MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2591, 13 October 1915, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

SENT TO GAOL

FOR LEAVING TROOPSHIPS

Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., heard the noiioo cases in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. A breach of tho War Regulations Act, 1914, was alleged against William Bice ami John ''Joseph Dignan, 'who had bean arrested on Saturday last for drunkenness. _Tho breach consisted in being absent without leave from their ships, and thus breaking contracts to serve as trimmers. Both accused admitted having been • drunk and consequently unable to return to their respective ships, but denied any wilful intention to break their contracts. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, of the Crown Law Office, appeared for the military authorities, and stressed the serious nature of the offence. The men were not supposed to he off their ships on the day in question, 'but they took "French leave," and, on account of their failure to retutn, the ships were held up in port, one not getting away until some tinie later. Tho Act provided for'a. penalty of 12 months im-' prisonraent if the offender was : a native wd for three'months' imprisonment'in other cases. - - •• The Magistrate sentenced each accused to oi)e' month's imprisonment, Rico being subsequently fined 40s.' and Dignan 20s. for .drunkenness. -s ESCAPED THREE TIMES. Elizabeth Musgrove, who was charged with escaping from the Salvation Army Home, had been before the Court on similar c'harges on two pjevious occasions. She was sentenced /to three months' imprisonment. • y TRUCULENT FIREMEN. Charles Branch, a fireman on the DorJ set, admitted having assaulted the chicf engineer of the vessel because the latter rofusod to pay him off." Ho was fined £2, in default to", undergo seven days imprisonment. Mr. A. W. Blair appeared for the owners of tho Dorset. a — • 'A DESERTER. A' deserter from R.M.S. Arawa—Edmund Paulsen by name—was sentenced to a month's imprisonment. In the ovent of the Arav/a sailing before the expiry of the sentence, Paulsen is to be placed aboard the vessel. > INSOBRIETY, Lillian Jukes, who was charged with drunkenness and with damaging the lining of a padded cell, was remanded for a week for curative treatment. Joseph Murphy, on a charge of drunkennoss, was fined 205., the alternative being three days' imprisonment. CIVIL BUSINESS. UNDEFENDED CLAIMS. Judgment by default -was given for the plaintiffs in the following undefended claims, taken before Mr. \V. G. Riddel!, S.M.Gr. H. Thornton v. Harry Martin, £13 17s. 4d.. casts £1 10s. Gd.; Robert James Murphy vl >. William Henry M. Stevens, £100, costs £5; R. 13. Seccombe V. Wallace Simmonds, £1 lis., costs 75.;. May Hutton, trading jis Staveley's . Labour Agency, v. fl. Houldsworth, £2 15s.', costs 55.; W. Wylie v. D. M. Murray, £1 16s. id., costs 65.; E. Young v. W. L. Cole, £1 10s. 6d., costs os.; Excelsior Supply Co., Ltd., v. C. Yeadon, £1 2s. 2d., costs os.; Thomas O'Brien v. Watty Martin, £3 55., costs 10s.; Oscar Howott and Co., r. William Eyles, £7, costs .£1 3s. 6d. RESERVED JUDGMENTS. In a reserved judgment in the cast of A. S. Paterson and Co. v. _ Jessie Compton, Charles Beaumont, and David William Russell, the (Magistrate- (llr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.)' awarded the plain tiffs the sum of £75 Is. 4d. against the defendant Russell, the sum of £7 3s. being allowed for costs. Mr-. H. TC. Evans appeared for the plaintiffs, while Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh represented defendants. Judgment was entered for plaintiffs for £21, with costs £.3 25.,' in the case of the Scott Motor Agency v. Perry and Co., heard last week. The claim was for balance of an account for motor-car and accessories. Mr. E. M. Beecbey appeared for the plaintiffs, while Mr. H. E. Evans appeared for the defendants,