MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1925, Page 1

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

G PLYMOUTH, Feb. 17. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday Air Aleldrum S.M., dealt with the following business: Robert William Allister 'Teeming (Air A\ i\ McCarthy) was charged that 011 or about January 1, at Ikamatua, he did forge a receipt, purporting to be a receipt lor £l6 10s, signed by Astley Turlil!, and causing Harold William Perkins to act upon it as genuine. A\ iiliam Harold Perkins, overseer at the State Farm at Waiiminga, stated Unit accused until recently was working at ikamatua. 011 January 1,1 last he came to see witness about buying a horse and giving a bicycle in part payment. It wits decided to have a straight-out exchange. The deal was not completed then jjs witness asked for a receipt showing that accused had bought the bicycle. Accused went away and promised to return with th<. receipt. The next witness know-nbout the matter was when he found the lior.se gene and the bicycle left in its place. Three or four days later witness went to sec Looming, and asked to .sec the receipt lor the bicycle, and also for a receipt for the mare. Accused gave him the latter, and also a receipt for £!0 Ills purporting to he in payment lor life bicycle. The receipt was just as wit nest received it. A few days later lie received word from Turtill Tiros., that the bicycle had not been p"ii! for. He told Turtill Tiros, that lie had a receipt for £lO 10s, hut they

said it was a forgery. AVituess then informed the police.

A-Hey George Turtill, a cycle dealer of Greyiniioth, said Teeming entered into an agreement to purchase a bicycle on the time payment system; £6 deposit to he paid and £5 a month until the purchase price of £lB was paid. Witness gave accused a receipt- for £6. The receipt produced was the one given, hut it had been altered. The original one was in pencil. It had now been written in ink and was fur £’l(i 1 Os. Witess gave accused 110 authority to alter the receipt and no money had been paid other than the £6 deposit. ATimess had received no notice of any intention on the part of accused to dispose of the machine. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was cum mi t ted to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed as bclore. RAILWAY REGULATIONS.

.). Bluff was charged that at Xgahcre, within iifteon minutes of the lime a train was due. be did enter the Xgahore-Tilnckball railway bridge without obtaining permission. Air F. A. Kitcinglnini represented the Railway Department. He stated that -defendant galloped oil to the bridge just as the train was approaching from the other side. The engine had previously whistled. As defendant approached the train he dismounted and tried to lead the horse past, hut it played up and was killed. This information had been laid, mainly for the purpose of giving publicity to the

George Henry Sutton, engine driver on the train proceeding from .Blackball ti Xgulieiv. said that the only brake coni rolled from the engine was the air brake, and on this train it act-

ed on the engine « lic.'l only. I he train left Blackball 011 time. There was nobody in charge of the bridge during tlm dalime, lie whistled on »p----pr.aiching tint bridge, and it. was clear up to the lime lie was within 20i.) yards of it. Then a man mi horseback galloped on to the bridge from the oilier end. When he appmaehod he dismounted and tried to lead the horse, hilt it played up just as it got to the engine, and was run mcr. The train was then moving at about, -ix miles an hour. The Magistrate said the defendant had already been punished for his oflYove in having his horse killed. I would l>e ordered to pay costs only. ALLEGED CPFLLTY. Charles Colon (Air W. .1. Joyce) was charged that on January 25, he ill wilfully damage a breeding sow, the property of Lawrence Foster Martin ami ai-o with cruelty 1 1 a dumb animal. He pleaded not guilty. Lawrence Foster .Martin, a storekeeper iil Koltiku said lie had a number of |.i..-s and other stock on his place. For some lime past he had been pestered with people shooting bis stock. On the morning of January bed. be found one of his bleeding sons lying down with a broken log. There was a hole in Ihe leg < a used by a lille shot. The sow was ill his paddock and about 6 to S chains av.av Imin defendant's place. A\ it-nes-’s sc lion adjoining that ot defendant's. Tie valued the sow at £lO. That night defendant' came to the store ami told witness to drop the matter or else it would he worse 101

Joseph Malloy -aid that on the date of the offonee he was wailing for Ah' Martin. While waiting he heard a rifle iihnt. |[o wenl round and saw the sow with another pig. Defendant. was just coinuig away with a rille.

t Jeh-mlniii staled that Ii»* had :i garden round his house find the pigs had hoou annoying Ilia neighbours J< [hr last throe y i’'.i is. Ho Hint the pig in tho log. It ran away. The Magistrate .said that t,lio feiice.s appeared to ho si,flieiYnt. II was within defendant's rights to destroy the sow. All at tom |>t- was made' hut his aim was had. 'I lie* only result was i In-oak tho pig's low. Tho charge of wilful damage would ho dismissed as del'ondaat was within his lights to destroy it. dll only wounding tho animal instead ol killing it ho had keen guilty of ( i-uoliy t i tho animal. Xo douht ho had boon strongly provoked, and under the eiiviinistaiu.es that charge would lie dismissed also.