MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3032, 20 March 1917, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

ANTI-" SHOUTING "REGULATIONS

FINE OP £1

Mr. L". G. Keid, S.M., presided over yesterday's Bitting of the Magistrates Court. .-.--■■ : Thomas Brown -was ' charged with freaking the anti-"shouting" regulations by paying for a drink for one John Monteith, in tho bar of the National Hotel, It appeared that the defendant wa9 standing in the bar with Honteith and placed fourpenoo on tho counter to pay for Monteith's drink. Hβ admitted his intention to a policeman, who was preeent, and saw the money_put down. The barman happened to be in another part of the bar at the time. Asked by the policenjan whether he had seen the notice forbidding "shouting," defendant replied that foe had not. Monteith, in his evidence, said that he did not have tho drink that Brown was. paying for. . Brown did not enter tKe witness-box. "It's a general thine about the town to shout for other men," 'he calmly asserted. "This law is just a bluff."

His Worship: You don't believe in it, apparently. Well, whether tho law is a "bluff" or not, it is law in tho Courts, and people have to observe it. If yon have no evidence, I must hold that the offence is proved.

Defendant was fined 205., with costs, the alternative being fixed at a .week's imprisonment. He 6aid Iβ had no money at present, and he was given time in which to pay-

CHARGE OF ASSAULT. Join Welsh, a soldier, -was charged with having assaulted Marion Hawkins, proprietress of the London Pie Shop, in Cuba Street. Complainant alleged that defendant who wae perfectly sober, hit her on the face with a hand-bug. Hβ had cone into the shop for a meal, nnil tho trouble had followed a discussion TβKardin? the price defendant would have to pay for a bed. Welsh's version of the matter was that tho complainant and a waitress had eisw'ed and "laughed as he went out of the shop. • He wished to be respected while he wore the uniform, and, bein? annoyed, ho hit tho comnkiDant n slight tap that left no m j ' 3 Worship convicted Welsh and ordered him to pay a flno of 205., hfllf the amount to sjo to' , the corai plamant. .

•n ii -~,o ^l n!R CASES. . Donald Black M'Vicar and Thomas α-tif f leged that . one Walter Jlaneliew nad -used insulting and provoking language to them, and they, therefore asked the Court to bind him over to keep the peace. 'Tin very much afraid that if he uses the.eame language to me again I may loee my temper and strike him, and that'll be the end of him," stated M Vicar, who was a huge Scot. The trouble, it appeared, had been duo chiefly .to business competition, as the three parties in the enso were all monumental masons. The defendant had used the language ; complained of while working near the plaintiffs in tho Karori Cemetery. His Worship held that there were prospects of trouble unless some check ,was put upon Mansfield, and ho, therefore required' the latter to furnish a surety-of £o0 for the preservation of tho peace during tho next six months. Mr. H. 1 , ., O'lieary appeared for tho plaintiffs, and Mr. A. W. Blair for. the defendant. • . .

For. insobriety, Joseph Murphy and Charles Pedersen were each fined 10s., with the alternative of spending threo days in gaol.

Michael O'Brien, who while drunk had damaged a. policeman's helmet, was ordercd_ to pay Us. Gd, or sorve three days' imprisonment.

For lt?ing drunk while in charge of a horse and cart, Ernest Thomas Bray was fined 10s., in default three days' imprisonment. Edward Hayes, who'had behaved in a threatening manner'in Cuba Street, was ordered to pay a fine of 205., or remain in gnol for a week..

Maintenance cases were dealt with as nnder: —Robert Aguew M'Calhim wns ordered to pay arrears at tho rate of 2s. 6d. uer week or go to gaol for a fortnight. Thomas Lane Martin wns ordered to pay by instalments arrears amounting to £15 6s. Tho alternative in his.case was fixed at a month's imprisonment. Essie Price was ordered to contribute tho sum of 10s. per week towards the support of Ruby Prico, a grandchild. ' ■