MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1929, Page 1

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

WEDNESDAY, JUNE sth. (lielore W. Moldrum, Esq., S.M.) DEBT CASES. All cases called were either settled or adjourned. LICENSING ACT. On cliargesof being on licensed premises unlawfully after hours, the lol.owing were dealt with: One. offender (Commercial Hotel)) lined 20s and costs 10s. One offender (Southland Hotel) to pay costs 10s. One offender (Pioneer Hotel) to pa} costs 10s. On 'a charge of being found on licensed premises (Masonic Hotel) while pronibited, and of procuring liquor, an offender was fined 5s and costs 10s on the two charges. BOROUGH BYE-LAWS. Borough Inspector (Mr Park) charged F. Turley (Mr Sellers; with leaving his motor car unlighted at night. Fined os and costs 10s. A CHARGE DISMISSED. The police charged W. White with theft of a bicycle, the property of G. W. Keller. A plea of not guilty was made. Air .Murdoch for defendant.

Gerald William Keller gave evidence that last year he purchased a 'second-hand bicycle from E. C. Tooliey. a oout the. inictciie of February the uicycle was missing. Next saw the bicycle in Toohey’s shop'. There was no saddle or wheels on it then. Gave no-authority to remove it. Valued it at £3. To Mr Murdoch : Where the bicycle was usually left was in an open right-of-way. He did not suggest that White, took the bicycle. As it was in Tooliey’ s shop with the parts off, it was worth about. 10s. Saw White in Toohey’s shop and White said he picked up the old frame at the back of the old Opera House. White knew Tooliey did witness’ repairs. White said he could have the frame ana wheels. Witness said he did not want the wheels, to leave the machine there in the shop. Edward C. Tooliey gave evidence that he was a. cycle dealer. He sold a cycle to Mr Kener about a year ago. Mr Keller reported he had iost a bicycle and witness kept a look-out for it. The bicycle came in for re-

pairs. The wheels did not appear the same. '1 lie frame was that of Keller’s. It was minus saddle and post and a pedal. Leonard White brought in the bicycle. White told witness he bad found the cycle in a yard in Tancreel St. That ic was minus wheels, saddle and pedal when he found it. Constable Drummond said he interviewed White, who had said lie picked the bicycle up at the corner of Tancred and Hampden Street. It was then minus; all wheels, saddle and crank. He took it home and later told his son to take it to Toohey’s and see what it would cost to put it in order.

This was the ease for the police. The defendant, William White, gave evidence, no had worked ut Keller’s at various times. When passing tho hack of the old Opera House, he saw an old frame of a bicycle lying there. He picked it up and put it in W. Hall’s loose box. It lay there for some time. Then his son said he wanted a bicvple and he told' him to take the old frame to Toohey and see how much it would cost to put in order. Later Toohey sent for witness and told him that it was Keller’s. Went and saw Keller and told him where he had found it. He did not take the cycle, from Keller’s yard. When lie picked up the frame' he did not do so to convert, it to his own use. His Worship said there was no evidence to prove tlielt off Ihe premises. The charge would he dismissed.