MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 161, 3 April 1920, Page 11

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THEFT OF LIQUOK. Before Mr. E. Paje, S.M., at tho Magistrate's Court on Thursday, James Sliivnan admitted, through his counsel, Mr. C. B. O'Domiell, a charge of theft of a caso of liquor valued at .£6 &. 6d„ the properly of Walter John Williams. The circumstances of tho case were that on February 12 a caso of liquor was taken from a city hotel by two young men, one tile present defendant and tho other a man who has already been dealt with. Accord-Jig to Chief-Detective Ward, Shivnan went to Gis'borne after the offence and got into trouble there with a woman, and both were sentenced to a year's reformative treatment. Drink had been the. cause of the trouble. Mr, O'Donnell pleaded for leniency. The Magistrate sentenced the accused to eighteen, months' reformative treatment, this sentence to take the place of th;! present senlence the accused is ierviug. OTIIEE CASES. Charles Henry Lawso'n, who was represented by Mr. IL F. O'Lrory, denied charges of drunkenness and of assaulting Adam John Munro, proprietor of tho New Zealand°r Hotel and Constable Bowling. According to the police, tho do- , fendnnt entered the hotel just before closing hour, when Munro was endeavouring to clear the bar. No more drink could be served, and an argument, arose during which Liwson assaulted Munro, and tore the sleeve of his coat out. Constable Dowling arrived on tho scene, and I.awson assaulted h'm. Tho defendant denied that he was drunk, nnd on arrival nt the police station complained of feeling unwell, and asked for a doctor. Dr. Fyffc examined Liiw.-on, whom he said was under the influence of liquor, and was excited and was crying. His Worship entered a conviction on each count.,. On tho first charge T.awson was convicted and d'scharged, and ordered to pay costs 225. Gd., and for i-ssnulting Munro was fined •£!!, and ,£2 for assaulting the arresting constable. Charles M'Gehan, who was represented by Mr A. B. Sievwright, p'.eadcil not guilty to charges of drunkenness, resisting. Constable M'Call, damaging his uniform to the. extent of 275., and damaging a sold wristlet watch'valued at ,£4 lfls., the property of Constable M'Call. The police called numerous witnesses, who described the struggle the constable had with the defendant, who resisted nrrcst in a violent manner. The defendant struck'the constablo and then the two fell to the ground and a scuft'ie followed. The defendant admitted having had a little liquor, 'but denied being drnnlc. The Magistrate entered a conviction on each charge. For drunkenness M'Gehan was fined .£l. for resisting tho constable lie was fined .£3, and oii tho other . charges he was Vmlerfd to make good the damage done. Defendant was also ordered to pay costs jCI 4s. On a charge of boarding the schooner Alvcna, an overseas ship, without permiss'on under the War Regulations, Ernest Dawes, was fined d£s, in default 14 days' imprisonment. JUDGMENT BY DEFAULT. Mr. P. L. Holliugs, S.M., gave judgment for. plaintiff by default in the following undefended case Public Trustee v.-Thomas Mathieson i'lG 165., costs -El 10s. Gd. ! JUDGMENT SUMMONS. William Barry was ordered to pay to M. M. Whittington the sum of .£<> 18s., in default three days' imprisonment, warrant to be suspended so long as ,tl per month :s paid.