN. James Stone, for deserting from the s.s. Remuera, and John Stono for deserting from the s.s. El Cordobes, were each sentenced to one month's imprisonment. George Miller was given a similar sentence for deserting from the s.s. Corintiic. A Chinaman named Sam Yu On was charged with having sold a. packet of cigarettes to a boy under the age of 15 years. Defendant said that the boy told him the cigarettes were for a man. A conviction and a fine of £1, with costs 13s. Gd., was imposed. James William Simpson was remanded to appear at Dunedin on March 25, oil a charge of disobeying the terms of a maintenance order. John Coomber was fined 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for using threatening behaviour in Frederick Street. INSOBRIETY. For drunkenness, Ellen Ryan was fined 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment; Margaret Irving was fined £1, or 6even days' imprisonment; Patrick M'Namara. fined 205., and doctor's fee 10s., in default three days' imprisonomnt; William Joseph Osborne fined 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment; Axil Williamson, 10s., or 48 hours' imprisonment; William Nash, 10s., or 48 hours' imprisonment; and one first offender was convicted and discharged. RESISTING THE POLICE.: Robert Muirhead was fined -10s., or 48 hours' imprisonment, for drunkenness, and convicted arid ordered to pay 9s. 3d. for damaging a constable's helmet. ■ ' ■Michael Mylrea, alias M'Rae, was convicted and discharged for drunkenness, fined 405., in default seven days' imprisonment, for resisting Constable Parkinson, and ordered to pay 9s. 3d., in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for damaging the constable's helmet. , MAINTENANCE CASES. ■ William Bullie, for disobeying the terms of a maintenance order, was ordered to pay £18 10s. arrears, in default 18 day 6' imprisonment, the order to be suspended for seven days to allow payment. Thomas William Collier was ordered to find surety in the sum of £100 that he would obey the terms of a maintenance order. Susanna Kraus was fined 10s., with costs 75., for keeping her shop in Adelaido Road open on Sunday.