COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1927, Page 6

COURT NEWS

MAN FROM HOLLYWOOD. And His Cheque Frauds. GIVEN MOKE TIME TO IiAISE MONEY. AUCKL.u’iD, February 17. After pleading guilty last week t<> three charges of obtaining totalling £3O by means of valuless cheque.' John Francis Holcombe, aged 26 years, who stated he had been in the motion picture business in Hollywood before coming to New Zealand, appeared foi sentence in the Police Court to-day. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to comply with the terms ot his release on probation. Chief Detective Cummings said that since his previous appearance in Court accused had sent a cablegram to a friend in America, in an attempt to obtain money to make restitution, but so far no reply has been received. The accused asked for a further remand stating that the person to whom the cablegram was sent might have absent from home at the time of its arrival. A reply should be, received within a few days’ time. The Assistant Probation Officer said the accused was admitted to probation for one year at Wellington on Nov. 25 on two charges with false pretences He had gone to Gisborne and tneir incurred debts to the extent of £39.. apart from money which was due to numbers of people who did not wish to lay complaints. Accused had left Gisborne without notifying the Probation Officer. The Magistrate granted a remand until Monday. NOT A FACTORY. PORTABLE STONE CRUSHER. FEILDING, February 17. A judgment of interest to local bodies was given by Mr. Stout S.M.. today. The Inspector of Factories sued Orawa County Council for using a place on a river bank for the stone crushing plant which was not. registered as a Ifaetory. The Magistrate found that, as the plant was portable, and was worked by a traction engine, both the plant am) the engine being on wheels, it could not come within) the definition o. a factory. The information was dismissed. RULES OF THE ROAD. MOTORIST WINS APPEAL. NEW PLYMOUTH, February 17. A neat point concerning the rules of Hie road was raised in the Supreme Court to-day in an appeal by John 1 ary against the decision of Mr- date, S.M., at Eltham Court. A collision occurred, and both drivers were held as' negligent. Fury appealed to-day and Mr Justice Ostler reversed the decision of the lower V' urt > ’dlowimr the app .Ont ten guineas costs. The chief reason for the non suit of Fary was that he had crossed the ‘ ‘ intersection ” at a greater [speed than 12 miles contrary to Hu I by-laws. After consulting the dictionary, the Judge decided that as the road [joined another without crossing, it jdid not constitute an intersection, and that Fary’s speed of 25 miles was not tin reason able if l‘o took all piie.m .i-.i.' MOTORIST iINHD. i INVERCARGILL, February 17. Daniel Michael English, before Mr. Cruickshank, S.M., on charges of being drunk while in charge of a ear, and driving a ear without having a license was fined ££3 on the first charge and prohibited from holding a license for two years on the second. V7OMAN AND HER PRISON FRIEND. DUNEDIN, February 17. “It is not often anyone is charged with being found unlawfully by night in a police station,” commented Mi Fondle, S.M., when Julia Hart Eckhoff was charged with being a rogue and vagabond, being arrested at 8 p.m. in the prison yard. The police stated that the woman had a half-caste friend, Quan, who war being held until a probationary license was cancelled. Quan has a cell in the third storey, and last evening, was seen to throw a cigarette package containing a letter to the woman in the yard. A constable reached out, and caught the accused. The Senior-Sergeant stated the woman’s husband had said that unless something was done with Quan, he would kill him. Accused was convicted and discharged. MOTORIST COMMITTED. DUNEDIN, February 17. At the Police Court, arising out of a motor ear accident, wherely Neil Gould, pedestrian, lost hts life, Ashley George Faigan, driver ot the ’car, was charged with manslaughter, and committed for trial.