MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1929, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

GRKYMOUTH, February 19

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday the following charges were dealt with. Ernest Hooper, was charged (1) with wilfully damaging a troop horse, valued at £lO, the property of the New Zealand Government, thereby committing mischief, (2) with negligent driving, and (It) using obscene language. Alter hearing evidence the latter charge was withdrawn. His Worship stated that defendant drove so carelessly as to cause him being made responsible for the injury done to the horse. He had said that he had his horse pcrieetly under control, and that being the case, lie had no right to run his wheel over the constable’s horse. If he had held him in control for a moment, the two of them would have been clear of the bridge. The remark that he made that, “had he known the rider was a policeman, he wouldn't have done it” nii.dit mean that lie would have taken a , risk with a civilian. He had been careless and negligent, and would l )e convicted and ordered to pay the damage that he did. A fine of £L and an order to pay damages £lO and witness expenses 10s, was imposed.

Frederick Williams, a young man, was charged with wilfully damaging one billiard cue, the property of Phillip Stewart, manager of the Federal Billiard Saloon, thereby committing mischief- and further assaulting Philip Stewart. The b.M. found Williams "uiltv on both charges, and imposed a fine of £1 on the assault charge, and ordered him to pay 10s, the value of the cue, together with witness expenses Henry Thomas Gibbons charged with being found drunk while in charge of a horse in Boundary Street on Saturday evening last, pleaded not guilty. After hearing evidence the Magistrate informed Gibbons that he could not rule n horse into a crowd as he had done on the occasion in question. He was under the influence of liquor, hut that, was no excuse, lie would ho convicted and lined £l.