MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1929, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

GREYMOUTH, Nov. 19. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Air Meldrum S.M. presided. A miner, Henry Smith, was charged that, on Septemlier 4th. he had a e.garette in his possession at the bottom of the stone drive in the Dobson coal mine. F!e pleaded guilty. In reply to the S.M. defendant said that lie was “just absent-minded.” ' There was an old cigarette ' butt ‘in one of liis pockets, which he missed 1 . ' “It was just carelessness, in a wav,” he said. The S.M. convicted AikD fined ’defendant. £1 with 10s costs. 'Court' 'dost-s and £1 Is-solicitor’s fee.

Lester Hudson, a miner, pleaded not guilty to a charge of. using indecent language in a public p’aee -it Blackball on November 7th. The S.M. said that there was'a dir- . . j t ■’ > . -- it ect conflict between the evid 1 'of i the constable and the. defendant. Thequestion was, which of them had spoken the truth ? The constable’s evidence was' very’clear. Defendant had l' riot helped to impress the Court wit l r the truth' of his cviclen e when' he said 1 that tlie crowd was perfectly and was there tot' the purpose'of ‘cheer-’ ’jug Levings. That statement dis-’ counted his evidence very much. There kwas no doubt what the crowd was there Sor. He believed the evidence of the constable and ciinvicted and fined defendant £l. There were no costs.

The theft of'£4, the property of Abraham Hudson, at Aickens on Novernher' 12th. was .admit'tecl by. Percy iGreaves, ay binig'ma.n'/'wlio elected to be' dealt with' summarily; He-'also 1 pleaded guilty to a breach of the'conditions of his probationary libense,' by entering the Aickens Hotel on November sth. during the currency of a Prohibition order, and to a similar o fence on November 13th.

The S.M. stated that the breaches of 'the conditions of nrobatipn had both, taken place just before the term of probation expired—one thirteen days before and the other five days before. The question of the stealing of £4 was a much more serious matteri Accused Lad been convicted and sento two years’’reformative detention on November 18th. 1927, for breaking, entering and theft. It was impossible to release him. on prohaition again. On‘ the charge of theft ;he would he convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment in the Greymoiith gaol. Oh'the other charges he would be convicted and discharged.