COURT CASES

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1928, Page 4

COURT CASES

GREYMOUTH, August 7. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday a number of charges were dealt with.

CIGAKOTE IX MINE

Frank Bennett, a Dobson miner, was charged with having the piece of a cigarette in his possession in the rajne on June 27. He did not appear. The information was laid by the mine manager (Mr J. Hughes), for whom Mr J. W. Hannan appeared. Evidence was given by Underviewer liill.

Defendant was fined £2, with 10s ■osts, witness’s expenses 22s (id, and solicitor's lee £1 Is. A BLACKBALL CASE.

Two charges were laid against Robert McDonald, of Blackball: (1) that he used indecent language in Main Street; (2) that he was disorderly while drunk. Mr V. J. Joyce pleaded guilty on behalf of defendant.

The Senior-Sergeant stated that at about 4 a.m. on July 4, a fire was raging at Blackball; and defendant, who was drunk, was very offensive to the constable present. He was an “ absolute nuisance.” He bad been fined on two occasions for being illegally on

licensed premises. The S.M. imposed a fined of 111, with 10s costs, on each charge. SERIOUS ASSAULT CHARGES.

Aged 02, Jack Gillman was charge

(l) That, at Blackball on August 3 lie indecently assaulted a female; (2 That, he assaulted the same female with intent to commit rape. The Senior-Sergeant’s applieatioi for a week’s remand was granted. On behalf of accused,Mr J. A. Ilan nan applied for hail. The Senior-Sergeant stated tha accused was a well-known resident o Blackball. If bail were allowed, i should be made substantial. The S.M. fixed hail at self £lOl and two sureties of £SO each. THEFT CHARGE.

The theft of £23 11s Kid. flic pro perty of the Grey Power Board, wa: alleged against William Liuklater, ai ex-employee. Accused, who was repie seated by Mr W. P. McCarthy, plead cd guilty.

The ease was adjourned lor a report by the Probation Officer, the Magis Irate stating lie woul admit him to pro bation if the Probation Officer’s reppr is favourable. The case was adjourned until Mon day next, Liuklater being admitted t hail in self £SO, and one surety oi £SO. A VAGRANT. James Move, aged 17, a New Zea lander, who appeared on remand, charged with having insufficient' lawful means of support. He was eonviete:. on a “ rogue and vagabond ” charge in November, 1927, and was sent to Papa rua Prison. Move, who has recently been sleeping in an old tank in the railway yards at Elmer Lane, pleaded not guilty. “ I only plead guilty t being out of work, that's all,” he said.

Constable Patterson described his discovery of Moye in the tank early on the morning of August 1. Moye had been at Grcymouth for the past six weeks, and had, to witness’s know ledge, done no work. Ho had admitted sleeping in the tank for five weeks.

Constable Corcoran stated accused had been convicted on a “ rogue and vagabond ” charge last year. The S.M.: Apparently, von have shown unwillingness so far as work is concerned. That appears to he your chief fault. There are so many previous convictions against you that 1 cannot treat the matter lightly. You are convicted and sentenced to six months’ imp! isoninent with hard labour in Pa-

nama Prison. STOLEN MUTTON BIRDS

A young man, Peter McDonald, was charged with breaking and entering the shop of George Henry Preston Taintti Street, on the night of Saturday, July 28, and stealing one kit ol mutton birds, valued at £2 10s.

Accused, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded guilty, and was committed to tho September sitting of the Supreme Court at Greymouth for sentence.

Detective Murcli said that the police did not object to bail. Accused seemed to be a fairly decent man, but unfortunately bad no means.

The S.M. fixed bail at self £25 and one surety of £25.

DUXOLLTE CASE DISMISSED,

A Rewanui miner, John Sexton, was charged that, at Duuollie, on or about July 13. he stole £2O, the property of James Hamilton, another miner. Sexton pleaded not guilty, and was defended bv Mr W. J. Joyce.

The S.M., giving his judgment, said there was no doubt Hamilton dropped the money in the carriage, and no doubt that it was picked up by Sexton. Hamilton was pillpulily drunk, and did not notice that lie had dropped the notes. The question was whether Sexton’s intention was to deprive the owner permanently of the money, or to keep it temporarily and band it over when the owner was sober. It looked a little suspicious that Sexton should have kept the money until the Sunday morning, before handing it over to Hamilton’s sister. He had given various explanations, the main one being that Hamilton was too drunk to look after the money. In Sexton’s favour was tho fact that lie told Ellis, when the latter saw him pick up the money, that he knew Hamilton well, and would give the money to him. “That was said by Sexton immediately after he picked the money up,” concluded the SAL, “ nn*d that, I think, is sufficient to give him the benefit of the doubt. The ease is dismissed.”