MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2774, 18 May 1916, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

BREACH OP THE LICENSING ACT. Mr. W. G. lUcWell, S.M., delivered his reserved decision yesterday in the case in which. M. J. Donnelly, licensee, of th e City Hotel, and Jessie Donnelly, uis wito, were 1 charged with selling liquor to intoxicated mail. It had b&en admitted that the sale was made by Mrs. Donnelly, for whose act the licenseo was responsible. The Court had to decwo whether the man supplied was actually intoxicated at tho time of the sale, ami whether the licensee or his was guilty of a breach of the law li tivey had not observed the man's condition. Tho Magistrate was of opinion that the man was intoxicated at tho time of being supplied with the liquor. It may have been that Mrs. Donnelly had not observed this fact, but that did not abjolvo j 'lier from blame, as tho Aet made it clear that the offence was complete when tho sale was made. It was perhaps unfortunate, for, according to the evidence, both Donnelly .and his wife exercised consider, able care in tho endeavour to comply with the law. A fine of £% with coats 95., was imposed in the ease of Mrs. Donnelly, while tho licensee was lined <£!> With costs 7s.

FERRY STEAMER HOLD-TiP. . Hearing was concluded yesterday of tho remaining cases against the firemen who were charged witli being parties to a strike iu connection with the liold-up of tho ferry steamer Maori at Wellington on March 17 last. The particulars of the case were reported in Saturday's issue. After hearing tho necessary cvidenco yesterday, the Magistrate reserved decision.

TRAM CONDUCTOR'S LAPSE. A tram conductor named Frank Manning pleaded-guilty to the theft of live postal notes (valued at .£5), which ha found on the floorfoi' atramcar, on which he was employed. Mr. 11. 1\ O'Leary, on behalf of Manning, put ill a strong plea for leniency, pointing out that his client was a married man, and had hitherto borne, an exemplary character. Counsel handed the Magistrate receipts showing that oil previous occasions Manning had handed to tho authorities money which had been discovered in .tramcars. Another, receipt produced showed that restitution had been made in tho present case. The Magistrate, in vitw of the fact that the 1 accused would lose his position and be otherwise punished, entered a conviction, and ordered the accused to como lip for sentence when called on.

OTHER CASES. Isidor Mount, 38 years of ago, was committed to tho Supremo Court for trial on a charge of indecent assault upon a soldier. Bail wa6 allowed ill the sum of iso. . . John Galbraith was fined .£3 for indecency in Tui Street. Default was fixed at' fourteen days' imprisonment. ' Fiank Robort Wilson, a returned soldier, who was arrested on a charge of helpless drunkenness, was ordered to pay 10s. Gd., the modical expenses connected with his'-treatment at tho police station. An elderly, nian named Andrew Williamson was remanded'• until this morning on a charge of drunkenness. Convictions for drunkenness were recorded against Arthur Waugh, William Thomas Waters—each lined 30s. —and two first "offenders.'