MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3184, 7 September 1917, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

POLICE AND CIVIL' CASES i r "'> f- B-.M'OarUiy, s.M,, presided at, the Magistrate's Court yesterday. <.i! a i/,? cctor Taiiiui ' *■ J[aori '' was charged that on or about August 27 he in ;? al one moonstone necklet, value £7 vZnn* I "y ,porty of Mkc Quinnoy. The accused who was represented by Mr. l>. ti™ I /a" , plcalled (s'iUtr- Chief Detotne Boddani stated that tho accused had Been employed at tho Public Trust Office for tho past two years, and the owner of tho.nccklct was also employed in the samo fnartinciit. Tlio accused took tho necklet and hid it in a, cupboard in tllo mortgage department. "It was an exceptionally mean thoft, ■ remarked the Ohi«f Detective, tor pot only was tho necklot stolen from a fcllow-omployce, but a. certain amount of suspioion regted on tho other employees also." Mr. p. W. Jackson agreed that it was a mean theft, but pointed out that it appoared to be n. sudden lapse on the part of Tainui, who -was a married man and hitherto borne- a -very good cha;raoter. Tho necklet had been returned and no loss had boea suffered by the owner. Accused -was fined £5, in default one mouth s imprisonment.

_ A man, named Thomas Campbell, went into the Clarendon Hotel, and as he was boha.v)ng in a disorderly manner lie ivas told to quit, but refused to do so, and assaulted the licensee, Frederick Dobsoo. A constablo was tailed iu, and while tho latter was endeavouring to arrest tho ancusedi a struggle took place, during which tho constable's helmet was damaged. Campbell pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a month's imprisonment for assaulting Dobson, and was convicted and discharged on the other informations.

Alfred Mason, a waterside worker, waa charged with being o, roguo and a- vagabond, in that ho was found playing hazards on the.Queen's AVharf. Hr. H. P. O'Leary appeared for accused, and pleaded not guilty. Ho said that Mason was a good worker and was in constant work. Ho was not a roguo and a, vagabond, but that charge was laid by the police for the purpose- of summary arrest. Ho suggested that the information should be withdrawn, and a. fresh information laid under Section 8 of tho Gaming Act. Sub-Inspector Dew agreed to this course being adopted. He admitted that Mason ■was practically in constant work, and he had no- desire to caat tho slur of. being a roguo and vaciabond upon him. Mr. O'Lcaiy then pleaded guilty on behalf of accused to the substituted charge of playing an unlawful game. Ho stated that the game was being played a few minutes before 1 o'clock, whilo the men were waiting to resume work. The fact that only 68. was found on Mason shows that it was not a serious affair. Tho Magistrate imposed a, fine of £5, in default ono month's imprisonment. Mary Bro-rn, charged with bcinj: an idle and disorderly person, in that she was found begging alms in Tinakori Road, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, conditionally on her going into the Salvation Army Home and remaining there. For insobriety Alexander Stevenson and.Toseph Speight were- each fined 205., in default 48 hours' imprisonment, and a- first offender was fined' 10s., in tho alternative 24 hours' imprisonment. CIVIL OA&BS. Judgment was given for plaintiff in the following undefended eases:—Commercial Agency, Ltd., .v. Mrs. .L. Gibbs, £3 9s. 7d., costs 125.; Spencer George Eadford v. J. Findlay, £1 12s. 6d., costs 55.; Wellington Loan Co., Ltd., v. P. O'Kano, £10 55., costs 30s. 6d.; T. and W. Young v. F. Rhodes, 10s., costs only; James Jl'lntosh and E. J. Oolley v. James Joseph Cronin, ,-&) 45., costs 10s.; P. V. Thomsen v. 0. Monaghan, £15, costs 375. 6d.: Bristol Piano Co., Ltd., v. Percy Ashton Carter, £22 175., costs Ms. JUDGMENT SUMMONS. In a judgment summons case J. A. Dotchin was ordered to pay J. S. Elliott £5 10s. forthwith, in default three- days' imprisonment, with the further option of paying ss. a fortnight. AN INTERESTING CASE. ' A case presenting some unusual features was that in which John Henry Greta, gardener, and Norman Mark Greta, machinist, claimed from 0. M. Banks, Ltd., printers and stationers, the sum of £100. Mr. P. H. Putnam appeared for 1 the plaintiffs and Mr. T. B. Weston for tho defendant company.

. In the statement of/claim it was set out that by deed of apprenticeship, dated June 1, 1912, it was , agreed that tho aoprentiice Norman Mark Gcei'g was apprenticed for the term of six years. The apprentice duly entered into tho employ of tho defendant company, and was continuously employed until June 1, 1917. About May 29 Olaude M; Banks, managing director of the company, dismissed the apprentice ■without justification or excuse, and prohibited him from returning to the employ of the company, and the company had failed to take the boy baok or transfer him as an apprentice to another employer. By reason of.the company's action the boy had been unable to follow Ws occupation as a • letterpress machinist. Further, tho apprentice iiad been deprived of the benefit of his apprenticeship, arid had been seriously injured in his prospects in the trade of a letterpress machinist. Both the plaintiffs had suffered damage' and injiury. - The case was partly heard and adjourned. / ■