MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2446, 27 April 1915, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

1 MILK VENDOR FINED

George and Bayliss, milk vendors, were charged on two informations before Mr. G. Cruickshank, in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, with selling adulterated milk. The Health Inspector. Mr. J. H. Cowdrey, laid the informations.

Pleas of guilty were entered in respect to each charge. Appearing for tho Health Department. Mr. J_\ S. K.. Maeassey said that the Act prescribed a penaJtv not exceeding £61) for the first offence and £20iJ for subsequent offences. The standard prescribed for milk-fat was 3.25 per cent. The two samples taken from defendant were 2.80 ana 2.85 per cent. It was ifot a case where water bad been added, but ono where the milk was not up to standard in respect to milk-fat. Defendant supplied milk to the Hospital, and had already been sent a warning about his milk being below stajidaid. A number of previous samples had been taken from defendant's milk, some of which had been below standard.

For the defence, Mr. J. F. W. Dickson submitted that tho offence was not a wilful one. It was true that his client supplied milk to the Hospital and it was most unlikely that in viow of tiio manner in which he had been watched by the Health Department that "he would be such a fool" as to be knowingly responsible for the inferior quality of his milk. The deficiency in milk-fat- was purely accidental, ana of tho eight samples taken most recently only two wore below standard, and it was in respect to these that tho prosecution had been laid.

The Magistrate remarked that the offence seemed to be more accidental than anything else. A fine of £5 would bo imposed, with costs £3 10s. On the second charge defendant.would be convicted and discharged. THEFT OF A CHEQUE. A ship's cook, named Samuel Swayno Fleetwood, who was arrested by Detective Abbott, was charged with the theft of a cheque for £9, the property of W. Austin. Chief-Detective Boddam exp'amed that araised found the cheque in the 6treet. aud cashed it with a restaurantKeeper, and later, when it was presented at the bank, it was not cashed, as Austin had already informed the bank of his loss. Nothing was known against accused, who was willing to repay the money stolen. The Magistrate admitted accused to six months' probation, on condition he repaid the amount of the chequo. THE PEA RIFLE AGAIN. A shop assistant named Alban Vincent Enapp was fined 10s., with costs 95., for selling a pea-rifle to a youth under the age of sixteon years. On behalf of defendant, Mr. E. J. Fit-z----gibbon pleaded that the boy who had purchased the rifle had incorrectly stated his age as over sixteen. ALLEGED LOITERING AND BETTING. Matthew Livingstone. was remanded for a week on the application of Mr. I'. W. Jackson, on two charges: (1) Loitering in Willis Street on February 6 for the purpose of betting. (2) being a bookmaker. did bet in "Willis Street. . OTHER CASES. Thomas Barry and Peter George, who were found sleeping in a building in course of construction, were each, convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon on charges of being idle and disorderly. Similarly charged, Martin Coogan, an old man of 73 years, wa-s remanded for a week. " , / Sarah Hooker was fined £1 with costs 7s. for committing a breach of her prohibition <jrdoi. . . Valentino Patrick Barton was fined £.8. in default ten days' imprisonment, for committing an indecent act in Vivian Street! : Jessie Nixon and Emma Crawford were each sent to prison for three months on charges of being idle and disorderly. For drunkenness, Wm. Abel was fined 10s. or 48 hours' imprisonment, while six first-offending inebriates were dealt with. MAINTENANCE AND SEPARATION CASES. Denis Yore was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonmont in the Auokland prison for disobeying a maintenance order, the warrant to bo suspended on the payment of arrears, £3, 155., by May 17.

Stephen James Rodda was ordered to pay 21s. a week towards the maintenance of his wife.

Hannah Purcell applied for a separation and maintenance order against Thomas Purccli. The application was granted, and defendant ordered to pay his wile 20s. weoldy and solicitor's fee £1 Is.

Stephen Hanson was ordered to pay 20s. per week for the maintenance of bis wife.

Joseph Calixtus Devlin was ordered to pay 15s. a week maintenance, as the result of an application for a separation and maintenance order made against him by his wife.

A similar application was made against George Thos. Florenco, who was ordered to pay a similar amount. Wm. Turvey was adjudged the father of two illegitimate children, and ordered £o pay 10s. a week towards the maintenance of each child, and solicitor's fee £1 Is.