MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 42, 13 November 1917, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

ALLEGED .OI'JUAI SMOKING, Mr. S. E. M'Cartliy, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court yesterday.. Yeo Wee, a Chinaman residing'at Musterton, and on u visit to Wellington, was charged with smoking opium m a house iu 'X'aranaki Street. . Air. P. J. U'liegan appeared for accused. Senior Sergeant (Jrean, of the Mount Coolc Station, stated that shortly after 10 p.in. on October 2(1, iu company with .Sergeant Cruickslinuk, iio. visited No. MO Tbranaki Streot, occupied by Toe Chong, a Jaundryman Witness and his. companion went upstairs, and on tlio landing they encountered Yco Choug, and t'ney dragged him iuto tho bedroom, wJicro they saw defendant and All Yet. The latter was lying on tho mat, and between him. and tne defendant: there was 'Cue apparatus for opium smoking, Thero was also an ordinary lighted caudlo on the mat, and there was a pipo close to the defendant, aud tho pipe wub quite hot. Witness l'ound a 6niall quanTTty of opium oil tho lloor behind Aii Yet. Defendant said ho was a visitor lrora -Atasterton, and denied smoking opium. Ho had his hat and coat on. Sergeant Cruickshnnk gave corroborative evidence.

yor uo defonce, lur. O'Regan said tbat the accused was a visitor from Masterton. Ho was only a short time in tho liouso when tho polico came in. Ho did not smoko opium, but Yeo Chong and Ah Yet, who wero in the house, woro convicted last week, tho former for permitting opium smoking and the latter-for smoking. The defendant did not. Bmoke opium. Yee Wee, tho defendant, said that he was iu Yeo Chong's house when the polico callod, and had been there only three on four minutes. Ho left a parcel and overcoat at the liouso during the day, and called to got them. He did not smoke opium that evening, but his companion Ah Yet did. Ho had not smoked opium for years. "Ah Yet, laundryman, said he was in th'o. room in question, when the polico tiilled. Ho had beon. smoking opium. Yeo Wee was in tho room, and had been thoro between four and five minutes. Yeo Wee did not smoko opium. The Magistrate said tho case presented by tho polico justified tho inference that tiio defendant' had been smoking; but tho evidence of olio of tlio witnesses was that the nian had not been smoking, aud this was not contradicted; ho would therefore dismiss the information. MISCELLANEOUS CISES. Gustavo Gustafsen was charged with being 'drunk, with resisting Constablo Frost in the execution of his duty, of using "(,-sceno language, and with unlawfully damaging a pair of trousers valued at 2Gs., the property of tho Government. Ho was convicted and discharged on the charges of being drunk and resisting tho constable; for using obscene language ho was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, and for damaging the trousers ho was ordered to pay 265., in dc-. fault 14 dayß* imprisonment, tho terms to be cumulative. A prohibition order, to be in forco for twelve months, was issued against Qeorgo Bowdon' by consent, and for "using obscene language in Molosworth Street while drunk' lie was fined £5, with tho option of serving a mouth in.gaol. William Wood, convicted of being found drunk in Buckle Street, was ordered' to pay, 295. medical expenses, in default seven days' Imprisonment, and for wearing a military uniform wiftout permission ho was fined JBS, the alternative being a month's imprisonment. John D. Al'Nearnie, who lad been formerly in tlio British Navy, and who had seen service on a battleship during tho present war, was convicted and discharged for being drunk, and for refusing to leave licensed ; premises when requested to do so he was fined 505., with the option of serving 21. days in prison. For insobriety, Joseph Dossenbacli, against whom there were a number of previous convictions, was sent to prison for three months; William Collins was fined 205., in default seven days' imprisonment; two first -offenders were lined 10s. caoh, and another, 205... . . MAINTENANCE CASES. Maintenance cases were dealt with as follow:—William Shore was ordered to pay 3s. id. a week in respect of the maintenance of a relativo in a receiving home; George Henry Bradley, whose arrears totalled i! 3 155., was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, find lan order previously made against Harold Walker wus cancelled.