MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 176, 15 April 1918, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

At the Magistrate's Court on Saturday Mr. S. l!. H'Carthy, S.M., unaided and dealt with tho police cases. For insobriety two first offenders were each fined Kis., in default 24 hours' imprisonment, and another, a woman, was fined, 205., with the alternative of 18 hours' imprisonment. A seaman named Matthew Kenny, convicted oi unlawfully deserting from mi oversea vessel, was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment, and ordered to be handed over to the captain of the- vessel on demand.

A Norwegian named Martin Gjerstad, a flaxmiller and'an alien, pleaded guilty to changing: hia place of abode from Shannon to Wellington without notifying the legislation Officer, and was fined 405., with the option of 14 days' imprisonment. A young man named Charles Shaw was charged that on April 3 at. Tawa Flat lie-stole a registered letter containing M Bs,, tho property of Oscar Groen. On the application of Chief Detectivo Boddam, the accused was remanded till Wednesday.

K grey-headed man named Oesare Fiero'tli, 77 yoars of age, was charged with being an incorrigible rogue. Inspector Marsaok said that it was difficult to know w.hat to do with the old man. Ho hod been placed in several homes, but would not stay there. Ho was .'sentonced' on October 1 to six months' imprisonment, and camo out of gaol about February last. Since then he had been straying ahout the streets and sleeping in doorways. Ho was found early on Saturday morning crouched Up in a doorway in a frightful condition. The Magistrate, addressing the defendant, said: "Yon won't look after vourself, ..-jo, the Government must do that for you." The old man was «en-(eni-ecl tn"tv:o years' imprisonment. Inspector Marsnck remarked that it was the only way to savo the old man's lile.