MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2687, 5 February 1916, Page 14

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

MINING STREET HOUSES OCCUPIERS HEAVILY FINED

Reserved judgment was delivered by Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., ill the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning in tho cases in which several Chinese residents were charged with breaches of tho Gaming Act. All the charges had been investigated on Thursday, January 27. They were the outcome of a police visit to Raining Street on the evening of December 27 last. SubInspector Mackinnon conducted the cases for the polico, while Mr. H. F. O'Lcary appeared for the defendants, who had entered pleas of not guilty 111 every instance.

All Wong, occupier of premises known as 0 Haining Street, was charged with having used the place as a common gaming-house, also with commencing a lottery (pak-a-poo), and with assisting in the management of a lottery. Cum Ling, eccupier of premises known as 44 Haining Street, was arraigned on three charges of a similar nature.

Ah Yet was called upon to answer a charge of being found in a common gaming house, and a similar charge was proferred against Yep Sing, who was also charged ,witb having assisted "in the management of a lottery. Joe Mee, occupier of premises known as 46 Haining Street, was called upon to answer three charges of a similar character to tlioso preferred against Ah Wong and Cum Ling. In tho course of his judgment, the Magistrate expressed tho opinion that there was ample evidence to support a conviction under Section 12 of the Gaming Act. It was cloarly established that an illegal lottery (pak-a-poo) had been promoted or commenced at Ah 'Wong's premises, where tickets had been sold. The premises must therefore be deemed a common gaming-house within the provisions of the 'Act. All Wong, who had previously been convicted, was fined £50, with costs amounting to 17s. 6d., in default to undergo two months' imprisonment. The two minor informations were dismissed.

In regard to the other cases, the pvidence was on similar lines, but there was no record of previous convictions. Cum Ling was fined £25, with costs 17s. 6d., in default to undergo a month's imprisonment. -Joe Mee was similarly penalised. In both these cases also, the minor charges were dismissed. Yep Sing, for assisting in the management of a lottery, was fined £10,' with costs 17s. <id., the alternative being a month's imprisonment. Ah Yet, for being found in a common gam-ing-house, was fined 205., with costs, 17s. 6d., the alternative being three' days' imprisonment.

WILFUL DAMAGE. John Flockton proceeded against Richard Howard on a charge of wilful damage to five windows, the property of the complainant. Mr. D. Jackson, who appeared for Flockton, called evidence to show that Howard was ejected from one of Flockton's houses, and that subsequently the windows were broken. Howard admitted to ihe bailiff that J tho damage had beon done by him (Howard). Defendant did not appear jesterday. He was fined £2, and ordered to pay the amount of the damage, 18s. 6d., together with £1 Is. solicitor's fee. BROKEN BY-LAWS. For breaches of the vehicular by-laws of the City, the following were dealt with: Samuel I'earce, ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £3 125.; Alfred Duck, fined £2, with costs 175.; William Dobson, lined- £1, with costs 155.; Frank Law, lined £1, with costs_ 75.; L. Caselberg and Stewart Lyons White, each lined 10s., with. 7s. costs; and Joseph Collins ordered to pay court costs 7s. As owners of wandering stock, the following persons were penalised:— Maurice Hasler and James O'Shea, each fined 55., with costs 75.; and Walter Hadley, ordered to pay costs 7s. .OTHER CASES. Edward Norland and Charles Eason, who had been observed by a policeman to be exchanging blows in Mercer Street on Thursday evening, were fined 10s. each for creating a broach of the peace. The alternative was 48 hours' imprisonment. An elderly woman, named Elizabeth Ann Soutbee, was convicted on ; a chargo of vagrancy, and was remanded until Monday i'or sentence. Edith Home admitted a charge of drunkenness, but pleaded not guilty when charged with vagrancy. Before the charge could be heard she had. an epileptic seizure in court, and was consequently remanded for a week. Michael Martin and James . Hogg Cocker pleaded guilty to charges of drunkenness. Each was fined _ 405., with the option ,of seven days' impris-. onment. - t Thomas Forsyth and Violet Paton were convicted' of breaches of prohibition orders. In each case a fine of £2 was imposed, with costs 75.,- the alternative being seven days' imprisonment. j