MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2880, 19 September 1916, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

PAK-A-POO CASES Mr. L. G. Roid occupied the Be nek at yesterday's sitting of the Magis. trate's Court. Certain Chinese of Haining Street and Taranaki Street were recently raided by the police while concerned in a game of pak-a-poo. After the remands had been granted, seven Celes : tials appeared at the Court on August 29, and wero charged with various breaches of the Gaming Act.. On that occasion two Chinese named Ah Keo and George Wong, termed, "principals," were convicted of keeping houses for the purpose of promoting an illegal lottery, but sentence was deferred till the cases against five other Chinese were hoard yesterday. As on former occasions, Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for tho Chinese, and Inspector Hendrey conducted the caso for the prosecution. After evidence had been hoard, the charge against one Sua Sing Shing—keeping a common gaminghouse and using samo to promoto an illegal lottery—was dismissed, the Magistrate "holding that there was not sufficient evidence to convict. Tho case against Wall Lee, who, it was alleged, was found on Shing's premises, was also dismissed fox: the same reason. Georgo Gee, Charlie Sing, and Joe Hong were each found guilty of keeping common gaming-houses in Haining Street and Taranaki Street, and s'entenco oil these three, together witli All Keo arid Georgo Wong, was then passed. - His Worship said that if tho cltir.ens did not patroniso these houses, then {lid Chineso must cease the gambling; He remarked that the maximum penality for tho offence was £200, with tho alternative of six months' imprisonment. He would make the fine a substantial one. Each of the accused would be fined £50, in default ono month's Imprisonment. MISCELLANEOUS 'CASES. Much horse-play was indulged in by a number of youths outside a restaurant in a congested part of tho city on Saturday evening. Constable Forsyth' interfered; with tho result that Jack Thomas Grange became abusive, and had to be taken into custody. Yesterday morning he appeared to answer a charge of obstructing the constable whilst in tho execution of his duty. Inspector Hendrey said that the youths were not drunk, but they had protended to be so. In inflicting a ; fine of 205., the Magistrate Warned Grange, to bo more careful in the future, and told him that ho was liable ,to a heavy penalty. Ho'nry Edward Ash, a young seariian, was charged with deserting from the steamer liotoma. Mr. IV W. Jackeon, who appeared for accused, said, that his client had enlisted, and was going into camp this week. ' Under tho circumstances, Ash was ordered to pay .£2 7s.- costs,, in default fourteen days' imprisonment. . : Henry Thomas Windust, an old man over seventy years ( of age, was changed with being tho occupier of a house of ill-fame in Tory Street, while Eva Grell was also charged with assisting in the management of the house. ! The informations were laid under the War Regulations Aot. Mr. P. W. Jackson, who appeared for accused, ad T mitted that Grell was a woman of illrepute, but, stated that she had frequented the male accused's house for the purpose of doing his washing and other odd jobs about the house, and not for an immoral purpose. The evidence of tho police, however, was too' strong against both accused, and Grell, who luftl Seen previously fined £10, in default one month's imprisonment, under similar circumstances, was sent_to gaol for a month. In passing sentence on Windust, tho Magistrate stated that he would take into consideration the man's age, and would convict him, and order him to come up for sentence if called upon. . Annabella Swanson, aged 41 years, was charced with being an incorrigible rogue. Sne had been previously convicted on charges of vagrancy. Accused stated that sho desired to bo dealt with by a jury, and was accordingly remanded for a week. Joseph Nicholls, charged with being au incorrigible rogue, .and also with obtaining a pair of boots, valued at 305., the property of Albort Edward Mann, by means of falso pretences, was, on the application of Inspector Hendrey, remanded for a week on cacb charge. It was. alleged'that Thomas iM'Namara attempted to commit an indecent assault upon a male. A remaiid was grunted till September 26. John Alfred Shirley, who appeared on remand to answer three charges of breaking and entering tho promises of J. E. Fitzgerald, and stealing therefrom a quantity of petrol, was remanded till to-morrow. Joseph Moonoy was also remanded till to-morrow. Ho is charged;-with the theft of five £5 notes, tho property of George Hunt. : A fmo of 205., in default seven days' imprisonment, was imposed upon George Roberts for having assaulted Charles Stophens on September 16. MAINTENANCE CASES. Charles Guroti, in whoso case the arrears for maintcnanco amounted to £18 155., was ordered to bo imprisoned for ono month if ho does not pay £1 per week off the arrears. In the caso of Thomas Francis, tho arrears amounted to £13 155., and a similar order was mado against him. Samuel Henderson was ordered to pay £1 per week off his arrears, which had amounted to £6 155., or serve ono month in gaol. If William Slattery does not pay' £1 per week off arrears (£3 17s. 6d.) ho will bo sent to prison for fourteen days. Francis Bustin, who bad allowed arrears to mount up to £18 155., was ordered to pay £1 per week off that amount, failing which ho will liavo to go to gaol for one month. Georgo Hill applied to have arrears remitted, and a variation or Cancellation of an order mado in respect 'of his illegitimate) child. _ Arrears amounting to £5 were remitted, but the Magistrate said that the original order (7s. Gd. per wcqk) must stand. Herbert Lowe was adjudged to be tho putative father of an illegitimate child, and he was ordered to pay 7s. 6d. per week towards its maintenance.