MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 56, 30 November 1918, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Mir. F. V,' Frazer,- S.M., presided at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. A first-offender for insobriety who had been locked up for fweiity-foiw hours was convicted and discharged. For having., committed n breach of his prohibition order Norman. Bennett was lined Xi and 7s. costs, in default a. week's imprisonment. A. porter named Roy William Spencer, formerly employed at Barrett's Hotel, pleaded guilty to tho charge of supplying liquor to a man named Frank A. Diiinie in the hotel nt 10.55 p.m. on Sunday, October 20.. He explained that be. had reason 'to believe, that Dinuie and-the othea , two men in the , , room were boarden;. The Magistrate accepted the ■ explanation niid.said that probably Spencer had made, an honest mistake.- Spencer was fined .fl-hnd 75. % costs; in default seventy-two hours' imprisonment'. Djnnie was fined £2, with - 75.. costs, with the option of a week's ' imprisonment, ' and David-Diilton,- licensee of the hotel, was ' merely,, convicted and.o.rdored.to .pay 7s. costs on'a charge of selling liquor after hours, the Magistrate remarking 'that , Iho breach was merely a technical one. Tho evidence of the police was to the effect that the hotel was thoroughly well 'conducted.

Esther Collier was convicted and .ordered to-come up for sentence, when railed upoii oil i\ charge of using obscene language, and., a prohi'hition order was issued against her. The woman hncl been abusing her husband in forcible language, which was overheard in the street.

A fine of £i, with.costs, totalling 80s., was imposed on Norman Bennett for having travelled on a ferry steamer from Wellington fo Rona Bay without paying his fare. The captain of the vessel stated' that the man was refused ad.mission nt the gangway, but got on board by elimbin? ovot the side of the vessel. He refused to pay his fare when l\ona Bay was, reached.* Joseph Leatbani was charged with being found in a state of helnless drunkenness on the Hutt Road r,bout a. fortnight ago. His explanation was to the effect that an unfortunate combination of influenza and financial worry had caused him to take more..liquor than was good for him. As he had been in custody fnr a fortnight undfirgoing medical h'eatnient he was convicted and ordered to pay JS3 las., the amount of the medical and other expense's..