MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 142, 5 March 1918, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

POLICE AND MAINTENANCE CASES Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, and dealt with the police and maintenance cases. A young woman named Mary Taylor wa,s convicted for drunkenness and was ordered to como up for sentence when called upon. There was also an application for her committal to an inebriates' home on the ground of being a habitual inebriate. On this charge she was committed to the Magdaicno Home, Christchurcli. For insobriety Rudolf Johnson, against whom there were three previous convictions, was sent to gaol for ono month. Marion Maitland, with one previous conviction, was fined 205., in the alternative seven days' imprisonment, and John Patrick Downey, also with one previous conviction, was similarly penalised. One first offender was fined 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment. . Harry Magnus-son pleaded guilty to being disorderly while drunk in Conrtenav Place on Saturday last, and was fined 405., with tho option of 14 days imprisonment. On another charge of damaging a constable's helmet, value lis. 6d., he was ordered to make good the damage or to serve H days' imprisonment, the terms to be cumulative. ~ On Saturdav light Neil Campbell usr-d threatening behaviour in Willis Street. He wanted to fight another man. and struck out wildly at him. He pleaded guilty, and was fined 405., with the alternative of serving 14 days m Iverson 'was charged with abreach of the Gaming Act, in that he was found playing an unlawful game, hazards, on the King's Wharf. Iverson pleaded guilty, and as he had been previously convicted for a similar offence he was fined £15. in default sis weeks imprisonment. He was allowed 14 days in which to pay the fine. George Tnllock, for whom Mr. J. J. M'Grath appeared, was charged with being found drunk in Featherston Street, that he did drive, a. motor-car negligently, and further that he dirt drive a motor-car at an excessive speed in Featherston Street. On the application of Mr. M'Grath a remand until Wednesday was granted. . Alexander John Bramley, a.postal officer, was charged with the .theft ot two postal packets, one containing money and the other containing a cheque for £2 55., the property of the Postmaster-General. Bramlev. who will be 19 years of age next birthday, was employed as a lettercarrier, and had been in the postal service for about five years. In February last a letter posted by Miss Elizabeth Clark, of Onepu Eoad, Lyall Bar, to Clarence A. Le Sueur, commission agent, which contained a crossed cheque for £2 55., should have been delivered bv the morning delivery but did not reach its destination until the afternoon, and then in a different envelope and addressed in accused s handwriting. Le Sueur in the meantime had complained to tho postal authorities that his letters were going astray, and on February 22 a trap was set for accused. Lo Sueur addressed an envelope to himself, and in this was enclosed a statement and three £1 *. the numbers of which were checked. This letter should have been delivered to Le Sueur next morning. Uetectiv*Sergeant Scott and a postal ofbcialweic at Le Sueur's house, hut accused failed to deliver the "trap'' letter On the accused returning to tho post othco he was questioned as to the lion-dcliven of the lottor, and produced it from Ins •coat pocket. In a signed statement he admitted that he opened Mis Clark's letter and had rcaddrossed it to Le Sueur. He rlso intended to open the second letter. Accused, pleaded guilty and was com. mitted to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed in £2o an one surety of £25. Mr. T. H. Gill appeared for accused. Fraus Ephraim Hassollof, a Swede, was charged witli failing to make application for registration as required finder the,Eegistration of Aliens Act, 1917 The defendant made a rambling statement and said he had never heard of the law requiring him to register. "I have read newspapers, put thoughts have flown on other lines. Deteotive-Sergeant Cox . stated thai. Ha.ssellof arrived in New Zealand about twelve months ago from San Francisco, and had set up as a professor of hypnotism in Molesworth Street. On Saturday he went to the whaif to a vessel hound for Dunedin, and was ', stopped and questioned. He was convicted and fined 20s. and 7s. costs. William Scanlon, whose arrears in respect to the maintenance of his wife amounted to £5, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, no warrant to issue unless applied for by complainant. George Henry Taylor, who was also in arrears on a maintenance order to the amount of £5 10s., was sentenced to a month's imprisonment, no warrant to issue unless applied for by complainant. ~ Irene Beatrice Beaton, for whom Mr H F. O'Loary appeared, proceeded against her husband for separation, maintenance, and guardianship. Alter hearing considerable evidence a separation order with custody of the child was "ranted the complainant, and defendant was ordered to pay 255. a week maintenance for his wife and child.