MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2445, 26 April 1915, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

FATHER AND SON

A SORRY SPECTACLE

Father and son figured in the Magistrate s Court on Saturday morning before Mr. G. Cruickshank, S.M. The son was in the doik charged with being idle and disorderly, with insufficient means of support, while hie father, an old man of about seventy years, went into thij witness box .to give evidence against his offspring.. Evidence; was given by the constable who arrested accused, that on tho day he visited the house accused's father bore the appearance of having been as-' saulted by his son. Accused had done no work for some time, and was a source of great annoyance to his people. Accused's father iiurst into tears when he went into the witness box. Between his .sobs'lie informed the Magistrate that his son, who was 44 years old, had not done any work for some months past. His son would break into the house and take food. The day the constable arrived his son had struck him. "He's never left me," reiterated the old man tremulously, "all he wants is just food, food, food." Asked whether he had anything to say, accused jerked out some strange romarks about his father having cut himself with a razor, and that he (accused), "must do something—absolutely must do something." "I don't think his mental balance is all right," remarked the sub-inspector. At this accused turned his back on the speaker' and remained in that position until he received his sentence of one month's gaol. Then, without a word, he left the dock.

OTHER CASES. While being "searched" at the police station on a charge of drunkenness, Angus Gillies attempted to trip up a constable, but only succeeded in tearing the latter's clothing. He was formally convicted for drunkenness, and, in addition, was fined 10s. and ordered to pay the damage done to the constable's clothing.

Alfred J. Hearle wa6 formally convicted for drunkenness, and for refusing to leave the Shamrock Hotel when requested to. He was also fined £3, or ten days' gaol for using, obscene language.

Emma Crawford was remanded till Monday on a charge of being idle and disorderly, in that she consorted with people of ill-repute. James M'Natty was further remanded for a month on a charge of attempting to commit suicide. Seven first "Sending inebriates were dealt with.