MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2720, 15 March 1916, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

01VIL CLAIMS.

DAMAGES AGAINST CARRYING COMPANY.

Mr "W. Gr. Riddell, S.M., presided at yesterday's sitting of the Magistrate s Court and delivered his reserved) Judgment in the civil action, Hannah Minn* han v. the New Zealand Express Company, Ltd., a claim for £59 3s. 6d. for damages to goods during furniture from Auckland to Wellington. As the hearing Mr. A. 11. Hindmarsh appeared for Mrs. Minahan. while Mr, D. R. Hoggard appeared for the t'endant company. . t In March, 1915, Mrs. Minahan in. Stl'UCted tiio New Zealand Express Company to store her furniture in then stores at Auckland, and in the following May she instructed the company to send the furniture to Wellington. After she had accepted delivery of the goods in Wellington it was discovered!' that certain of thein had been and in respect of this damage she claimed the sum of £59 3s, 6d, The Magistrate considered that the evidence as to how or where the goods wore-damaged was not very conclusive, hilt he was satis. fiecJ that the damage was caused in transit from Auckland to Wellington. He thought Mrs. Minahan was entitled to judgment, but her claim was excessive. Basjng his estimate on .the evidence of Mr. C. W. Price, an indepen. dent witness, tho Magistrate allowed the plaintiff (Mrs. MinaTian) the sum of £27 10s. for tho damage, and judgment was entered for this amount, with costs. >

UNDEFENDED CLAIMS,

Judgment by default was given for tho plaintiffs in the following undefended claims: —Major Jones v.. Rangikauhoo, £3 lis. Bd., costs £1 55.; Mouat Bros. v. A. Olson, £12 6s.' Cel., costs £j 16s. 6d.; G. H. Thornton v J. W Cox. £1, costs 35.; Thorndon Meat and Poultry Supply Company v. Mrs. Margaret Diamond, £3 7s. 10d., costs 10s.; J. A. Redpatli and Sons, IjM., v. Randolph ' Averycosts 10s.; Charles Henry Guise _v. Mrs. Caroline Wallace, £3 os., costs 10s.; J. T. Lewis v. Bcrt_ Wilson, £1 135., costs 55.; same v. Win. 0 Halloran, £9 7s. Cd., costs £1 3s. 6d.; same v. Stanley Pnrrington, ,£6 10s. 6d., costs £1 3s. 6d.

DISPUTE OVER A COSTUME. In the adjourned case of Mrs. F. B Butler v. A; G. Thompson, a claim foi £7' 3s. damages alleged to ho due m connection with the misfit of a costnroe, the plaintiff was nonsuited without costs. POLICE GASES. ALLEGED HOUSE OF ILL-FAME. Police cases were taken before Mr. D. Gf. A. Cooper, S.M. Hearing . was continued of {lie case in which Pauhns Alice Rusaell was charged with acting in- the conduct of a house qf ill-faille in Frederick Street. The information waß laid under tho City By-Law, No. 9SB, which reads:—"N<> person shall keep or act or behave as master or mistress of or conduct or act or assist in tho conduct or management of any brothel or disorderly house or house o[ ill-fame situate within tho city. Arthur Russell) husband of tho. femald defendant, was charged under the_ Justices of the Peace Act with permitting premises, occupied by him, to be used for. tho purposes of prostitution. Inspector Hen drey conducted the prosecution, while Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for tho female defendant, i leas of not guilty ware entered. Evidence was given by several police witnesses to the effect that l'ussell, while confined to his home with a broken ankle, developed drunken habits, that his wifo was a reputed prostitute, and that tho houso in which they lived was resorted to by soldiers (or immoial purposes. .. . ■As the .Magistrate was unable to con. tlrilKl till licai'bijs vuntmda.y nftW'iwi;. the case was .further adjourned until

next 'l'uesday, when the prosecution will proceed.

SHOP-LIFTER SENT TO GAOL

Florence draco Ward, a mnrried woman, against whom thoro ivoro several previous convictions for theft, pleaded guilty to stealing a sot of scalotle furs, valued at £3 7s. 6(1.) tho property of Yeitcli and .Allan. Accused was known to tlio Court as a confirmed shop-lifter, anil hor counsel (.Mr. 'I'. n . Jaeltson) could offer no excuso for hei beyond saying that all her offences were the result of over-iiidu'gcnco in intoxicating liquor, and that when she commenced drinking she developed kleptomania of the very worst type ; Inspector Ilendrey jwinted out that, if accused now happened to appear heforo the Supreme Court, she might he declared an habitual criminal. The Magistrate remarked that the leniencv which had been ox tended- to the accused on previous occasions did not appear to hnvo helped hor. She would he sentenced to a month's imprisonment. INSOBRIETY John M'Kiimon pleaded guilty to a chargo of drunkenness, and was fined £!!, in default to undergo a month's imprisonment. For a similar offence, Peter Hughes was fmtid 10s., the alternative being -18 hours' imprisonment.