MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2878, 16 September 1916, Page 13

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

HAZARD PYAYERS FINED Mr. J). G A. Cooper, S.JU. presided at yesterday's siuing of the MaKistrate's Court and dealt with the following cases: — Six men, named James Grant, Michael JJateson, Robert M'lulyre, Conrad Hasan, Louis Simonetti, and George Dybert;, were found by the paliiio playing an unlawful jiamo, "hazards," on tho reclaimed ground at To Aro. According to tho evidence of tho police, between 15 and 20 men had congregated near somo timber on the reclaimed land, and a game of hazards was iu full swing, when it was rudely interrupted by the police. There was a general scatter, but the men named happened to be known and caught. air. H. F.. O'Lenry, who appeared Cor accused, submitted that the place on which the.game was played was private property belonging to the Harbour Board, therefore tho prosecution must fail, bceauso it was not a public place within the meaning of tho Act. His .Worship tlitl not hold with this view however, imul fined Grant, Daleson, and M'lntyre £5, in default 21 days' iinprisoiunont, whilo Basan, Simonetti and Dvberg wero each fined £2, in default H days' detention. disloy'al utterance. , FINE OF TEN POUNDS. . A charge of having made a disloyal utterance, on August 5 last was preferred ' against a waterside worker named James Henry Rowe: It was alleged that accused, when ho heard of the loss of tilts British ship Britannic, said: "It serves the ■ —— right. I am not, going to light for. my country. What has the country done for me?" Chief Dotective Boddam, who prosecuted, said that the words wore used whilo defendant and a number of other men were employed on the Gteamor Durham at the King's Whaif. A rumour was in circulation at tho time to the effect that the big British ship Britannic liad been sunk with 8000 wounded on board. Defendant had heard'the rumour, "and had asked a fellow-worker named Davis what jt, was all about. lie was told,' and then it •was alleged he used the disloyal words. Davis severely reprimanded Rowe, and later, when to. by a policeman, the latter had expressed regret. • Mr. P. J. ■ O'ilegan, ! who appeared for Rowe, 'pleaded guilty and appealed for .leniency. Mr. O'llegan- said that his client bore an excellent 'character, and.had served 12 years in the Imperial' Army. Defendant had not really meant , what, lie .had-said, and ho was sorry for having used the ivords. He liad- shown his loyalty; by enlisting, but- had. been rejected as being medically unfit. '■ Tho Magistrate, said that ho would not iake into consideration tho plea of leniency in tho casej and especially at- a time like tho present. The utterance showed what was in tho man's mind, oven 'if the words were said in tho heat of an n.ro;ument. Defendant would bo lined £25, in default two months' imprisonment. Mr; O'Regan . strongly protested against tho amount of the fine, saying that as his client had pleaded guilty ho thought that the fine was a monstrous 01)0.

Chief 'Detectivo Boddnm then addressed' the Bench, and tho Magistrate said that taking all things into consideration he .would reduce the fine to one of £10, with an alternativo of 0110 month's imprisonment.

. '. UNSTAMPED " RECEIPTS. Thomas Ballinger and Co. wero charged with failing to stamp a signed receipt for £10 12s. Gd., and in-stating his case Inspector Hendrey said that .it . was not suggested' that therp was any attempt to deliberately eva'de the law. Tlie evidence went to show that the breach Was more the result of. carelessness than anything else. Under tho circumstances a fine of £1, with 7s. costs, was imposed. Four similar charges were preferred against Sergeant J.-. Robertson, of the Featherston Camp. These, it was disclosed, iverc also technical breaches, and defendant was fined '55., with costs 7s;, on the iir?t charge, and he. was convicted and discharged on the three others. . '' ■ , , ' POLICE CASES. George Williams, known to the polico by several aliases, tho chief of which was "Teddy tho Rear," appeared to answer a chargo of being an idle and disorderly person._ Williams had boon arrested after haying had a. brief spell of liberty following six years in gaol. .'His story'was to the .'effect that lie had been looking for work, but'tho police evidence showed that tho search had been a long one. His Worship refused'to believe accused's storv and sent him to prison for two months. For insobriety Louisa Tierney was fined 10s., iii default .48 hours' detention/ John Wm. Davis, with .three previous convictions, .'against him for the same oifericd was finod 405., tho alternativo being fixed at sevon days in gaol. As Ccin Sullivan had two previous convictions . against him for drunkenness lie was fined 20s. - A man named Richard Dunn, aged 71 years, charged with bejng an incorrigible wj»? ordered to come up for sentence if called upon. William Harris was charged with obstructing a railway guard whilst in the execution of his duty, and further with having behaved in an offensive manner in a railway carriage at Ngaio. On the first chargo accused was ordered to pay witnesses' expenses amounting to 10s., and Court costs totalling 13s. He was fined 10s., .with costs 7s. in default, three days' imprisonment .on the second charge. William Collins kept his shop open on a recent Sunday and served a customer., v Tho offence cost him a fine of £1, and costs. 75., and default was fixod at three days' imprisonment. Under the War Regulations Act AYalter Laucely. Cole and Rana Bagwan, a Hindoo, were charged with having obtained liquor and supplied tho same to Lilian Jukes,, a prohibited person. Both accused denied knowing that .'Jukes was a prohibited person, 'nut llie evidence, against Cole was too slrouav and he was fined £2, with costs 7s. Tlie case against Bagwan was dismissed. BY-LAW CASES: By-law cases wore dealt with, as under: — ' For- leaving a packing-case on the street J. ..Mcran was fined. 10s., with costs 7s.' A. line of ss;, with cosls '75., was imposed on J. Kucli for having his iimlor-bicycio standing in Cuba Street i'ui' a longer time than allowed by tho regulations. ■ G. C. Hood and William Henry Hampton wore each fined 55., with costs 75., for allowing stock to wandost whilo John Reginald Welsby, who had allowed four horses to stray, was fined 10s., with'7s. costs, in default 48 hoars' imprisonment. Hugh Steele was convicted and or-dered-'to'pay od. witness's cxnenses,' and Court costs amounting' to 125., in default 2-1 hours' .imprisonment, for having lieiligeutly dri'TOn his motorin Willis Street.