MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 43, 14 November 1919, Page 5

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

CHARGE OP MANSLAUGHTER

SEQBFI ft TAXI-CAB FATALITY iH the Magistrate's Court yesterday Benet Barker Williams, the onver of the taxi-cab which knocked (.own and killed -Mrs. Mabel Black. w;;e o< Detective E. (i. Black, on the uAf-r.'oon of November G. was arraigned oil ft charge of manslaughter. Mr. H. Faze. was on ;he bench. Ohief-Detcotivo Boddam applied for a remand till November 19, which was granted. . On the application of Mr. b. M. Beechev, counsel for tho accused, bail was allowed in the sum of A'2oo, or two sureties of .£IOO each. IMPRISONMENT 4ND REFORMA- , TIVB TREATMENT. James Groves, who is at present undergoing a sentence of three months imprisonment, for similar offences, p oadeo guilty to the following charges -—W votainiiic board and lodgings to the value of £& 17s. from Alice Ellen Woolnam, of the Strand Hotel, by falsely represent imr that'.he was employed by tho liefence Department; (2) obtaining-the sum of £1 from Henry Onslow Bowdcn by means of a falso pretence; and three other counts tho same as charge (Z). The accused stated that ho would be receiving his gratuity shortly, and was prepared to pay back tho money. ■ His Worship remarked that the accused had a "list." and sentenced him to three years' reformative treatment on tho first charge, nnd one months imprisonment with hard labour on each of tho other chargis. ■FINED <Sls FOR THEFT. Andrew Donthart pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of .£lO Is. Id., the property of Thomas Dellaca, storekeeper, Globe Hill. Reefton. ...,,.«, Chief-Detective Boddam stated that the accused was in Government employment, and duriiu' hie holidays wont to Eeefton, where he worked in the Globe mine. His pay amounted to .£l3 35., and ho was handed vouchers for the amount, lie owed Mr. Dellaca an amount of £1 65.. and handed him a voucher for that amount. At the time Mr. Dellaca offfirtil to cash the other vouchers, amountiiur to £W odd, and did so, taking credit for' the £1 fis. tho accused attc-nocd the mines olhce to collect a small sum, and when he received this the accountant said "There is some more money due to you" (meaning the uncashed vouchers). • The accused did not inform the accountant that he had already received the cash for the vouchers and accepted the amount. J-otmng was previously known against the acnusotf. who was apparently ft man ot means.. , , ~ Mr. W. Perry, who appeared for the accused, asked for leniency, and stated that the crime was duo to his clients lack of moral courage. His Worship fined accused £15, and ordered him to refund the amount stolen.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. A plea of guilty wait tendered by Aloxanaer Burnett when charged with hnvinc attempted to commit suicido on November o. riub-InsDector Emerson etated that the accused had had sonic family trouble, which had caused him considerable worry. He then took to liquor, aim subseaucntlv endeavoured to commit suicide bv cut ting his throat. _ - His Worship entered ft conviction, antf ordered the accused to come up for sentence when called upon within twelve months. Ho was also ordered to take out. a nrohibiton order against himself and to Diiv the costs incurred. OTHER CASES. Two waterside workers named John Khand and Thomas Kerwin were remaimed on their own application till November 19 on eepnrato charges of theft of various foodstuffs, valued at Bs. and 14s. Gd. respectively, the property of the U-iion Steiim Ship Company. Bail'was allowed in each case in tho sum of £U>A Bailor named James Sydney Rogan admitted charges of disorderly behaviour whilst orunk, and of breaking a window, valued at 12s. Co\, tho property of tho Hai'bour Board, The defendant was arrested on the Queen's Wharf, and was taken to the wharf police station, where during a struggle to get away he broke the window. On the first charge hit was fined .£l, and on t>.c second munt was fined .£2, antf ordered to make srood the damage done. The dofault was fixed nt fourteen days in gaol. Georire Henry Evans appeared for sentence on a charge of vagrancy. Sub-In-SDector Emerson related that the Olnro Home officials were prepared to toko defendant in. and His Worship dcckied to withdraw thfl charge on condition that tho defendant went to the home, llus thft defendant, consented to do, and wan accordingly discharged. Norah Nugent, n very old offender, was charged, with drunkenness and a branch of her prohibition order. After listening to an explanation by tho accused. Jfis Worship decided to take a lenient view of the matter, and on the charge of drunkenness imposeo: a fine of Ms., and for a breach of her prohibition order fined defendant .£2. For insobriety Lillian Playter was made the subject of a prohibition order, and discharged. Pour first offenders' wore fined 10s. each, and two others Ss. each.

JUVENILE COURT. Before Mr. E. Page, S.M., at the Juvenilo Court ■ yesterday, a boy aged nine veare admitted the theft of a bicycle valued at miOs., tho property of Noel Scarlet Slvfield. Acting-Senior Sergeant Wad» stated that the boy, on being admonished bv his mother for Bomo offence, apparently decided to run away. Ho stole- a sum of J!IG belonging to her, and then cleared off and subsequently stole tJio bicvcle. Hie Worship accided to •adioiirn the cose for twelve mouths. civilWness In a claim for possession of a tenement and rent .£lB, John Joseph Kearney, Hanah Kearney and Mary Catherine Dowden (plaintiffs) were given' judgment for thq rent, and coats £Z 10s., asainst Patrick I'innigan and Ethel Mary Finniiran ,T. G. Fairchild sued G. Tyrrell, claimiiiK .£ls, professional fcc3. Judgment was Riven for plaintiff for £U 55., and costs £2 Gs. •JUI'GIIENT BY DEFAULT. Mr. W. G. Eiddell, S.M., gave judffment for plaintiff by aefault in the fo - lowinc undefended oases ■,-Veitch and Allan v. A. J. Sohiovney, £6 lls. Bd., costs £1 3s. fel.; Public Trustee v. Ecsson 0. Guthrio. M 55., costs (is.: W. Smallbono v. .f. \. Connor. £2 15s. Id., costs 125.; Lnzi.rus Wolfe BalK-ind v. Mio'iad Doxuth, £2% costs .£2 18s.; Levin and Co., Ltd., v. William Wright, .£75 18s. Bd, costs .-C4 15s. fid.: Comercial Agency, Ltd. (assignees), iind I- , . Cooper, Ltd. (assignors), v. A. Heillv. .CI 55., costs 55.; Veitch ana Allan v. J. S. Jl'Donald, £6 lls. Cd., oosfa .£1 3s. Gd.; Marx Greenfield■ v. Llissabeth Kidman, costs only 155.; State A<l- - Superintendent v. Annie Iheodore Stewart £6. costs Bs.; Commercial Awnoy, Ltd. (assignees), and J Myo» ami Co. v. J. Wlnttaker, J3O Ds. lid., costs £2 lfc.i City Conxmition v. G. Haiiics. £i Ws. Gel., costs lte.; Tlrivera' Union v. John J. S. Priest, X 2 175.. costs Bs.; samo v. Frederick hmith, £1 , r n. 90'.. costs 55.; B.imc v. Frederick Benrd. costs 55.; Otto P. Siidolr, y. The 80-I'eep Picture Enterprises, Xli 3s. 7d.. costs £\ 103. 6d.