MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2422, 30 March 1915, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

LONG LIST. OF INEBRIATES.

Mr. D. G. : A. .Cooper, 'S.M„- presided; at the sitting" of .the Magistrate s Court yesterday, when an'.uiiusually large number of person's were.convicted-for. drunkenness., Thomas Lowry, a member of the Expeditionary Force, and a second offender, was fined, 105.,-in default 48 hours' imprisohreent;Joseph : Cowan, with several convictions-against him, was fined 20s.y in default threte days' imprisonment; James M'Laughlin, with a .longer list, was fined 405., in default 14 days' imprisonment'; John Driscbll, a second offender, was fined 10s., or. 48 hours' imprisonment; Henry Firth, for drunkenness, was fined lOs.j or 48 imprisonment, and for obscene language was fined £5, in default . one month's imprisonment; -Paul BaJens waß odnviofc-■' ed and discharged for drunkenness, fined £1, in default three' days' imprisonment for resisting the ' police, and fined £3 in default one .month's imprisonment, for . .using' obscene ' language. Thirteen first offenders were dealt with in the usual manner. .

'ALLEGED OPIUM IMPORTER, . 'A Chinese named Young Fook was charged that there . was found in his possession ten tins of opium, valued at £15, and further charged with importing the same.

For the Customs Department it was stated that some days' ago alterations were being made on the s.s. Knight Templar, when workmen came across the opium, in a place easy of access to anyone who had conoealed it." They put it back, and reported the matter. The next day accused approached tho men and offered' rewards of £1 per tin for the recovery: of the opium. There had been many attempts at smuggling on the boat, and accused had .'been convicted at Calcutta on the same voyage; George Mervyn Ross gave evidence that accused offered him.; £10 forthe recovery of the ten tins. /It was fairly generally known on the ship that a 'plant" had been discovered.

, This closed tho_ case for the prosecution, and both informations were dismissed, the Magistrate being of opinion that there was not sufficient evidence to connect accused with the opium.

. . MAINTENANCE CASES. 'Alfred Eade, for arrears amounting to '£20, on a maintenance order in favour of his mother,'was sentenced to 21 .days' imprisonment; the order to. be suspended on. the payment of 7s. 6d. per ■week.

Arthur Leonard Jones was ordered to pay 15s. per -week towards the maintenance of his six children. Evidence was given tb the effect that when the children were committed to tho Wellington HoriSe the- defendant was ill, and no order was made. He had since been averaging £2 ss. on the wharves.

REMANDED TO LYTTELTON. Thos.' ? Woods Scott, jva's, charged that at Lyttelton ho'did steal twelve* drums of oil and one bundle of copper rods, valued at £16, the.'property ' of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion" Company, and was remanded to appear at Lyttolton this morning.

OTHER CHARGES. Henry Francis Smith, charged with being an incorrigible rogue, m that he escaped from Roto Aira Prison Camp, pleaded- not..guilty. • He- was. remanded till April 6.' Kate Brady,--'for-two breaches of her prohibition order, .was fined £1, in default three days' imprisonment, in each case.

Harry Ostenberg, for using obscene language, was fined 405., in default seven days' .imprisonment. ......

James , Ruddle, charged that he did attempt.'to commit; suicide on Friday last, was remanded'till April 6 for "medical observation.-.

Duilo Picchi, for using obscene language in Tory Street, was fined £2, in default seven days' imprisonment. Harry Yeoville Edmur~'i was fined £1, in default seven, days' ' ; <-Lsonnient, for a breach of his fP, j! J order, and Margaret Irving .'was ' similarly dealt with.

Amy Robertson, for usii]g obscene language, was fined £2, or seven days' imprisonment.

Lenora Parker, for a breach of herprohibition order,,was fined £1 or three days' imprisonment. . Arthur Thompson, for being found in the National Hotel, during prohibited hours, was fined 55.-, with 9s. costs; or 48 hours' imprisonment. Edith Conway ..was .sentenced to" one month's imprisonment for escaping from the Salvation Army Home. Sho had previous convictions against her.