POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 12

POLICE COURT

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) RELEASED FROM PRISON. Frederick Ernest Gallagher made application for release from prison, he having been sentenced to 21 days’ imprisonment for failure to comply with a maintenance order in respect of his wife. Mr J. G. Warrington, who appeared in support of the application, said that Gallagher had been committed to gaol on a warrant, the suspension of which had been ordered so long as £2 a week was, paid. Applicant, who had since been unemployed, had not known of the existence of this warrant until he was arrested, and counsel suggested that it had been a most unjust proceeding and that the magistrate at Wellington could not have been apprised of the facts by the maintenance officer there, otherwise a warrant would never have been issued, particularly as the applicant had paid the full amount of the arrears within a few days of the order being made. The Magistrate made an order for the release of the applicant from prison on the payment of one shilling, INTOXICATED IN CHARGE. Pleading guilty to a charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a motor car, Sydney Horace'Poole was fined £25, with medical expenses (£1 Is). His license was suspended and he was prohibited from driving for a period ©f 12 months, with leave to apply for reinstatement after the expiration of six months. Senior-sergeant Classen said that defendant was observed to alight from his car in Lower Rattray street, and on examination was found to be substantially intoxicated. At defendant’* request another doctor had been called in,'only to confirm Dr Harty’s diagnosis. Mr J. G. Warrington said . that,, defendant was a travelling salesman in a responsible position, and had never been in trouble before. There was no doubt, said counsel, that defendant had been under the influence of liquor. His worship said he would take into consideration defendant’s previous good record. This class of offence, however, did not appear .to be decreasing. • The magistrate then inflicted the penalty mentioned. . PROBATION GRANTED, A .young man, aged 23 years, pleaded guilty tq the theft of a wrist watch, valued at £6 10s. Detective-sergeapt Taylor said that the accused had stolen the watch while working in a house belonging to the complainant’s mother. He had first denied the theft, but afterwards had brought the watch to his employer and stated his desire to return it to the owner. The attachment had been broken, and repairs would cost 30s. The probation officer (Mr Mosley) reported that the accused was said by his employer to be a good worker, and that he was willing to keep_ him on. The Magistrate admitted accused to probation for a period of 12 months, a condition being that he replaced the damaged portion of the watch. In al! the circumstances, said His Worship, publication of accused’s name would be prohibited. ADJOURNED CHARGE. The case of Charles Robert Sims, against whom a charge of mischievously damaging a motor car and tyres had been brought 12 months ago and adjourned on certain conditions, was before, the court and defendant was convicted and discharged. CHIMNEY FIRE. For permitting a chimney to catch fire Kathleen Alice Hill was convicted and ordered to pay costs (3s). DRUNKENNESS. Pleading not guilty, to a charge of drunkenness, Sarah Elizabeth Smith explained that she had been given two drinks after meeting with an accident and was feeling weak.—The police evidence was that there were indications of an accident, but not of a recent one. Defendant’s actions clearly showed a state of drunkenness. She had been in hospital since her arrest. —Defendant was convicted and discharged, the - Magistrate remarking that there was still a charge of breach of probation upon which she could be charged if it was considered advisable. UNLIGHTED BICYCLES, Alan Aikenhead, Percy Lockart, Alex. Masson, and Hugh M’Cutcheon, for riding unlighted bicycles, were each fined ss. with costs. MOTORING OFFENCES. Ralph Eason Nauraan, for failing to keep to the left of the roadway, was fined 10s, with costs.—Similarly charged, William Cameron was fined 2s 6d, without costs. Peter Leo Dobson, an unlicensed motor driver whose case had been adjourned from. June 30, was convicted and discharged. Henry Hames, the driver of an unlighted motor truck, was fined ss, with costs. For parking motor cars for more than 15 minutes in areas where that period is the limit, Gordon Levitt Henderson, Thomas Michael Here, and Robert Inglis were each fined ss, with costs. ~ . . For exceeding the speed limit or SO miles an hour in a prohibited area, George Graham, a motorist, was fined 40s, with costs.— Similarly charged. Ross Malcolm Neilsom was fined 20s. with costs. - REMANDS GRANTED. "John Cody Harrison, charged with having been intoxicated in charge of a motor car and with a breach of his prohibition order, was remanded till Monday. , , _ . William Gilford Alexander Grainger, charged with the theft of a bicycle, was demanded for a week, bail being fixed at £25, with one surety of £25. Cuthbert Earl M'Keagg, who appeared on a charge of having stolen a fug valued at £2, the property of some person unknown, was further remanded for a week, bail being fixed as previously.