MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2647, 18 December 1915, Page 14

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

LICENSING CASES . THE CRICKETERS' ARMS HOTEL Mr. D. G.. A, Cooper, S.M., presided at . yesterday's sittings of the Magistrate's Court, when the case's for hearing included a 1 charge against John Timothy Eoley, licensee,of the Cricketers' Arms Hotel, in Vivian Street, for breach of the Licensing Act. The allegation was that on Sunday, November 28, the licensee sold liquor to William Brown. A, plea of not guilty was entered, Mr. M. Myers appearing for tha defence. The sale was not disputed, and it was common ground that Brown took away the liquor for consumption off the premises, but it was contended for the defence that,. as Brown was a lodger at the hotel, the licensee was within his rights in making the sale. The Magistrate reserved his decision. John M'Gec and John Price, who had been found,. without lawful cxcuse, in the Cricketers' Arms Hotel when such premises were supposed to be closed, were fined 10s. each, with Court costs 75., the alternative being 48 hours' imprisonment. SHAMROCK HOTEL. Henry Bertram Rcid, churged with selling liquor at the Shamrock Hotel on December 1 to a youth under 21 years of age, was fined £1, with costs and expenses totalling 175., the alternative being three days' imprisonment, Mr. S. J. M'Grath appeared for the defendant. * MAINTENANCE. Claude Watson, who was in arrears with payments duo under a maintenance order, did not appear when his name was callcd. Ho was sentenced to' 18 days' imprisonment, but, the warrant will not be enforced if £5 is paid forthwith, and the remainder of tho money within a given time. A married man named Robert James Nisbot pleaded guilty to a chargo of disobedience of maintenance orders. Mr. J. C. Peacock, who appeared for tho complainant, stated that it appeared to bo impossible to got any, money from tho accused without having him arrested. After discussion it was agreed that the arrears' should bo remitted, and, on the accused offering to pay £3 immediately, and make future payments of £1 per week, the case was adjourned until January 28. John M'Nab pleaded,not guilty to a obiu'gts of boiuy £yi] in nrrears with j?azwwits

order. Ho was remanded until Monday next.

THEFT.

A soldier named Georgo Alexander Mitchell, who missed his passage with tlie last Reinforcements and afterwards posed as a returned soldier, pleaded guilty to the theft of a suit of clothes, and was sentenced to one month's imprisonment.' - A youth named Fred West was convicted and ordered to appear for sentence when called upon for the thoft of a lady's watch, valued at £3. According to the police report, the previous character of the youth was good, mid the present offence appeared to bo the result of a midden temptation. IMPROPER LANGUAGE. William Wood and George Wood did not appear to answer a charge of using obscene language in Tui Street. .Each was fined £3 and ordered to pay 7s. Court costs. Default was fixed at one mouth's imprisonment. A young man named Mark Carter pleaded guilty to having assaulted W. H. Probyn on the wharf on Novembor 23, and also admitted having used indecent language on the same occasion. The Magistrate imposed penalties, with Court costs and witnesses' expenses, totalling £6 Is. The alternative on tho chargo of bad: language was a month's imprisonment, and on the other charge 14 days' imprisonment. Fourteen days were allowed in which to find the money. BY-LAW CASES. / Ernest Clay, a_ resident of Lyall Bay, was charged with bathing there on November 10 without being clad in accordance with the requirements of the by-law of February, 190 S. 'Mr. E. G. Jellicoe appeared- for the defendant, who tendered a plea of not guilty. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate dismissed the information, buit warned the defendant to be more careful to conform to the requirements of the by-law in future.-: . . Two defendants .were convicted for breaches of the by-laws relating to t'ho lighting of vehicles. They wore Thomas | Connelly, fined ss. with costs 75., and Arthur Turner, fined 10s., with costs 7s. For leaving vehicles in the street without, taking the precaution' to lock the wheels, William Hedges and John Liston were fined ss. each, and ordered to pay Court costs, w r hich in each case antounted to 7s. John Nash was fined 55., and ordered to pay Court costs, 75., for building in tlio Miramar Borough without the. necessary permit. Robert Cornwall, as the owner of a mare found wandering in the Makara County, was fined 55., and ordered to -pay' Court costs and expenses amounting to 12s. . OTHER CASES., James Choat, who wore the King's uniform, was chargcd with stealing two overcoats of a total value of £5 12s. The theft was alleged to have taken place as far back as June 24, 1914. On the application of Chief-Detective Boddam, tho accused was remanded until Wednesday next. 1 Robert Carroll, who had been found helplessly drunk in the street, was remanded for a-week for curative treatment. For drunkenness, John Georgo and George Valler were fined 10s. each, in default to undergo 48 hours' imprisr onniont. Four first-offending inebriates were leniently-dealt with. • The Defence' 'authorities proceeded against several young men for failing to attend parades. R. J. Hartill was fined 10s., with Court costs 7s. George William Castle and Samuel Hogg were convicted and ordered to pay Court costs. Prank Cliilds, for whom Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared, was convicted and discharged. Hugh John Alexander, : Patterson pleaded not guilty to a cliarge of assaulting Edward Murphy, but after the evidence had been heard the Magistrate! held that accused must be convicted. A fino of £1 wa6 imposed, with witnesses' expenses, Bs. Default was fixed at three days' imprisonment. , CIVIL ACTION.' ,Mr. W. ,G. _ Riddell, S.M., reserved his_ decision in two civil actions, in which the plaintiffs were Strange and Co., of Christchurch, and the defendants Sanders Bros., of Wellington. Mr. J. J. M'Grath appeared for the plaintiffs, while Mr. 0. N. Beere appeared for the defendants. The claim Was for £55 3s. 9:1.- in the one case, and for £164 3s. 6d.- in the other, the amounts being alleged to be-due in connection with furnishings at the Grand. Opera House, for which the defendants (Sanders Bros.) ' had been contractors. It appeared that the amount of £164 35.. 6d. had actually been passed for payment, but complications arose owing to the sudden death of Mr. Liddy, the architect's representative in New Zealand. _ Plaintiffs declined to give a receipt in full if that amount were now paid, hence the present proceedings.