MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2908, 21 October 1916, Page 14

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

EASY AVAY OF GETTING MONEY

Air. L. G. Reid, S.M., presided at yesterday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court :—

Obtaining money by presenting valueless cheques both at Auckland and Fcilding appeared to be an easy matter for Robert Williams, alias Williams, alias AVatkins. Ho appeared to answer two charges of a. similar nature, the first being that at Fcilding on August 26 he presented a valueless cheque for £15 to Ernest John Basset, and purchased a range valued at £7 Bs. S)d. Having obtained the change, accused then left the shop, and the cheque was subsequently dishonoured. At Auckland, on August 26, accused visited the promises of Laidlaw Leeds, and in return for some furniture presented a cheque for £50. Tho balance of £20 ho received in cash, and this cheque was also found to be valueless. Williams pleaded guilty to both charges. According to Chiei'-Dcteetivc Boddam, accused had a bad record, and he had been convicted on three previous occasions on charges of false pretences. His Worship sentenced Williams to three months' imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to bo cumulative.

CONSIDERABLE PROVOCATION

As an outcome of an affray, which occurred in the guard's van of a train proceeding from Wellington to Ngaio on August 18, R. H. Smith, senr., appeared to answer, a charge of violent and offensive behaviour in a railway train. Smith's son was travelling in the same train, and a scuffle ensued during the course of which a window was broken. When Smith, juni'., appeared before the Court lie was fined ■IDs., and ordered to ,pay tho cost of the broken window. Concerning the case against tho father, Inspector Hendrey said that defendant was the least to blame, as lie had received considerable provocation from his son. Taking the circumstances of the ease into consideration, the Magistrate merely convicted and discharged Smith, senr.

AN UNREGISTERED DAIRY. A small storekeeper named Arthur James Jacka unlawfully occupied a milk shop which was not licensed, and pleaded guilty'. It was explained that defendant took over the business from another person, and. as a side-line, a small quantity of milk was sold to certain regular customers at the store. The regulations controlling the sale of milk in the city are most stringent, and a shop must bo especially fitted for tho purpose. As defendant had refrained from selling the milk since the summons was issued, he was only fined 10s. for the offence.

FINED FOR WORKING- OA rER- \ , TIME.. Not having previously obtained a permit to employ a hand to work after tho hour of 0 p.m., and before 8 a.m. tho following day, Ester Cowan, being the occupier of a factory, was fined 10s. On a second charge of working an employee for a longer period than tho permit allowed she was convicted and discharged.

MISCELLANEOUS CASES. James Egan, who it is alleged, was found helplessly drunk at Mastcrton, is still; an inmate of the AVcllington Hospital, so a remand for another week was granted in his case. Yvhilst he was intoxicated Patrick J.. Coylo broke a pane of glass, valued at 18s., the property of Hugo Lupi. He was Quod 205., in default fourteen days' imprisonment, for drunkenness, and 205., or twenty-ono days' detention, for damaging the window. . Coylo was also oitlercd to make good the damage.

A remand till this ■ morning was granted the police in the case 1 against Phillis Banks, alias Lambess, a girl eighteen years of age, who was charged with stealing a suit-caso and several articles of ladies' clothing, tho total valuo of which was £7 os'.. Gd. Tho alleged offence was committed at Auckland on October 10, and the property belonged to a Mrs. Gray. In asking for tho romand, Inspector Hendrey said that ho was awaiting tho receipt of a telegram from Auckland giving consent to the ease being tried in AVellirigtoii. Bail was fixed in the sum of £2o and one surety of £25.

A line of ss. was inflicted on Thos. Scoringe for failing to send his child to school. ' ,

BY-LAAV CASES. It is unlawful for persons to remove soil from the vicinity of the Ohiro Hay Road, and James O'Connor and Fred. Tucker committed, an offence in this respect, and were fined 10s. each, with costs 13s. As Charles Drain did not have sufficient lights on his vehicle he was fined 10s., with costs 7s.

AVilliam Brown left his motor-car unattended, and was fined ss. The Magistrate remarked that it was a dangerous practice, moro so at night than in day-time.

Claro O. I'carse and William Guy were each charged with having ridden motor-cycles round Stewart Dawson's Corner at a speed of over six miles per h<jur. The constable on point duty, in evidence, said that the accused were travelling at the rate of about twelve miles per hour. Defendants were fined 20s. each.

J. Hamilton, a man over eighty years of age, was convicted and discharged for allowing his stock" to wander.

A r incent Joseph Roberts boarded a moving train at Petone, and the offence cost him a fine of 10s., with costs 7s.