MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2630, 27 November 1915, Page 13

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

•. HEAVY PENALTY FOR TAMPERING WITH THE CAS i SUPPLY. A lengthy list of cases in the Magistrate's Court yesterday included informations against a former employee of the Wellington Gas Company for tampering with' the gas supply. Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., was on the bench. In all, some four informations had been laid against tho defendant, William Mayall but two of these were subsequently withdrawn, aud Mr. P. \V. Jackson, on behalf of Mayall, pleaded guilty to a charge of communicating with the gas supply by means of a pipe not connected with a meter; and to a further charge of improperly using gas, the property of tho Wellington Gaa Company. •

in speaking for liis olient, Mr. Jackson sawl that Mayall had been employed by'the Gas Company as a meter inspector, but was 'dismissed on discovery of the offence. He had, however, a period of 14 years' service with the company, aad there had been no mark against him until the present lapse Counsel pointed out- that the amount of which the company had been defrauded was very small, and it was really difficult to account for Mayall'a action. It was submitted that he had already been severely punished by the loss of his situation.. ■

Mr. T. Neavo, who appeared for tie Gas Company, stated that although frauds of this lrind were comparatively rare, it was extraordinary that cases of the kirid had recently occurred at Napier, Christchurch, arid Petono. In the present instance, the offence was mor« serious because of tho fact that accused had been in a.position of trust, .and.it .was only accident that the fraud had been discovered. It was important'that persons entrusted with work of, this kind should be punished if they themselves were detected in fraud. The company did not press for a vindictive fine, but it was submitted that the penalty should be substantial. The Magistrate said'that, quite apart from the quantity of gas used, tlio serious nature of the offenco demanded a severe penalty.' On the first charge Mayall/Would be fined £2, with costs 75., and on the second charge he would bp fined £5, with costs 7s. Default was fixed at one month's imprisonment, but the defendant was allowed three weeks | in which to find the money.

y . BY-LAWS BROKEN. Failure to comply with the by-laws relating to rubbisn receptacles was the. nature of the charge preferred against the owners i or caretakers of premises on Lambton Quay. Convictions, without monetary penalties, were recorded against the following defendants 6. and 0. Aldous, J. and SJ: Berman, A. R Durrant, Gamble and.Creed, W. A.. Gemmell, Graham and Co., William Drennan, J. Fraeer, E. Johnston and Co., — Kinsey (represented by Mr. G. fi. Watson), Lindsay, Ltd., E. Norton'and Co., Mrs. T. O'Sullivan (Sigalls, Ltd,, and David White (represented by Mr. J. F. W. Dickson). The following defendants, who did not appear in answer to their summonses, were convicted and ordered to pay court costs (7s. in every case): —Neil Austin, David; Bohan, H. Brico, Hill Bros., Troister and' Co., and .William Young. According to the City Solicitor (Mr. J. O'Shea) the whole of the informations were laid as the result of police action, taken in order to 'abate an increasing nuisance.

For allowing stock to .wander, the following owners .wore penalised:—John Hamilton, fined and ordered to pay court 1 costs 75., in - each of two cases, the alternative being three days' imprisonment; T. W. Taylor and J. Zortea, fined "ss. ea<ih, and ordered to pay court costs 75.. , -

OTHER CASES. ' Joseph Donnelly pleaded not guilty to a charge of using obscene language, and was defended by Mr. P. W. Jackson. After hearing the evidence, .tlio Magistrate considered there was some doubt as to tho guilt of the accused, and the information was therefore dismissed. William Perry Brady pleaded guilty to a charge of. insobriety, and was fined 405., with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment. Jolin Winn, also charged with insobriety, was fined 10s., the alternative in his case being 48 hours' imprisonment. While under the influence of drink, Patrick Sinnott committed an indecent act in Manners Street on Thursday, and for this he was fined 405., in default toiundergo seven days' imprisonment. Alexander Low Duncan -was fined 58. and ordered to pay court costs 7s. for selling lollies on a recent Sunday.