MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1926, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

THURSDAY, JAN. 4th

ißefore AA r . .Meldrum, Esq., S.M.) DEFENCE ACT. The police charged R. H. Harrison, a charge of failure to notify change of address as Senior Cadet. No appearance. Fined 5s and costs 7s. On a similar charge E. O. Hidden was fined a similar amount.

Same v. G. B. Haussmann, failure to attend drill. Fined os and costs 7s. licensing act. The police charged a prohibited person with obtaining liquor. Fined os and costs 7.5. On a similar charge another defendant was fined os and costs 7s. 'Tlie police charged three men with being on licensed premises after hours (Masonic Hotel). Convicted and ordered to pay costs 7s each. AVANDERTNG CATTLE. The police charged Tlios. Staines with allowing three head of cattle to trespass on the railway line at Ho Ho. A [ilea of not guilty was entered. Leave to amend to a steer and a heifer was granted. Evidence was given by AY. Summers. S. Holley. W. *E*. Gaylor and the defendant, the latter stating the cattle were lost from a paddock at Ross and strayed hack to Three mile. They were owned by M. Keenan, and wore under the charge of his (witness’s) sou. AA’itness did not own them. The charge was dir missed. AFFILIATION ORDER. An affiliation order was made against a defendant who did not appear. for payment of costs £l9 12s. counsel’s fee £3 3s and maintenance of 10s per week since dale of birth. DEBT CASES. AVestland Hospital Board v. Robt. Jones, claim balance £2 10s. Judgment for plaintiffs with costs Bs. Some v. John Stubbs, claim £-1 Is. Judgment for plaintiffs with costs £1 6s. Ainos Dowell (Mr Klcoek) v. I‘. Amborger, claim £3 10s. Judgment for plaintiff with costs 32s 6d. AT. McGavin (ATr Eleock) v. C. Revnish. claim £8 3s Od. Judgment for plaintiff with costs 25s 6d. RESERVED JUDGMENT. Reserved judgment was given in the ease of G. I). Burrows (Mr Murdoch) v. Alex T. Borrows (Air Eleock) partly heard at Ross and Hokitika. His Worship gave judgment for plaintiff for .£l5B 6s and costs £ll 9s fid. CHARGE OF ASSAULT.

Walter John Thorpe was charged with having assaulted Frederick Thorpe to cause actual Ixidilv harm at AVoodstoek on Dec. 27th. Afr Joyce appeared for the defendant and Sergt. King for the police.

Frederick Arnold 'Thorpe deposed he resided at Woodstock and had a son. Walter .John Thorpe, who resided with him. On Sunday, Dec. 27th., about fi p.m. his son came along, half drunk, and went into hi.s room. Witness got tea ready and they sat clown to ten. 'They had an argument over prohibition, and his son used violent language. Witness left the table and

went to his room for hi.s coat. 110 son rushed in with a table knife and said: “I’ll do for you this time,” etc. Bis son struck him on the face with the knife and made a cut two inches long. Ho struggled with his son. The point of the knife (produced) .scratch-

ed bis face. He tried to .stall witness, who held him off. AA'itness called out loudly and bis son rushed out of the room, put the knife on the table, and went out of the house. Witness then went down the road to hi.s other son’s

re.-idcMice (Fred jiliir.t Witness dad not go to see a doctor about the cheek, tint did so about, bis arm a few days later. The oliook ha ' Ivaled up. 'To ,\|r Joyce— His son had previous-

lv paid for a trip to Auckland, and when witness calm* back be had pan! the bouse expenses. AVitness bad no knife in his hand when his son attacked him. AVitness’ left arm from the wrist to the elbow was badly bruised in the struggle, m-’ had to see a doctor on the Wednesday as a result. All he wanted was protection from his sou. He carried on after the assault in the usual way about the luni.se. A\'i 11 inm Alfred Cruse deposed he resided at. Woodstock and was a bushman. lie lived about 150 yards from Thorpe. He saw the defendant about (1 j>.in. He appeared perfectly sober when lie went, towards the bouse. Saw nothing of the assault. Constable Drummond gave evidence that about 6 p.m. on Dec. 27th. he received a complaint and proceeded to AYoodstock. Saw Thorpe senr. at his son’s (Fred junr.l home. Found a recent wound on his left cheek, about two inches long. It did not appear deep. There was a similar wound an ’ a large bruise on bis left forearm and be was suffering from shock. The front of the shirt was dotted with blood. Then proceeded to the Royal Mail Hotel at AYoodstock. and found defendant there. Arrested him on a charge of assaulting his father. He denied having assaulted his father with a knife. He said it his father had wounds his father must have inflicted them himself. AA'lion witness saw accused first he was suffering from the effect ol liquor, hut lie was not drunk.

This was the case for the police. The accused reserved his defence, pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Hokitika on March 3rd. Bail was allowed in accused of £SO and one surety of £SO.