MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 87, 5 January 1918, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Mr. D. G. A. Cooper. S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, and dealt with the police cases. James Hill, for whom Mr. Douglas Jackson appeared, pleaded not guilty to the charge of being an idle and disorderly person' in that ho consorted with reputed thieves. Sergeant M'Kelvie stated that he had known accused for the past nine months, and had had him under observation for some time. He had seen Hill knocking about Manners Street with a gang of thieves, and in support of this statement gave the dates and the names of the alleged thieves in whoso company he had seen the accused. He accosted Hill in Cuba Street about nine months ago, as he appeared to be hawking silk blouses. The accused stated that he was not hawking the goods, but taking orders for them. Plain-clothes Constable Black also, gavo evidence in support. The accused, in giving evidence on his own behalf, said he was a. canvasser for certain wholesale firms in Wellington, but dealt principally with Maokv, Logan, and Co. He canvassed from "house to house for orders, then obtained the goods from the wholesale house and delivered them. He made from £7 to £9 per week. He had previously done business with Butterworth Bros. The reputed thieves be' waß alleged to havo associated with were good customers, arid he had sold them shirts, ties, socks, and other articles. Ho had never gone to hotels or bil-liard-rooms with them. None of them had ever been to his house, nor had ho ever visited any of their houses. His business took him all over New Zealand. He went to C'hristchurch to work the small towns like Bangiora and Amberley. When arrested m Christchurch he had about £80 worth of stock, which was still in the south, and had had also £53 in cash. Alfred Hillyer, manufacturers agent, and previously manager for Butterworth Bros, in Wellington, said he had known accused for about s'x years. Ho had done a lot of business with Butterworth Bros, on a cash basis. He had tho highest possible opinion of Hill's character. He was scrupulously honest. He knew nothing of the man's associates. John Albert Hobon, m charge ot the dress department in Macky, Logan and Co.'s, stated that the accused had done a large business with the firm, buying ladies' apparel, men's clothing and mercery, and fancy goods. After hearing counsel the Magistrate said there was sufficient evidence m favour of the accused to warrant the Court dismissing the information. A fine of £5 with the alternative of one month's imprisonment was imposed on James Boss M'Laughlin for having in his possession two blankets and a waterproof sheet, together valued at 355., the property of the New Zealand Defence Department, without being able to satisfactorily account for same M'Laughlin was for some time in camp, and lost his kit. He stated that to make up tho missing kit he bou"ht the goods mentioned from a soldier leaving for tho front. Later on most of the kit was recovered, and he had been charged for what was missing. He thought he was justified in retaining the goods ho had purchased. . William Snow, alias "William Leigh, a circus employee, whom Inspector Marsack described as "not beuig all there," was charged with giving wilfully misleading answers to questions as to enrolment in the Military lieserve; that being a reservist he did, without permission of the Minister ot Internal Affairs, use another name than the one he was commonly known by, and further that he did fail to enrol as a reservist. Snow pleaded guilty to the last charge, and tho other two charges, to- which he pleaded not guilty, were withdrawn. Accused had been previously convicted and discharged at Hastings for failing to enrol, and took no steps to enrol. He was therefore fined 405., with the option of seven days' imprisonment. Edward Lomax was charged that en January 2 he failed to 'answer questions as to his enrolment under Section 44 of the Military Service Act, 1916, put to him by Constable Graham, also that he did publish a disloyal utterance, to wit, "To hell with a registration card, and the King of England, too" Accused asked for a remand until Monday, so that ho might engage counsel, and also asked for bail, which was fixed at £25-and olio surety cr £25 A'plea of guilty was entered by Herbert Thomas Hoarle, who was charged that on November 9 at Wliakatane he did steal £10 in money, the P'"°P e of P Orchard. He was remanded lor a week to enable the police to make inquiries at Wliakatane ■'This man has a bad record, said Inspector Marsack when John James •Lawless was convicted of assaulting Alexander Moore. Lawless was jmed £2, in default seven days' lmpnsonme?seaman named Frank Parkinson, was ■ convicted ■ and discharged for being found drunk,, and tci being absent from his ship without leave was ordered to forfeit two days pav and to be returned to Ins ship. > For insobriety Louisa Maitland was fined 10s., with the clternative of three days' imprisonment, and two nrst offenders were convicted and discharge!.