MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 94, 14 January 1918, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

— A short sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held on Saturday morning, Mr. W. (i. UiddcU, S.M., being on tho bench.

Patrick Lockett, an old offender, was charged with drunkenness, also with committing a grossly indecent act in Manners Street. On the latter charge he was fined £o, in default one. month's imprisonment; on the charge of drunkenness ho was convicted aucl discharged.

Ralph Cockroffc, a young man, was charged with indecency in Lombard Street. A little boy and the constable who arrested tho man gave evidence. The accused's defence was a total denial of the charge. He said lie never saw the boy in tho locality. He was a stranger to Wellington, and was a ship's steward. Tho Magistrate s;>.id tho evidence in tho case was not strong, and in a matter of this kind the case should be proved beyond all doubt. He was not prepared to convict the accused, and dismissed tho information.

A remand to. appear at Auckland en Saturday, January 1!).. was granted'in the case of Frederick William Scliluter, who was charged that on December 15 at Auckland he did obtain £o by a certain false pretence by representing himself as the owner of a patent electrical engine improvement, w.mting money to protect the rights of the same, with intent to defraud.

For insobriety, one first offender was convicted and discharged, and another was remanded for medical treatment.