MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2820, 11 July 1916, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

CHARGE AGAINST A SWEDE for using language defamatory to His Majesty tho King, which was regarded as obscene, a man named Charles Bikkwold, claiming to''bo a. native of Sweden, was brought before* Mr. L; G Reid, S.M., yesterday morning. To that charge was added one of drunkenness and conduct calculated to create a breach of the peace. Accused pleaded ignorance of the English language, but His "Worship declined to believe that plea. The case against Bikkwold arose out of an altercation between himself and John Hnmel Roberts Anderson, in Taranaki Street on Saturday night. Inspector Hendrey said the police understood that the trouble originated by Bikkwold making certain remarks derogatory to His Majesty the King, and that us a consequenco Anderson had struck the Swede. This information had not teen obtained until ai'tei Anderson had' been arrested, otherwise Anderson might not have been charged at all. The Inspector thought there was justification for Anderson's action. With this view the Magistrate 'agreed, and dismissed tho charge of threatening behaviour- likely to cause a breach" of the peace that had been preferred against Anderson. Inspector Hendrey asked for a remand in Bikkwold's case, as the defamation of the King alleged might be brought against him as a breach of the War Regulations Act. Accused was accordingly remanded till this morning. INDICTABLE CHARGES. James Hoary Bray, a young man of 23, was charged with having on-various dates between October 4, 1915, and June 4, 1910, stolen patent medicines and drugs to tliß value of .£l5O, tho property of Messrs. Sharlaud and Co., wholesale chemists. Tho accused was remanded for one week, bail being fixed at .£75. Walter Henry Marslen (30) was charged with breaking and entering, the houso of William (.Jill, at Portobello, Otago, and stealing therefrom a shot'gun'and cartridges, a mirror, and some knives, tho total value being .£3 ss. Acoused was remanded to appear at Dunedin. OBSTRUCTING THE POLICE. Inspector Hendrey was strong in his de. liunciation of the hoodlums in Wellington for obstructing the police in the execution of. their duty. The occasion of the inspector's wrath was tho action' of Roy William Casey (22), who was charged with obstructing Constable Hall in the execution of his duty, assaulting Constable Symons, and using obscene language. The accused denied the .charge*. The scene was in St. Hill Street on Saturday night. A man named John Dodd, ft seaman, who was being arrested there, cried out* "I'm an Anzao; this is what you get for serving your country," and Casey went to his rescue. After jostling the police, Casey escaped, but was subsnquently arrested. • Tho Magistrate said cases of police obstruction' had become too numerous of late, and ! Jie convicted Casey and fined him £5, or in' default one month's imprisonment. For assaulting Constable Symons he was convicted and discharged/ and for using bad'language ho was fined' 405., or in default 14 days' imprisonment, both sentences to be cumulative. ■ POLICE CASES. For insobriety, Ernest William M'Alinder was fined los.,and costs 75., in de. fault three days' imprisonment. Being a prohibited. person, and entering-two hotels, M'Alinder was fined 205., and costs 75., or in default seven days' imprison, liient. A first offender, not appearing, had his bail of 40s. estreated.

A. seafaring man. named. John..l)odd, thirty years of age, being intoxicated in Manners Street, assaulted some' persons unknown to the police, and was fined 205,, or in default seven days' imprisonment. George Wilkinson was. lincrt 10b. for drunkenness, with. 17s. fid. medical expenses; and His Worship ordered a pro. hibition order to issue against him. Having escaped from a receiving home in Christchtarcli, Bertha Bethke', a girl of 195, was ordered, to be returned. . There were two charges—threatening behaviour . and obsoene. language—preferred against John William Jl'Clure, a man of 38, who pleaded not guilty. He was, however, convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. CIVIL ACTION. Mr. W. G. Riddell,' S.M., heard n civil action in -which .Mrs. Ellen . Wilson, -a boardinghouse-keeper, sued Alfred Muttson for Xlft 3s. for board and residence. Mr, J. J. M'Grath represented the plaintill, "and Mr; If. F. O'Loary the defendant. After hearing evidence, the Magistrate gave judgment-for J!G 10s., and i' 2 lCs, costs and witnesses' expenses. A REMARKABLE CLAIM. A remarkable • claim for maintenance was made by ■ Mrs, Salaman, a young Jvow. Zealand wife, aged 19, against.'her husband, AV. Mahomed Salaman, an Assyrian, some six or seven years older. They- wore- married last September, she being then only 18, and her complaint was that her husband was not adequately providing for her support. She was represented by Mr. P. W. Jackson, and in cross-examination by Mr. H. Bnddle, who appeared for the husband, she admitted that her husband had given her a diamond ring valued at J!75, and ,£25 worth of other jewellery, besides .£SO worth of clothes during the last six months. The husband's evidence was a general denial of his wife's assertions, and he produced receipts which showed that lie had paid lor j-roc-eries and other household needs an average of -C 3 per week, the accounts having been incurred 3y Tffs wife's orders. The diamond ring had been in his family for meiny years, and belonged to his mother, .Tinner the circumstances, tho Magistrate, Mr. L. G. Reid. S.M., said he would not make any order. MAINTENANCE CASE. Por. disobeying a maintenance order, Wm. Baillio was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, but the warrant was ordered to bo withheld if the' amount is paid within fourteen days.