MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 89, 8 January 1918, Page 11

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

ASSAULTING A SEA-COOK

Mr. W. G. Riddeil, S.M., presided at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, and dealt with tho police cases. William Francis King;, a seaman on an oversea vessel, was charged with assaulting Robert Smith, the second cook of the vessel. According to the cvidenco of Smith tho accused cauio on board in a drunken condition about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and asked the witness to give him his dinner. He was told to go and see the steward. Accused went away, but presently returned, and, picking up tho cook's knife, a formidable-looking weapon, attempted to attack the witness, who retreated to the saloon, where the accused followed him, still flourishing the knife. Witness escaped, and the accused was later arrested. King subsequently apologised to witness for what ho had done.

Frederick Mackay, second officer of the vessel, said accused cany?, to him and complained that he wa-s hungry and wanted his dinner. He was told' that had he been on board at the proper timo he would have had his dinner. Later the witness saw accused attempting to attack the second cook with a knife.

The accused in giving evidence rn his own behalf said he had been discharged from tho Army and suffered from shell shock, and it did not take much liquor to upset him. He did'not mean to do any harm to tho cook, but was only playing with him. The Magistrate: It is a dangerous way to play with a knife. Would you like someone to play with you in the same way? The accused: No, sir. His Worship advised the man to abstain from liquor since it had such a serious effect on him. The accused was convicted and sentenced to seven days' imprisonment, and was ordered to l,e placed on board his vessel should it sail before the expiry of the sentence. On a further charge of disorderly behaviour on the wharf while drunk King was convicted and discharged. Walter Francis Cribb was charged that on May 16, .1917, at Christchurcli, being already married to Jane Elizabeth Scott Sage, he did go'through a form of marriage with one Alice Christine On the application of ChiefDetective Boddam he was remanded to appear in Christchurcli on Tuesday. January 15. On a further charge of disobeying a maintenance order for the eupport of his wife and child, the arrears amounting to £21 55., he was fined 205., in default 48 hours' imprisonment.

A further remand till Thursday was granted in-the case of Edward Lomax, charged with making a flisloyal statement in respect to the war. A fine of £5, with the alternative of 21 days' imprisonment, was imposed on Joseph Welsh for using obscene language in Kent Terrace, and on a further charge of being found drunk he was convicted and discharged.

_ Thomas Elliott, convicted of committing a grossly indecent act in Willis Street, was fined £3. with the option of serving 21 days in gaol, and-was convicted and discharged for drunkenness. - *

For insobriety Richard H. E. Wilkes, who failed to appear, was fined 405., with the alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment. One first offender was convicted and discharged. .

Walter Gj White, who was 40s. in arrear in respect to the of his child, was fined 405., with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment.