MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2608, 2 November 1915, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

STEAMER'S CREW BREACH OF THE REGULATIONS Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., presided at yesterday's sittings of the Magistrate's Court, the hearing of cases ex-' tending until tho aiternoon. A rather unusual information was that laid by the Superintendent of Mercantile Marino (Captain G. G. Smith) against Fredk. William Tellick, master of the steamer John, for proceeding to sea without having a certain member of the crew duly articled. Mr. Van Stavcren appeared for tlie defendant, and enter-, ed a plea of guilty, explaining that Captain Telliclt was under the impression that- the Mercantile Marine Suporlntend's Office' was closed on t'he day when ho proceeded to sea,'and this accounted for the omission to place tho crew on new articles. The Magistrat-e imposed a fine of 205., and ordered tho defendant to pay fJs. Court costs. j ASSAULT. An elderly mail, named James Leckie, proceeded against Ernest Davis, a much younger man, for assault'. The charge was the ontcomo of an occurrence in a boardinghouse. After hearing the evidence, tho Magistrate liekl that Davis must be convicted, and a tine of £2 was imposed, the defendant having also to pay 4s. for witness's expenses and £1 Is. for solicitor's foe. Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for the complainant, while Mr. P. W. Jackson, represented the defendant. Richard Cornelius Gurney, who was convicted of assaulting Frederick Eboncnor Gurnoy, was ordered to pay solicitor's fee £1 Is. MAINTENANCE. Percival Green, who admitted arrears to the extent of £13 on two maintenance orders, was sentenced to ten days' imprisonment, the warrant' to bo suspended if he makes weekly payments of lus. from Monday next. James Masdn, who had failed to comply with air order of tho Court for the maintenance of his child, and who was £6 15s. in arrears, was sentenced to seven days' ' imprisonment. In tho event of the defendant making' weekly payments of 9s. for a specified period, the sentence will .not be enforced. Harriet Emily Wright was granted separation from William Joseph Wright, who was ordered to contribute IBs. per'week towards the maintenance of his wife and to pay £1 Is., solicitor's fee. Tho application for the separation was based on tho ground of persistent cruelty. Mr. D. R. Hoggard appeared for the complainant, while Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for the defendant. OTHER CASES. A charge"-of•■■obstructing the police was preferred against a young man, named Sydney Brooker, but, after the evidence had been tendered, his counsel, Mr. P. W. Jackson, suggested that tho case was not sufficiently serious for a conviction to be recorded. Tho Magistrate adopted this view, and discharged the accused, remarking that the proceedings would probably act as a warning. For committing a grossly indecent act in Cuba Street on Saturday morning an old man named Patrick. Ruddy was fined £3, the alternative being one month's imprisonment. Frederick Butterworth pleaded guilty to a oharge of attempting to commit suicide at Petone on September 30. He was convicted and discharged, on the understanding that he paid police, hospital, and medical expenses. An- adjournment was granted in the ense against Vine Blacklidge, charged with keeping a dangerous dog. Mr. H. F. Ayson. who appeared for tho defendant, stated that; the latter would arrange for the destruction, of the dog, which the polico reported had. bitten two Children. . . For drunkenness. Bartholomew Mahoney was fined 10s., with the option of forty-eight hours' imprisonment. A dozen first-offending inebriates were also dealt with. Three of them, appearing in uniform, wore handed over to the military authorities. i