MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1926, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28th

(Before W. Meldrum, Esq., SAL)

DEFENCE ACT. Defence Office charged H. A. Andrews, with failure to notify change of address under the Defence AcL Fined 5s and costs 15s . LICENSING ACT. Six young men charged with being on licensed premises (Post Office Hotel) after hours, did not appear. Three were lined 20s and costs 7s each and three ordered to pay costs 7s each. .MOTOR LICENSE. James Foote was charged with driving a motor lorry without a license, on the Kokatahi road, on an occasion when a. collision took place. Fined 5s and costs 7s. > CHARGE OF THEFT.

Leslie William Gibbons was charged with stealing a Stetson hat, valued at C 4 12s fid, the property of W. J. Guthberlet of Three Mile, about December sth. and pleaded not guilty. Sergt. King prosecuted. William John Guthberlet deposed he was licensee of the Three Mile Hotel. A dance was held at Three .Mile on sth December. He was the owner of a Stetson hat and hung it in the passage of the hotel. He missed it about 1) hours later. Searched and enquired hut could not locate it. Next saw it on defendant’s head in Hokitika. AVent up to him and asked to look at it and then said it was his (witness). Gibbons said lie went out to the dance and some one took his hat and left that one in the car. Gibbons agreed that the hat should be cleaned and renovated at his expense. Ho was certain tlie hat was his (Guthherlet’s)

George Freitas deposed he was a taxi-driver of Hokitika. Knew the defendant. AVent out to Three Mile on sth December to a dance. Defendant went also. AVhcn witness got in the car going out, Gibbons did not have a hat on. though he may have had one with him. He had a hat on coming hack. Cooke came hack with tlie car hut did not go out with witness.

Leslie W. Gibbons deposed he was a sawmillhand at Manamli. He went to a dance at Three Mile on December 5. When lie went into the dance lie . left his hat and coat in the car. He did not know the car was going hack to Hokitika for another load. When the dance was over his coat was there hut not Li's hat. Then saw Cooke with two hats, one on his head, and one in, his hand. It was not that of witness. No one about owned it. Thought some one had taken his own hat and left their own. He took it so as to have it to return when lie got his own. Made no enquiries a.s to who owned the halt. lie asked Freitas if lie knew whose hat it was. His hat was a light felt lint. It was not a Stetson, and not as good a.s the one he took. To Sergt. King—He wore a hat out to tlie dance that night. He wore a hat sometimes and sometimes did not. Did not make any enquiries as to ownership of the hat. The hat was a better one than his own. It was not necessary to tell the police that Cooke had given him the hat, when tlie police were making enquiries as to how the hat came into his possessino.

George Freitas recalled said'Gibbons did not have a hat on his head when he entered the car going to the dance. He was quite certain of this. His AVorship said the accused had no hat when lie went out, but had a bat when be returned. He'was guilty of theft and would he convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within six months if called upon mid to pay costs (is fid. DEBT CASES. Amos Dowell (Mr Elcock) v. Jas. Wright:, claim £(i. Judgment for plaintiff with costs 31s fid. Pninm.ont and Berganiini (Mr Elcock) v. Jas. Wright, claim 7s fid. Judgment for plaintiff with costs 28s. James S. Phillips (Mr Murdoch) v. N. J. Wall, claim £l4 18s. Judgment for plaintiff with costs £2 14s.