MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 185, 1 May 1920, Page 12

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

ILLEGAL SALE OF LIQUOR CHINESE MERCHANT FINED A charge of soiling liquor -without _n license was admitted in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday by a Chineso merchant named Y/illiam Joe Gett, for whom Mr. P. J. O'Hegan nppeared. Sub-Insijiector Emerson told tho Court that a constable in plain clothes entered tho defendant's shop at 296 "Wakefield Street, and after purchasing ft cako of soap informed tho defendant that a friend had Riven him to understand he would be able to purchase liquor on tho premises. Gett went to the rear of the promises and produced two flasks of whisky. The constable then paid 10s. for tho -whisky and tho soap. Subsequently several policemen searched the premises, finding thereon -a small quantity of liquor. .Mr. O'Kegan pointed out that the defendant, who was a director of the New Zealand Fruit and Produce Company, had beeu a resident of Wellington for thirty years. He was in the habit of keeping a few flasks of whisky on his promises for friends of his. He never sold liquor to them at a profit, and in the case, of the constable, who was a stranger to him, lie had made only a very little on the transaction. A fine of .riG5 and costs was imposed. A MESSENGER IN TROUBLE. t telegraph messenger named Harold John Kirkland pleaded guilty to the theft- of a watch, the property of .Margaret Constance Harper. The defendant committed the theft at a house to which he was sent with a telegram. The occupants of the house were away at the time. The 'Magistrate placed the accused on probation for a term of sis months. NOT HIS USUAL PRACTICE. "I do not do -this as a practice. Igo to sea for mv living." pleaded a young man named Thomas.St. Clair, in. admitting a .charge of stealing two shirts, valued at £1 4s„ the property of ~ Hallenstein. Eros., Ltd. It appeared that St. Clair,_ who wns slightly under the influence of liquor at tho time, entered the shop to make a purchase, and on leaving, stolo. two shirts, which ho placed under his coat. The theft was observed By a shop A fine of ;E5 was imposed, the alternative being fixed at one month's imprisonment. OTHER POLICE CASES. Daniel Michael Grady pleaded guilty to the theft of a il note, the property of Cecil Thomas Boyd. Ho was fined .£3 awl costs, and ordered to repay the money taken. .Tho alternative was fixed at a. week's incarceration.

Archibald J. Krik was fined .£2 for insobriety, and Thomas Troy was fined .61. , , For breach of a prohibition order, J. F. Wooster was fined with the option of one. month's Fred J. Garlick, another ofFender in this respect, was similarly penalised.

- SEVERAL MINOR MATTERS. ■ Walter Stanton was fined 10s. and costs on a charge of failing to have a number affixed to the motor-car' he was driving.

For failing to attend military parades, P. J. Grant was fined J!3 and costs. _ D. Brewer, IV. ILickling, and W. Prince were each fined ,£2 and costs; E. Powlesland and W. ,T. Ivcss, ,£1 and costs; D. Ryan, B. S. Renfiart, E. H. Cooper, and F. C. Cnmmings, • 10s. • and costs. ' 11. M'D. Munt was convicted and ordered, to pay . 7s. costs. . . .. Stephen B. Mexted was fined J3l and 7s. costs for having exposed sheep infected with lice, at Abraham and Williams's saleyards.at Johnsonville.