MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1933, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

HOKITIKA CASES

BEFORE MR W, MELDRUM, S.M.

A variety of charges were preferred in the Magistrate’s Court at Hokitika this morning, and were deait with by Mr W. Meiarum, as follows: Judgment by Defau t.

Judgment for p.ainthf by default was given in the following eases:—Westland Hospital Hoard v. E. Hewer £8 13/-, and costs £l/4/6 • same v. Sarah Elizabeth Warnock £3B/16/6, and costs £3/1/6; AY. H. Nicol v. Norman C. Bourn £2/4/-, and costs £l/3/6.

Civil Cases .

Ellen Brown sought to recover the sum of £2 from John Phelan, being balance owing on second-hand cycle. Judgment was given for plaintiff with costs 18/6. Carl Hende (Mr Murdoch) claimed £2 0/3 from George Hunt The case was adjourned. On Licensed Premises.

Charged with being found on the premises of the Dunedin Hotel after hours, a defendant pleaded not guilty. Constable Dougherty said he founu defendant in the yard after having searched it, defendant stating that He had gone there to use the lavatory ahd discuss lodge matters with the licensee, The licensee later said he khew defendant was on the premises, waiting for a telephone ring from Blackwater. The Magistrate ordered defendant to pay costs. Two men were charged with being on the premises of the Post Office Hotel after hours.

Sergt. C. J. King gave evidence of finding defendants on the premises. Each was ordered to pay costs. Two others were charged with being found in the Red Lion Hotel after hours. Each pleaded not guilty. One defendant admitted being on the premises, but stated that the reason for their presence was to see an employee regarding a sporting matter—the taking up of golf this season. It was his only chance of seeing this man, defendant was living in the country. Sergt. King, to one of the defendants. Why did you not tell me then?I did not get a chance. I started to tell you hut you crossed me out. Sergt. King- You mentioned using the lavatory,. but nothing about golf.; Why?—The explanation was given by my friend, who answered for both of us. ■ . ■

The other defendant supported the defence of the previous defendant. There were drinks on the slide?.—Yes, we were invited to have one each by a guest at the hotel.

Sergt. King: .Tt is strange that yout story wns not corroborated by the man you went to see.

The Magistrate convicted each and ordered them to pay costs, one being fined £l. He held that defendants were not in the hotel as the guests of the lodger who invited them to have a drink

The boarder was charged with aiding and abetting. . Defendant admitted that he invited the two previous defendants to have a drink with him. although they were not there as his guests.

Defendant was ordered to pay costs.

Breach of Ami! Act.

J. D. Dennehy was charged with a breach 0 f the Arms Act. T. Merrick and H. T. Williams were similarly charged.

Sergeant King ®aid that Williams registered a rifl° in 1922, and sold it to Dennehy without the authority of a permit. Dennehy sold it to Merrick, neither of whom registered it. The rifle passed through two other hands, and it was only when .registration ot the rifle at .Reefton was applied for that the breach was discovered.

Denpehy pleaded guilty, admitting' ignorance of the law, and wa,s ordered to pay costs.

There was .no proof of service to Merrick, and the charge lapsed. Williams was ordered to pay costs.

Hotel Licensee Charges

William Hall was charged with opening the Dunedin Hotel after hours on (February '2, land with selling liquor after hours.

Mr C. J. P. Sellers for defendant, pleaded not guilty. Constable McLennan said that he visited the hotel at 11.45 p.m. and found four men at the private bar with the licensee. Each man had a glass in front of him. They explained that they were boarders at the hotel for the night, the licensee endorsing this statement.

Sergeant King ; That has since proved t 0 be untrue ?—Yes. Th e men have since been .before the Court and convicted ?—Yes. Counsel ; One defendant said ■he had gone 1° discuss business regarding a gold clajra with the licensee. Defendant, in th, e witness box, said that on the night in question, one el the men, being a friend of his son, had stopped night, as he often did. Two others were visitors to Hokitika, and asked for rooms for the night at the hotel. Tim fourth man had come to discui-s mining business with witne-s. To Sergeant King, witness said he supplied the drinks, but the constable did not .n, s k him at the tim e regarding this. The two visitors after being allotted a room, went out for gupper, but did rot come back. The three guests were supplied with drinks, but the one who came on. business declined to have one. .Sergeant King: They got ia worn so they could get a drink.—No, cer-