MAGISTERIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2241, 19 November 1907, Page 1

MAGISTERIAL.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER IS.

Before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M

Drunkenness. —Thos. John Harris was cliiu.i.ged with being uruiik jn a public place. Accused did nut appear, and Const. Pratt gave -emuonco ol arrest. A fine ol 18s with 2s> costs was imposed, in default 48 hours imprisonment. (Goo. Miller, lor a similar offence, was convicted and lined 10s with 2s costs in default 48 hours imprisonment. Grossly Indecent Act.—John Hiliory - iSiniiot, charged witii tins offence in Off riders Road on 40th instil as convicted, and ho was bound over in a bond of £5 to come up lor sentence when called upon. •Obscene Language. —Lionel Horace File was charged with using obscene language m Gladstone Road on toll November, in the hearing of passers by. Evidence was given that

.accused was under the iunuen.ee of liquor when arrested, and Mr b’tock, wno appeared ior tiro defence, stated •■that accused was only 10 years of age and had never tasted drink in Iris life. The charge, however, was admitted and accused was filled £2 with 2s costs, in default 7 days’ imprisonment. Two days were allowed in Which to pay the fine. : -Brea«li_XLf...the Borough By-laws.— 'Waiter O’Brien pleaded guilty to cycling after dark without a light in tlio Dorough of Gisborne, and was lined 10s with costs 7s.

John McKay oil a similar charge also pleaded guilty and the same .penalty was imposed in his ca.se.

Theft of Coal.—James Stacker Jackson and Geo Dunn were charged with having on Saturday IS til stolen four pieces of coal; the property of the Gisborne Harbor Board. Accused pleaded not guilty and were undefended. iSexgt. Williams conducted the case for the police. (Evidence was given by Donald Alexander McLeod, harbor overseer, and John James Read, laborer, as to having seen both accused carrying coal on their way homo from tho freezing works on Saturday about 1.30 p.m. Constablo Piiatt testified as to the arrest of accused, who had admitted taking the coal, hut said they took it from the middle of the road and not from tho Harbor Board’s stack. Accused, when asked by his Worship if they had anything to say, again admitted the offence, attempting to condone it by stating that- the coal was picked up in broad daylight and no attempt at stealing ’ was made. His Worship, however, was of opinion that the coal had been stolen and convicted both accused, finding them £3 each with costs of court 2s, in deuLult 14 days imprisonment.

Application for Prohibition Order.— Laura Boniface applied for a prohibition. order against her son-in-Ja.w, Thos. Michael Fanning, who was represented by Mr Stock. -Defendant works at the Kaiterat-ahi Hotel .and evidence was given by. three witnesses as to his excessive drinking during thb past 6 months. On the other hand, however, the defendant’s employer, Mr Gaulton, gave him ail -excellent character as an industrious, sober man, and also enumerated his .duties, stating that if lie were a drinking man, ho could not possibly do tho work that lie did at present. One oif the previous witnesses had applied for defendant’s job. Defendant's wife also gave evidence that she was against any order being taken out against him, as she was well 'supported by him and as a general rule received nearly all his money. His Worship stated that there was not sufficient evidence to justify him in making ail order and consequently'he declined to do so.