MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2837, 31 July 1916, Page 11

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

A short sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held on Saturday morning, Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M.,- presiding.. For insobriety, half a dozen first' offenders were formally convicted. Joseph Eyan, a soldier, who had had two previous convictions for drunkenness, was fined 205., in default three days' imprisonment, and was prdored to be hand, ed over to tho military authorities. Frederick o'Da.y, who had a record of three previous convictions, was lined 405., with the alternative'of serving" seven days in prison. John Lnvigne, who was convicted .of. being found helplessly drunk in' Customhouse Quay, was ordered to'pay medioal expenses; 17s. ,Ctl., with tho option of 48 hours' imprisonment. James Brown, a soldier, charged with using obscane language in Tory Street, was convicted and fined .£3, default being fixed at one month's imprisonment, and ordered to be handed over to tho military authorities. . , Henry James Harper appeared to, answer a'char'ge' of theft of 301b. of newspaper, valued at 2s. lid., tho property of the City Council. It was disclosed in the evidence that the papers were abstracted from the files in tho Public Library, and were discovered on an oxpress standing in front of the library, with somo other newspapers alleged to have been obtained at other places in tho City. The express was brought to the library so that the accused could obtain more paper, which the custodian indicated might be available. The accused admitted that the papers ■ were found on the express, but protested his innocence, ' and pointed out that it was not likely that he would take tha stolen papers in so open a.manner to the place from whence 'they wore stolen. However, he was convicted and fined 405., - and ; witnesses' expenses, Bs., tho alternative being seven days' imprisonment.