MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 20, 18 October 1919, Page 11

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

A LICENSING CASE INFORMATION DISMISSED Mr. E. Page, S.M., presided over n sitting of llie Magistrate's Court'yesterday, nnil dealt with the police cases. Fred Hilton, licensee of the National Ilolel, was charged with supplying litiuor to a drunken person, and with Permitting drunkenness on licensed premises. Mr. I'. W. Jackson appeared for the accused. Constablo Williams stated that ho saw a drunken 'fire-man enter the National Hotel, and he wailed several minutes, expecting the man to be put out. Witness informed Sergeant Hdwards. On returning to the hotel, the drunken fireman was found with two others, ono of whom, named Willis, was also drunk. Willis had a mug of beer in his hand, and when questioned said he had paid for it. The defendant said he had previously put the men out of another bar, and that they had come into the hotel again. Sergeant he would put the men out if defendant did uot do so, and eventually the defendant did turn the men out, and one of them was arrested. The defendant was so slow in acting and clumsv in his spt-eeh that witness thought, he was the worse for liquor. Sergeant Edwards gave corroborative evidence.

The defendant said ho saw the three firemen enter tho hotel in a drunken condition and put them out. Some time later the men returned: to the hotel, and were immediately ordered out. It was while he was putting the men- out that the police entered the premises. Evidence was given in support of defendant's statements, and the Magistrate dismissed both informations.

CASIO NOT STRONG ENOUGH.

A second-hand dealer named Edward Pointoii was charged with obtaining from Lam and Co., Ltd., on July 3, the sum of 2,-,. 8d„ on July 18 20s. 8d„ and on Angu.st. 7 18s, 2d., by means of false pretences. The accused was formerly em-, ployed by Laery and Co., and it was his duty to count the sacks that wero returned by customers and others, and issue warrants for payment at the office. Tho charge against him ms that he had given dockets for payment in respect to n larger number of sacks than were actually returned. It was not shown that there was any collusion between an employee of the firm and the accused. The Magistrate considered that the evidence was not strong enough to warrant a conviction, and dismissed the information without calling for a defence. Mr. Douglas Jackson appeared for Pointon.

A CHARGE DISMISSED.

Patrick Joseph M'Grath was charged with tho theft of a wristlet watch and money of a total vnluo of b£3, tho property of Jean C'ronin.

Complainant and defendant were both employed at Palmer's restaurant, and the prosecution alleged that the defendant stole tho property from the complainant's 'room. The accused occupied the room next to that occupied by Miss Cronin. After the police had commenced investigations the accused went to Miss Cronin and produced the watch and asked if it wero hers, stating that ue had found it under the mattress in his bedroom.

On behalf of the defendant Mr. C. A. L. Ireadwell said that the case was one of a thief having thrown suspicion on an innocent person.

His Worship agreed that, tho defendant s behaviour had been consistent with that of an honest man, and lie therefore dismissed the information.

military defaulters. Military defaulters were dealt with as follow:-John Augustus A'Court, fined jOs, and 7s. costs; Victor Emanuel Grant Lwrnard Clarence Spencer, and John At Ardle Sutherland were each fined JJ2 and costs; George, Twee-die, fined ,£4 and <3 costs.

OTIIER CASES. A charge of false pretences was atlmittcd by a young mail named George Itobcrt Hatch. Ihe police evidence was to the oflect that the accused, who had recently joined the Waiwera, had obtained a suit ot clothes and two pairs of trousore. of a total value of JfcD, by false pietences. The atcused was previouslv connected with the steamer To Anau, j 11 "' whilst at Lyttelton ho was asked bv Charles Carringtou, an officer of the ship, to take the clothing to a cleaner's, the accused later collected the clothing and kept it. A fine of £2 was imposed. A remand till Monday was granted in the ca.se in which Peter James Kiddell was charged with the theft of a forge and anvil, valued at £3, tho property of Andrew John Whiteside. Counsel for the accused (Mr. A. B. Sievwright) saul that Whiteside had made a wrongful lisp of criminal procedure to recover a civil debt. Actually, the anvil and lorge had been purchased by liiddell, and a sum of money forwarded to complainant. He asked for bail, which was granted in the 6uiii of ,£lO. illiaui Wilson w*w romandcHi' to appear at Invercargill on Monday on a charge of failing to provide his wife, Anne Emily ■ Wilson, with adequate maintenance James M'Guira pleaded guilty to charges of drunkenness and of disobeying the lawful commands of the master of the steamer Wangaratta. Evidence was given to the effect that on two occasions during tho voyage from Auckiatul to Wellington the accused refused to turn to" when ordered to do. 60. A sentence of seven days' imprisonment Was imposed oil the charge of .disobedience of orders, and for drunkenness the aroused was fined ss. Two first offenders for drunkenness were fined 10s. each. lor failing to have affixed to his motorcar a proper registration number, Frank Barton was fined 10s. and 7s. costs,