MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2612, 6 November 1915, Page 14

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

A COWARDLY ASSAULT

BLIND MAN ATTACKED

Mr. D. G. A. -Cooper,; S.M., was on the Bench in. the Magistrate's Court

yesterday morning, and dealt severely with a young man, named John Carroll, who was charged with assaulting a blind street musician, named Moran, in a lodging-house in Dixon Street on Thursday. The evidence showed that Carroll went into' Moran's room uninvited, and, on being requested to leave, struck tbe blind man a violent blow on the neck, knocked him down, and attempted to choke him. Another man had to interfere to protect tho blind man from serious barm. Carroll's only defence was tbat he did not lmow Moran was blind. The Magistrate characterised the assault as a very cowardly one, and fined Carroll £5, the alternative being a month's imprisonment. An order was made that £2 of the fino should be paid to Moran. FOR CHARGES. Frederick Sherman wa-s charged (1) with committing an indecent act in Dixon Street; (2) with using obsccno language; (3) with damaging a pane of glass; and (4) with damaging an article m tlie police cell. Ho was convicted on all four charges, and fined sums totalling £5 17s. 6d., default being fixed at fourteen days' imprisonment. BY-LAWS. STJNDAYTRADING. ETC. ~A charge of Sunday trading was preferred against Neil Austin, and he was" fined £1.

lij the case against E. T. Taylor and Co., for using a handcart without the firm's name being painted thereon, a line of 55., with costs 75., was imposed. For allowing a horse to wander, James Walker was fined 55., and ordered to pay Court costs 95., and witness's expenses 4s. A. J. Slack -was fined 10s., "with costs 75., for omitting to keep a wages and overtime book as required by regulation.

A similar penalty was imposed on Thomson, -Lewis arid Co. for employing a boy under 16 years of age without a certificate as to fitness.

William Gemmel, who left a motorcycle unattended in Grey Street, was fined 55., and ordered .to pay Court costs 7s.

George Howard was fined 10s., and costs 75., for not having the regulation tail light on his motor-car.

Thomas Pringlc, having contravened tho by-law relating to dust-bins on tho footpath, was fined 55., with costs 7s. OTHER BUSINESS. Peter Patrick- Hughes, charged with drunkenness, was fined 205., in default to undergo three days' imprisonment, while Richard Harris, who had but'ono previous conviction during tho past six months, was fined 10s. for drunkenness, the alternative in his ca-so being fortyeight hours' imprisonment. Three first-offending inebriates were . dealt with in the usual lenient manner. For broach of a prohibition order, George Henry Parkinson was.fined 205., and ordered to pay Court costs 75., tho alternative being three days' imprisonment. . 1 • ' A conviction was recorded against Josephine Smith for using obscene language, and she was ordered to come up for'sentence when called upon. CIVIL ACTION. Judgment was reserved by Mr. W. G. Riddell ; S.M., yesterday afternoon in the civil action, John O'Doiuiell v. J. W. Easson. Tho claim was for £111 15s. 4d., alleged to be owing on account of money paid by the plaintiff on behalf of the defendant, etc. Mr. M. J. Crombie appeared for tho plaintiff, while Sr. T. Neave appeared for the - defendant.