DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

fer telegraph —ricp. press association.]

SLY GROG. WELLINGTON, May 13. Described ns a had character with a long list of previous convictions, Charles Edward Rossiter Iluddick, the proprietor of a .small confectioner’s shop at the corner of little and Vivian streets, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to-day to two charges of sly grog selling. On the evening of April 22nd, said Senior-Sergeant Lander, a plain clothes constable gained admittance to the premises, where he found a convivial party in progress. After a while the constable purchased a glass of beer, paying 9d for it. lie also bought a bottle of draught beer for Is (id. The following night the constable again visited the place and bought two small bottles of beer at Is (id each.

A search was later made of the premises, when an open suit-ease containing ten bottles of beer was found behind the counter. In a room at the hack of the shop was a keg on tap. The shop was frequented by a rough class of individual, both at night and on week-ends. The ease was one for tin exemplary penalty. Iluddick was at present on hail on a charge of breaking and entering. A .sentence of two months’ imprisonment on each charge was imposed, the terms to he concurrent.

QUESTION OF OWNERSHIP. AUCKLAND, May 13. Four persons having claimed a stoleu bicycle, the Chief Detective submitted the question of ownership to the Magistrate. Mr Hunt, this morning. The claimants were: Edward Victor Evans (a youth). .John Graham Hughes ex-minister, besides Thomas Reginald P. Crawford and Marion Fuller. On November 2-'! Evans left a bicycle in the street and it was stolen and sold the same day to Marion Fuller, a sec-ond-hand dealer. Crawford was found in possession, having had it . presented to him by Mr Hughes, who purchased it from Mrs Fuller.

The Magistrate said that undoubtedly the machine belonged to Evans. It was only a case which of the innocents should sutler.

Evans produced a receipt for the original purchase, upon which Hughes, reading law extracts, claimed the bicycle under market offer. " Hero, wait a minute,” interposed Mr Hunt .“there's no such thing in this country.” Hughes: It’s according to the dictionary. anyway. Mr Hunt: AVe only deal with law in this Court, not the dictionary. Hughes went on to read law extracts till the Chief Detective interrupted: "That’s not evidence, lie is reading a speech, your AVorship.’’ Air limit: Never mind, Air Cummings, lei him go on. lie Inis lost his 22, you know."

Hughes next quoted .-.celion 2d of the Police Force Act. Mr Hunt stated that it was useless pursuing the argument any further as he had decided the bicycle belonged t > Evans.

THEFT SENTENCE. AUCKLAND. .May 11

Edward Joint McKay. 30, a steward, who escaped from custody yesterday and was recaptured after a greai struggle was sent to gaol for six months for stealing overcoats front the steamer Arawn.

£350 DAMAGES. AUCKLAND. May II

Five hundred pounds damages were claimed against a correspondent in an undefended divorce action yesterday iu which Hector Horatio Parry, a

stoker on the warship Diomede, petitioned against Helen Barbara Barry on the grounds of adultery with Percy King, a. taxi driver, of Devon port. Counsel stated the damages claimed represented merely Hie petitioners financial toss (details given) Uirnugb a marred marriage. Alter evidence by petitioner ami a private detective .Justice Stringer tab! the jury there was suffii lent proof of adultery. 1 lie damages must lie based on the value of an unfaithful wife without regard to the petitioners outlay. In this ease the wife possessed no property, the petitioner having paid her passage from England and married Iter in New Zealand. If it were held that the

wife was a loose woman, she was’nt much use to her husband, who would bo well rid of licr. If on the other hand a wife had been deliberately seduced, the position was different. The Judge thought the case could he met by slight damages, but the jury awarded £350.