MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3081, 11 May 1917, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

POLICE CASES

YOUTH'S STRANGE POSITION

Mr. L. G. Reid, 5.M... presided at the Magistrate's Court .yesterday, and heard'the police cases.

John Joseph O'Eiordan, for whom Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared, was charged with being an idle- and disorderly person, in that he had insufficient visible lawful means of support. It was stated that the accused is a minor expecting a small sum of money from his father's estate in Ireland on reaching his majority. He had been endeavouring to obtain an advance against his expectation, and had been promised a sum of money. 1 In tho meanwhile- accused Had done no work. Last month he took a friend's motorcar without permission, and caused some damage to it. ' He was arrested immediately thereafter on the present charge. ■ • The Magistrate, in dismissing the case, said tho accused was a minor, and was entitled to have his debts paid by his mother. One of the. witnesses to. whom accused owed £20 was quite willing to trust the young fellow. The motor-car incident was a boyish prank, and did no.t concern the present charge. James Gunn Leckie, a soidior, was charged with being found drunk, also with resisting Constable Cox while in the execution of his duty. He was convicted, and ordered to be handed I over to the. military authorities.

For insobriety, Cornelius Bracken was fined 2th. Three first offenders were convicted and discharged. Charles Erickson, a seaman, vas charged with using insulting language towards 'Alfonso Alexander, another seaman, and an application was made for securities to keep the peace. The case was adjourned until tc-day.

CIVIL ACTIONS

. AN INTERESTING CASE. .Mr. W. G. 'Biddell, S.MI, heard the civil cases. . ;

The National Hal Mills, Ltd., proceeded against H. G. Bedell, Ltd., to recover the suinof £49-Bs. for goods supplied' to an outfitter's business at Featherston Military Oamp, of which the defendant company 1 was nominally the proprietor. . Evidence was given to the effect that a certain man who carried on business at the oamp got into finanoial difficulties, and in October last sold the business to the' defendant company for £300,' the amount of his indebtedness to that company, 'and on the terms that he was to remain as manager of the. business, which was to be retransfer'red. to him when his debt to tho purchaser had been repaid.. The manager • then set about purchasing stock' from various Wellington- firms, . and in Jami-! ary last the National Hat Mills refused to'execute his orders, and' only] did' so on the defendant company ex- i ..plaining that the business belonged to I it,' and that he was merely the manager. On this, goods ordered by the manager were consigned by the plaintiff company to the.business at the Featherston Camp, ,and for these goods the defendant company refused to pay, because it was alleged the manager had been forbidden to order goods without referring to the defendant company, and because the goods had not been taken into stock .by him. ( 'The Magistrate reserved his decision. Mr. 0. 0. Mazengarb appeared for the plaintiff company, and Mr. S. M. Beechey represented the defendants!

DEBT CASES. Judgment, by default, waß. given for plaintiff in the following undefended cases:—F. Cooper, Ltd., v. H. Martin, £2 19s. Bd.,- costs 10s.: Hope Gibbons, Sons, and J. B. Clarkson, Ltd., v. William J; Wesney, £3 7s. 3d., costs 175.; Bobina Kelhhor v. John Joseph Kolliher, £17, costs £1 10s. 6d.; Gold and Arciiß v. A. J. Smith, £10 Os. 3d., costs- £1 10s. 6d.; Jack Jacobus v. Samuel Matford, 10s. 6d.. costs 55.; H. W. Lloyd v. Myria Campbell, £12 4s. 6d., costs £1 10s. 6d.; Commercial Agenoy, Ltd., and Hirst and Co., Ltd., v. J. Mackay, ss. costs; B. Reginald Collins and Co., Ltd., v. Frank C. Fryer; £6, costs £1 3s. 6d. ; Keir's Forwarding Agenoy, Ltd., v. W. Morrison, £10 6b: 2d., costs £1 10s. 6d.; Commercial Agenoy, Ltd.. and Hirst and Co., Ltd., v. 0. Mitchell, £12 9s, Sd., costs £1 10s. 6d.

'." JUDGMENT SUMMONSES

Orders wero mado in judgment summons, eases as follow:—Matai Kahatvai was ordered to pay Field and Luckie £34 6s. by May 24, in default, tweiityrpne days' imprisonment; William Thompson was ordered to pay Mary Adanison £4 4s. by May 24, in default.four days' imprisonment; ■ A. G. Hainos was ordered to pay Nelson Dennesß,£7 6s. _6d. by May 24, in default, six days in gaol.

JUVENILE COURT.

In the Juvenile Court yesterday, before Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., two boys, aged respectively fifteen and a half and thirteen years, were charged with stealing four copper-boilers. 'According to the evidence given, tho boys visited several houses sad removed tho boilers from tho brickwork. The elder hoy, who had been before the Court 6n a previous ocoas.ion, was ordered to be sent to tho Wereroa. Training Farm. Sentence on the other lad was adjourned until Monday, in order that certain inquiries may be made.

Another hoy, fifteen years of age, was charged with tho theft of £4 10s. and a postal note for 55., the property of his employers. Cbief-Deteotive Boddam stated that the boy's father was highly respected. He suggested that tho boy, and not tho father, should bo ordered ,to make restitution of the money, a)id the Magistrate agroed to this. The lad was convicten, and ordered to receive ton strokes of the birch. Ho was also ordered to refund the money by instalments of 2s. 6d. per week.