MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2521, 23 July 1915, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

"A DASTARDLY ACT"

RETURNED TROOPER ASSAULTED

A charge of assaulting a trooper named William Shaw, who returned from the Dardanelles last week, was preferred against William Harvey in tho Magistrate's Coiwt yesterday morning.' Mr. H. P. O'Leary appeared for Harvey, and pleaded guilty. From the story related by Inspector Hendrey it appeared that Harvey met the trooper in tlio street and invited him to his house. Shortly after a woman living'in the vicinity heard the cry of "Murder," and saw Shaw stagger out of the house bleeding from injuries to his face. The woman took Shaw to her house, and after attending to his injuries took him to tho doctor. There was som© doubt as to what happened in the house.- Shaw alleged that he had been assaulted without offering tho slightest, provocation, while Harvey alleged Shaw had become violent and abusive, and that ho (Harvey) then assaulted him. Mr. O'Loary submitted the latter was the most likely story to believe.

"Whichever story is true," remarked the Magistrate (Mr. D. Gr. A.' Cooper, S.M.), "it was a dastardly thing to do to assault a young man who had come back weak and ill from the front. You will be sentenced to one month's imprisonment."

OTHER CASES. Alfred John Hellier was convicted and ordered to coine up for sentence when called upon on a charge of being a rogue arid a. vagabond. Edith Home was fined £2, in default one month's imprisonment, on a charge of drunkenness, and sentenced to two months in gaol on a charge of being idle and disorderly.

Four first-offending inebriates were dealt with. One, a trooper with a bandaged head, was convicted and ordered to be handed over to the military authorities.

CIVIL CASES. (Before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M.) Concluding evidence was heard in respect to the civil dispute arising out of a collision on the Hutt Road, Daniel Anderson, motor driver, claiming from William Haynes £44 lis., representing damages caused to his car as a result of the collision. Judgment was given for plaintiff for £40 17s. Gd:, with costs £5 4s. Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. C. W. Nielson for defendant. _ A counter-claim by defendant was dismissed.

Judgment was given for plaintiff in the case, Henry Thomas Tonks, farrier, v. Ernest Edward Pay, carrier, a claim for £7, representing the price of a horse hired on a purchasing clause. Judgment was' given for £7, with costs £2 16s. A counter-claim for £6 was dismissed. Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. J. F. W. Dickson for defendant.

Dye Chum and Co., fruit merchants, Wellington, proceeded against M'Kay Bros., fruit merchants, of Invercargill, for £29 Is. Bd., representing balance of money alleged to bo due for potatoes sold and delivered to defendants. Tile evidence for the defence had been taken at Invercargill, a#3 after hearing plaintiffs' evidence and legal argument His Worship gave judgment for plaintiffs for £29 13s. 9d., including £12 10s. paid into Court, with costs £6 17s. 6d. Mr. T. Young appeared for plaintiffs, and Mr. R. Kennedy for defendants.

DEFAULT DEBTORS' LIST. Judgment -was given for plaintiff by default bv Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., in the following undefended civil eases: E. I. Proud v. Rangi Godwin, 165.. costs J 35.; Vacuum Oil Company Proprietary, Ltd., v. H. Palmer, £3 16s. 6d., costs 14s.'-, Edward Anderson and Co., Ltd., v. F. G. Millman, £6 17s. Bd., costs £1 3s. Gd.; R. Hudson and Co. v. Mrs. FT. Martin, £8 I4s. 10d., costs £1 3s. 6d.

JUDGMENT SUMMONS. Donald Cook was ordered to pay George Castleton £6 18s. Gd. by August 5, in default six days' imprisonment.