MAGISTRATE'S COURT HOKITIKA

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1917, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT HOKITIKA

Friday. March 16. (Before T. Hutchison Esq S.M.) LICENSIN'® ACT. A prohibited person, who did not appear, but who supplied a letter admitting the offence, was charged with procuring liquor while prohibited, After hearing the evidence of Constable Kennedy, a conviction was recorded and a fine of 10/ inflicted. A young man charged with being drunk in a railway carriage coming from the school picnio, did dOj appear. Convicted and fined 10/ with cos's 7/. WANDERING CATTLE. Borough Inspector (Mr Park) v. Win, Paecoe, allowing 1 horse to wander. Fined 5/. ■ • obscene language. Wm Gamble (Mr Crawford) was charged with using obscene language in Rovall Street and pleaded guilty and desired to bo dealt with summarily* Se; gt Folloy statod the words were used to a Chinaman in the presence of two boys. Mr Crawford explained the occurrence in mitigation of the penalty.

His Worship said tli6 charge was against the public morals. Daieodant would be fined £5, with costs 10/, iu default one month, one week being allowed for payment, CIIARGI' OP THEFT. George Regan, charged with theft of £4, did not appear, and his Worship stated that a warrant would be issued for hia arrest. SEDITIOUS UTTERANCE. James O’Neill, of Rewaoui (Mr Wells), was charged with publishing a seditions utteiance and pleaded not

guilty. Inspector Cruickehank appeared for the police and stated the information was laid under the War Regulations Act. The charge was not of a very serious nature, probably the man being under the influence of drmk it looseued his tongue. The occasion was the State Mine collieries’ picnio to Hi kitika, just before the traiu left for Grevmouth at 9.15 p.m, John E. Dawson, Cimmission Agent deposod he was on the railway station platform before 9.15 pro on Saturday, there being a fair crowd on the platform, when O’Neill appeared. He was not drunk. Addressing Dooling he said—“l have no country, I’ve no time for the dig.” Witness asked his name and O’Neill then Slid he would plug him mTder the ear > O’Neill then said “ I’m an Irishman, 1 ’ Constable Kennedy then came along. To the Bench —1 was a bit excited at the references made. Did not know the man. He speka in a loud vice. To Mr Wells—O’Neill wa3 not drunk, James Muir, a gardener of Hokitika, deposed bo was on the railway station with D. Dooling and saw O’Neill, who said “ I’ve no country, I’ve no time for the British and I don’t respect the Brirish flag.” There was a lot of other talk. Ho may have had soma beer, but be knew what l e was saying. Dan Dooling asked if he had no country, where waa he born and be replied ha was born in Irelaud. Witneso advised him to bs quiet, but he kept on fer soma lime. He mentioned something about German rule, bat he was rot positive of the actual words. There were quite a lot of people ou the platform. To Mr Wells —O her men in a railway carriage were egging the man on. He may have been excitedDavid Patrick Stuart, sawmiller, deposed he thought he heard O’Neill say h 8 had no country and something about 90,000 coldiers in Ireland. To Mr Wells—-He could not absolutely swear that it was O'Neill who used the words. To the Inspeotor—The words used did not appeal to him. Daniel Dowling, deposed he heard O’Neill eiDging out, “1 have no country and no fbg.” Io reply to witness, O’Neill said he was bom in Ireland, Witness told him to be quiet or he would get into trouble. He asked witness is he waa a spy and witness said no. To Mr Wells—-O’Neill waa not drunk and could not say he was excited. Mr Wells than withdrew the plea of not guilty and pleaded guilty. His client instructed him that lie was excited, and that he did not know what words he used, that he waa not disloyal. Inspector Cruicksbank said the defendant was a blaukamith at llewanui and was generally of a quiet nature. His Worship said the sole questior was whether the words had beßt used. Defendant would be convioted anc fined £5, with costa 13/ and witnessei 24/. LICENSING ACT. Matilda S. Sheriff (Mr Joyce) licensee of the Belle Vue Hotel, wa charged with allowing a girl under thi age of 21 years to servo in the bar and with serving a youth under ag with liquor, and pleaded not guilty. Ernest W. Heeuan deposed he wa in the bar of the Belle Vue Hotel whe: Constable Kennedy came in, befcwee 5 and 6 p.m. Witness had a glass c wine. He was served by Mrs Lorimei Had not made a different statemec to Constable Kennedy, He took tt one who served him to be the barmaii He told the Constable so. He was 1 L years of ago. , To the Magistrate—He kuowe Dor McDiarmid.

To Ssrgt. Fdly—There wn a man at the slide who waa ®ervad by Mrs Lorimer just after. He saw Doris McDiarmid come in when a liit’e girl came in with a teiegiam, and tang the bell and fc.k a tebgiarri from h?r. M ! ’s Lerimcr was th-n out of ilia bar. It was fibmt tan minutes after be was serve ! (hat the girl c-.rue in the bar and shortly afnf- the Co.nsiab> came

To Mr Jojcj—H< asked for ginger wine. Some was in the glass whan the Constable came iu. The girl did not serve tin or anyone tLe with- drink. She only fame in t) get the telegram. Conetab'e Keuredy deposed he saw Heenan in the bar about 5.35 pm. with agl us cf liquor, the co’or of port wine. As witness went in, the girl McDiaimid wont out from behind the bar. The color uf the'liquor waa too light fur ginger wine. To Mr Joyce—He believed the g id had a telegram iu her hind. H wss too dark for ginger wiue. D d not know if it was a'coholie or otherwiae. For the defeuce Mr Jjyce called— Doris McDiarmid, employed as servant by Mrs Sheriff deposed she saw the Constable come in. She had not served in the bar. Wiinesi went in to get a telegram that was brought ia. Constable Kennedy came in ao she was receiviog (he telegram. Saw Heeuan in the bar. Did not serve him or attend to the bar. To Serg Folley—Went in to .the bar because she saw the girl with a telegram there. The charges were dismissed. A farther chirge agamst the girl of aeivirg was withdrawn. CIVIL CASES. J. Ford (MrSellers)v Wra Morris claim £23 13/6. Judgment'for plaintiff with coots £3 -8/. A. Krikosky vA. Merrick, daim £2 3/3. Jadgment for amount with costs 5/.