MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 127, 22 February 1919, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

"WHISKY AND QUININE" A CURE FOR THE AGUE When Charles Arthur Glazebrook was charged before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday with drunkenness, he informed the Bench that he had been suffering from ague, and had taken whisky and quinine to obtain relief. "Il'm!" said Mr. Frazer, "I think you told me that before. I then told you to take the quinine without- the whisky next time you got the ague." . "That's' right," said acoused. Glazebrook was ordered to pay 17s. 6d. medical expenses, in default eeventytwo hours. THEFT OF KNIVES. The theft of six knives and three forks, valued at 10s., the property of the Marble Bar Co., Ltd., was admitted by Percy Hflnimond, who said he was a married man with two children. Defendant said ; he took the articles on the spur of the moment on February 3, but did not know what he intended to .do with them. He asked for some consideration, stating that his wife had been ill since the epidemic, and his children were going to school. In reply to a question, Hammond said it was a fact that a little over twelve months ago he had been convicted ot stealing a barrel of beer from Staples s Brewery. "It was New Year's Eve,' he said, "and I had had some drink. It was only a little one." "Oh, yes, only a little one—one that you could carry "under vyour arm ?" smilingly suggested. His Worship. "Yes, that was so," replied defendant. "I suppose, you put it under your waistcoat instead," remarked Mr. Frazer, amidst laughter. His Worship . said he would give defendant another chance. Hammond was ordered to.'corns lip for sentence ; when called upon within a period of two years, during which time lie is to observe strictly the conditions which may be imposed upon him by the probation officer. Mr. Frazer said that defendant would be practically under probation. TROUBLE ON A SHIP. '.. Leonard Rudiger, a seaman on the American vessel Tonawanda, was charged with having assaulted the ship's cook, Robert Frasnr, and with having been disorderly while drunk. The trouble took place on i.i;e evening of February 19, ami the suumwns against Rudiger was taken out by the captain of the ship. "Jlow do you plead?" asked the clerk to Piudij-e.", after the charges had been read-over fo him. "Not guilty!" replied defendant with ,an timphatic bang of his clenched fist upon tho deck, The ships captain said that defendant came on board between 6.30 and 7 p.m., and on his getting into an altercation with the mate, witness ordered him for'ard. "I'll go if you can put me there," replied Rudiger. "In my opinion, he was drunk," said the captain. Fraser, who is o coloured man, was next called, and stated that defendant 'had struck him over the eye after some words had passed regarding the question of the supply of supper. "If I hit him," said Rudiger, "there ought to be a mark or soar of some ■kind. You cannot seo anything." "Any man who is not blind can see that there is a mark," declared the cook. Other witnesses were called, but His Worship considered that the evidence was not sufficient upon which to enter a conviction upon the information of assault, consequently that charge would he dismissed. "I must confess that. I cannot see any mark myself," said ■ Mr. Frazer, 'Trot the cook says there , is. one."- ■

Respecting tho second cliargs, His Worship turned up the file of statutes in front of him on the Bench, and said that lie could not find anything in tho Ship, ping and Seamen's Act dealing withdrunkenness and ■ disorderly behaviour ■amongst the crew of;a ship; although there was a section.relating to 6uch an oit'ence: oil the part of passengers.. „Tho police could make/a charge if sailors- or anybody else were drunk and disorderly in a public place, but. so far as ships were concerned there was no provision for instituting a prosecution except in regard to passengers. The present action was a private one. Defendant, however, had ■ evidently disobeyed tho captain's order to go forward, and had thereby committed an offence. ■ At Mr. Frazer's suggestion the second charge was replaced by ono of wilful disobedience of tho captain's orders. Accused pleaded guilty, aad was fined XI, with 7s. costs.. AGED MAN-WANTS WORK. Ini the case of an: aged man named Richard Dunn, who appeared on remand charged with being a rogue and vagabond having been found by night on enclosed premises, Mr, I'razer asked the defendant if lie' would be prepared to return to the Oliiro Home. Defendant said he would try to find employment if . possible. "At your time of life you had better take a. rest and not worry about employment," observed Mr. I'razer. "You had better stay in the home over the winter at any; rate." Dunn was convicted and ordered to come.; up for sentence when called upon within twelve months, on condition that lie remains in the Oliiro Home. "A TRIP TO THE ISLAND." ■ , William Woods admitted that he had ( been found in a drunken condition in a 'public street, and that he had entered an hotel to obtain liquor when prohibited. . ' Inspector Marsack said the accused had a rather long "list," thero being numerous convictions for breaches of his prohibition order. "I think I promised you a trip: to the 'Island' last- week," remarked Mr. Frazer; "isn't that so?" ■ "Yes, sir ( " answered accused. " "AH right, I am afraid that it is the best thing for you," observed the Magistrate. "It is only a week, sines I gave you a final warning." Woods was committed to Roto Roa for a period of twelve months.OTHER CASES. . A Maori named George Manihera was remanded to appear at Martinboro.ugh on February .'5 on a charge of having forged and uttered a cheque for ,£8 9s. For breaking the conditions of his rnohibition order John James Priest Vas fined . 10s., with 7s. costs, in default 72 hours.. . : On an information of having failed to support, his wife, George Hughes was remanded to appear at Auckland on February 28. . James Alan Sneddon was fined ,£l, «ith 7s. costs, for having failed to attend a .Garrison Artillery parade. William John Cronibio Maddever was fined 10s. and costs on a charge of having recklessly driven a motor-car.