MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3036, 24 March 1917, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., presided over yesterday's sitting of the Alagistrate's Court.'.'.,.. ._ "William Gordon, several times previously convioted of theft,: was charged with, stealing a copper boiler, valued at- £2. , A brother of ' tho- defendant said a, few words on his behalf. "He's not exactly mad, but lie's a bit soft, :ind he's been led into this," observed tho brother. "I think a fine would meet tho case," he concluded. His Worship differed upon this last point, and sentenced' Gordon to a fortnight's "imprisonment without the option of a fine. A charge of failing to notify change of abode as required by tho Military Service Act was preferred against Harry Frank Chidley. Tho defendant was convicted and discharged. ■ Maud Grant, who did not appear, was convicted of using obscene language, and fined -10s., with the alternative of spending a fortnight in gaol. John Hyde was fined 405., with the alternative of a fortnight's imprisonment, for breach of his prohibition oridor. It appeared that ho had been guilty of several previous breaches. William Dennis Wilmot, charged with a. similar offence, was convicted and fined 205., in default seven days' imprisonment. For committing an indecent act Jn Ahna-Lane, Charles Nelson was fined with the alternative of spending 'a week in gaol. BY-LAW CASES., Ai youth named Cecil James Roberts was convicted of attempting to avoid payment of his fare on the steamer Cohar, and was ordered. to pay_ costs 7s. William James Williamson was fined 20s. and costs for driving a motor-car at an oxcessiv* speed. ' Vincent Bernard Oudett, for driving a motor-car too fast round a comer, was also fined 205., with costs. For being in charge of an insufficiently lighted vehicle, John L. Ferrier was convicted and discharged. David Joseph Henning, who had left. an unlighted motor-car standing in the street at night, was fined 10s., with costs.

Thomas Munt was fined ss. and costs for riding a mot<>r-cyclo along tho wharf between the Railway and King's Wharves. Owners of stock found wandering at large were dealt with as follows:—Walter Hadley, fined 20s. and costs:— Johnson, John Reginald Welßby, and Joseph William Brown, fined ss. each, with costs; Charles Mitchell, fined 2s. and costs. Upton and Shearer were fined 10s. and costs for commencing the erection of a.new building at Eastbourne before the borough surve3'or had given his permit. MILK-VENDORS FINED. Throe, cases against milk-vendors were heard, Mr. V. R. Meredith prosecuted in each. Felix Nozaic was charged with selling milk to which water had been added, and with selling adulterated milk without notifying the purchaser of the nature of the adulteration.''-. ■ ; , Mr. Meredith .said that 16 per cent, of water had been added to the milk, and the defendant must have' known its-- quality/- Apparently he took'no precautions to see that the milk complied with the prescribed standard. Mr. H. F. O'Leary, for the defence, said that the defendant sold tho milk just as ho had received it. He had shown his bona (ides by attempting to have an independent analysis made ol a sample. Nozaio was just going; out pf the business, as it: was not paying him. .

His Worship said he would take into consideration the last-mentioned fact. Defendant would be fined £5, with ..costs, on .the first charge, and. convict-, : ed and discharged on the second. ' William Henry Reid, for whom Mr. M. J. Crombie appeared, pleaded guilty to a charge of selling milk deficient.in fats.. , Mr. Crombie submitted that the offence was a, technical one. The defend-ant-sold the milk just in tho same condition as when it was supplied to him. . Mr.; Meredith said tho same excuse was_ always offered. Defendant was in< a big way of business, and there : was nothing to prevent his applying the ordinary tests on his premises. A fine of £3 with costs was inflicted. Telford and Goodsell, for whom Mr. T. Neavo appeared, pleaded guilty to a charge similar to that preferred against Reid. Defendants in this case also were fined £8 with costs!