MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 74, 21 December 1918, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THEFT OF BUTTONS

ANOTHER WATERSIDE WORKER SENT TO PRISON

A charge of theft of a quantity of but, tons, valued at 125., was preferred against a waterside worker named J. bunasick, before Mr. I'. V. Fruiter,*).!!., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The case for the prosecution was explained by Inspector Marsack, who stated that the accused was working on the tonic, which brought out a consignment )f buttons for the firm of Brmlsford and 'Jo. These buttons were landed in ■« Inmaged condition, and the full consignmt was not received by! the him. llie •ecuscd's house was subsequently searcnd, and a quantity of buttons on cards nd in small boxes vere found conceald under the capper. Sergeant Motheson told how ho scarehd the accused's house, and found the rations under the copper. Asked how ie acounted for the presence of the butons, accused said Ihat he understood lis aunt had given them to his wife. Nonstable Grant gave corroborative evilenee, and said ho knew' the accused, ind had seen him working on the lonic. On behalf of the accused, Mr. H. 1. TLeary enid that the accused did not ake the buttons from the lonic, but fhilst clearing up "rubbish on' the liinutnkn he found the buttons, and :6ok them home to hie wife. The accused went into the witness-box md gave evidences on these lines, stating hat he was unloading tombstones from he Kimutaka, and upon clearing up the. übbish found the buttons lying about n the ship's Md. He considered they rare "rubbish," and did not think he rns committing any wrongful act by ;aking them home. Two other wateriider workers gave evidence a? to the iresence of buttons on the Eimutaka. His Worship said that he could not nnke any distinction between this and irevious cases! ' He was satisfied' that ho theft had been committed, and senenced accused to fourteen days' imprismmeni

BREACHES OF LICENSING-ACT. . Breaches of the Licensing Act perpetrated at the Caledonian Hotel were preferred against the licensee, Mrs. E Green, a barmaid named' May Anderson, and a man named C. Harbage. Harbage, who was represented by Mr. H. F. O'Leary, pleaded guilty to two charges of being found on promises after hours, and was fined £1, with 'costs 7s. on each charge. Mr. .T. J. M'Graft, who appeared for Mrs. Green, stated that she had since been deprived of. her license by the Licensing Committee, and his submitted that the. charge of exposing. liquor for sale should be dealt with leniently. She would not get-another license, and he. considered this a sufficient punishment. Hig Worship remarked upon the frequency of charges :'or breaches of the licensing Act against this particular hotel, and said it was only due to laxity on the part of thci licensee. However, a-9 the defendant had lost her license, he would only impose a fine of £5, with costs 7s. In the case of tha barmaid, who was charged with serving liquor after hours, Mr. O'Leary stated that the defendant liad served drinks in the hotel after hours, thinking that she ■ was serving boarders. His Worship inflicted a fine of £2, with costs Bs. P. G. Oughton wm' ordered to pay 76. costs tor having been found on licensed premises after tin ordinary hour cf closing. "MAKE AN EXAMPLE." "I ask you to makoan example of this man," said Inspector Marsack, in the case of Ernest' Matthows, who was charged with having used obscene language. The inspector stated that there were several previous convictions against the accused for eiraila; offences. , Matthews said ho lad work' to go to in the. country. "You may have work to do, but, it will be work that wa will provide,- iv marked Mr. Fivizer. "You will be sentenced to Miree months' imprisonment."

• On a further clnrge of drunkenness accused was convicted and 'discharged. For using obscene language Clara Newell was fiued £2, with 7s. costs. It was explained that defendant had made us;) of the words during the heat of a family quarrel.

MISCELLANEOUS CASES. For insobriety, Mary Burgoyno was ordered to pay 17s. Gd. medical expenses, and was made the subject of a prohibition order. Margaret Williams was oharged with drunkenness, and with the bleach of a prohibition order. She was ordered to como up for sentence when called,-upon on condition that she remains in the Mount Magdala Home for a period of twelve months. Mary. Patterson was fined £1, with 7s. costs, for a breach of her prohibition ordor. •

On an information of having driven a vehicle without proper light being attached, John Collins was fined 55., with 6s. 3d. cost's.

. Mrs. A. E. Littler was fined £X with costs £1 18s. 6d., for selling milk deficient in milk fat.

Mr. H. F. O'Leary, who appeared for .defendant, stated that the latter sold the niilk iw it was delivered to her. Defendant took over a business in Lamb--ton Quay on October 7, prior to which date she had had) no experience of the milk business.

His Worehip said the case was one of want of experience. There was no suggestion that defendant had watered the milk. Carelessness in not agitating the milk sufficiently, so as to distribute the fate, was responsible for the trouble, Three young men were dealt with as follows, for failing to attend military parades:—W. Hick'iug, fined £b, costs 75., in default twenty-eight days' military detention; W. Prince, fined 55., costs 75., in. default forty-eight hours' military detention; A. Syntons, fined £1, costs 7.3., in default seven days' military detention. . f