MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 33, 2 November 1918, Page 12

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

POLICE AND BY-LAW CASES. ■ ■ Mr. P. V. Frazer, S.M., presided at the ■Magistrate's Court yesterday, and dealt with the police,i civil, and by-law cases. For. insobriety three first offenders who failed.to appear were each fined 10s., tho ampuni of their bail. Joseph Johnson, against whom there was one previous 'conviction, was fined 10s., in default forty-eight hours' imprisonment. Herbert Stevens, who was remanded for a week for medical treatment, following on his arrest on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, and was placed in charge of the Salvation Army. William Aitken and Arthur Hughes Were;charged with threatening behaviour in Taranaki Street whereby a breach of the peace was committed. Hughes did not appear.'' Aitken returned from the , front on the day of the offence. v He was convicted and discharged. Hughes Vas fined 10s. and'costs 19s.

George Bowden, for committing a breach of hi 3 prohibition order, was fiped i! 2 and.costs, in..default sevenvdays' imprisonment." His.'etc'use for visiting tho hotel-was'that he liad been suddenly attacked by influenza. ' The' Magistrate remarked..that it was not a','bad .variation of-the usual .'excuse.'of a. "stomaohache.', .', '.'■., ■ • ,' ..' : i '''_■.;,;'

Henry Monkton and Arthur Waugh were convicted of using obacenu language in a.'hp'use : in Adelaide, Ebad, and-weve each sentenced fo a month's imprisonment with hard labour. :• According to tho evidence of the police, the loiiKungo was in the form of an' improvised ribald song,' which was of a particularly objectionable character, and was sung for about two hours before the men were arrested.

For failing to attend drill G. G. Aitken was ordered (o pay 7s. cosis, and K. M'Conchie was similarly penalised. Henry Hanson was flned SX and costs, in default .'seven days' military detention, and Arthur Lean and W. W. Perrett were each fined and costs, with tho alternative of twenty-ono doys' military detention. ,

Mr. F. Wilson (Inspector of Factories) proceeded against Wong Sho and' Co., of Cuba Street, to recover a penalty for failing to close their ehop on tho day of 'the Wellington Central election. 'The inspector said'that it'wns a clenr : caseof evasion of the law. Two adjacent shops were under tho same management; in flne.frui.t alone was "ostensibly sold, ! and in the ..smaller shop tobacco could be purchased. The larger shop was hot required to. be closed on half-days, but tho smaller'shop'was closed as required. At 1.15 p.m. on the day in • question . a young man entered tho shop which was alleged'to be that of a fruiterer's, and purchased a packet 06 cigarettes from iitock kept in a drawer,under the oounter. The defendant's excuse was that he did not understand the law. The Magistrate considered this explanation rather thin, and convicted and fined tho accused £3 and ss. costs. ■

Mrs. Hay vice, clothier and outfitter, Courtenay Place, was similarly charged. She stated that ehe did not understand the law. She closed her shop at 1 p.m. and reopened it after 7 p.m. She was convicted and ordered to pay 7s. court costs.. '