COURT NEWS.

Grey River Argus, 2 March 1927, Page 3

COURT NEWS.

SERIES THEFT CHARGES. AUCKLAND, March 1. Frederick Roy Humphry, (28), chargwith stealing £5/18/10 from A. B. Wright and Hon. Ltd., was remanded, the Chief Detective stating that the total defalcations were in the vicinity of £5OO. NOT USED TO IT! WELLINGTON March 1. Ernest Henry Williams, mechanic, 35, was fined to-day by Mr Page, S.M. £l5, for being drunk whilst in charge of a car in Main Street. His license was suspended for six month. I he excuse made by counsel, on behalf of accused was that he gave a lift to a man who offered, in gratitude, a pull from a bottle of whisky. As accused came from a no license district, this affected him more than another man. THE LOCKET CASE. MACARTNEY PAYS UP. DUNEDIN, March L The final act in the Macartney case was staged at the Supreme Court this morning, when it was announced that Constable Macartney, of Morningtou had paid to William Locket, the amount of damages awarded by the Jury for wrongful arrest, £175. To enforce payment, Locket’s counsel had had filed a petition asking that Macartney be adjudicated bankrupt. This was withdrawn on the payment, ment. ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE. BROTHERS CITARG ED. CHRISTCHURCH, March 1. Robbery with violence was the charge to which Richard Carney (27), and Andrew Carney (25) pleaded “not guilty” in the Magistrate’s Court to-day before Mr La wry, S.M. Tt was alleged that on February 21, the accused robbed Stanley Gordon Gow Grant of a diamond ring valued at £2O and five shillings in money, and at the sametime used personal violence. Grant’.: evi lence was that he was employed by the Colonial Sugar Coy. in Fiji, and was now on holiday in New Zealand. He had some drink on February 21. He met the two accused and had some more with them. After leaving the hotel, they went to the East Belt, where witness alleged Richard Carr.ey hit him on the chin with his fist, knocking him down. Witness rose and was knocked down again, and rose again, and was again knocked down, when witness, having had enough, did not rise, pretending unconsciousness. While he lay on the ground, Carney went through witness’s pockets, taking th? ring. Richard Carney was committed fur trial, bail being fixed at £250 with a surety of £250. The charge against Andrew Carney was dismissed. OPIUM CHARGE FAILS. NAPIER, March 1. Mr R. W. Dyer, S.M., gave his decision to-day in a case heard on February 14th, in which Loo Kee was charged with being found in possession of opium suitable for smoking. The opium concerned was found in a parcel left at a service station for delivery at Wairoa. The Magistrate found defendant was not actually in possession of opium, and he therefore dismissed the MEN CAUGHT STEALING MEAT. NAPIER, March 1. When on duty in Hastings in the early hours of this morning, Constable Horne was attracted by noises from a butcher’s shop, and. on entering from the back, he surprised two men in the act of parcelling up meat. Andrew Thow was secured by the policeman, but the other man escaped. Thow appeared at the Court to-day, and was remanded. UNLICENSED RADIO. PUBLIC THAMES, February 24. R. L. Harvey, licensee ot the Short land Hotel, was convicted, with costs, on a charge by the Telegraph Department of constructing or establishing a plant capable, of receiving wireless messages without first obtaining a license. The .evidence showed that fi free permit could be given for six day? to instal a set on trial, therefore he

could not be responsible. Magistrate Platts held that Harvey was responsible for anything constructed on his pro perty. He should Tiave obtained a temporary permit. MUSIC COMPOSER v. PLAYER. PIANO SPOILS INSPIRATION LONDON, February 23. Sidelight on the home troubles of a famous musician was revealed by Sir Landon Ronald, the composer, as a witness in an action in which his landlord sought the ejection of a tenanr. from a West End flat, because of his persistent piano playing. The tenant was a young Indian student, ambitious to become a professional. “It is a queer thing,” said Sir L. Ronald, in his evl’dence. ‘ i He played all day but never dur mg my absence. I often varied my comings and goings, yet he began as soon ns I came home. It was uncanny. His music ranged from Beethoven to jazz and five-finger eexrcises and arpeggios. 1 even offered to pay for a room for him elsewhere, but his playing proceed-

ed interminably. He even started at 9 on Christmas morning.” The Judge:— “Peace on earth.” Sir L. Landon added that he had not written a note of music since the Indian came. He wanted to, but it was impossible. The case was settled.