POLICE COURT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4625, 14 November 1923, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

SITTING AT PAEROA. (Before Mr J. H. Salmon, S-M.) Tne following cases were dealt with at the Paeroa Police Court on Monday last:— FAILING TO REGISTER. William John Taylor, labourer, of Paeroa, was charged with failing to render personal service required of him under the Defence Act. A second charge was also laid against Taylor that he. failed to notify his change of address from Netherton to Paeroa. Defendant pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant O’Grady said that; the defendant had been living in Paeroa for over 12 months and had not registered or notified his change of address, Defendant said he was 20 years of age, and married. His wife was delicate, and he did not like leaving her alone at nights. A conviction was entered, and defendant was fined 10s on each charge, with costs 14s. Time was allowed to December 5 to find the money. UNSTAMPED RECEIPT. William Pennell, taxi-driver, Paeroa, was charged with signing a receipt liable to duty without same being stamped. The Police said that a man named Richards had been given a receipt for the amount of his motor-car fare, an! when the money was paid over Pennell did not have a stamp. The ca’arrived late, and there was just .time to catch the train. The Police said they did not press for a heavy penalty. Mr Hanna, for the defendant, said that there had been no intention to defraud the Government. ./The man Richards had promised to put the stamp on the receipt. Defendant was convicted and fined 10s, with costs 7s. THREATENING BEHAVIOUR. Edgar Douglas Trego we th, of Paeroa, was charged with using threatening behaviour within the view of passers-by in Wharf Street on November 4, and with disorderly behaviour while drunk. Mr C. N. O’Neill appeared for defendant and pleaded not guilty. The two charges were taken together. Chas. Gillard, driver, sworn, said that his wife kept a boardinghouse in Wharf . Street, Paeroa. Defendant came into dinner on the date mentioned quite drunk. He -threw a couple of chairs about in the diningroom, afterwards throwing pne outside the window, and when remonstrated with he -wanted to fight. To Mr O’Neill witness said that he was not in the dining-room when defendant was throwing the chairs about, and he did not see the chair thrown through the window. He considered that defendant was drunk. A Maori youth named Jack Williams, sworn, said that he remembered the day in question. He thought defendant was, drunk, but did not see him throw the chairs about. He heard defendant calling to Gillard to come out and fight. Cross-examined by Mr O’Neill witness said that there were several people passing along the street. He heard defendant asking for Gillard. Adam Waters, carter, corroborated the evidence of the. previous witness. Mr O’Neill submitted that defendant might have been boisterous in his behaviour, but there was no serious charge to answer. No evidence had been given to prove that defendant, had actually thrown the chairs about. There was no struggling of any nature, nor evidence of a threatening behaviour. The- defendant was sorry for his conduct, and had voluntarily taken out a prohibition order against himself. He asked that the charges be dismissed as trivial. Mr O’Neill pleaded that he should be given a chance to go straight). His Worship said that accused ha t been given a chance on a previous occasion. The public must be protected, and he felt he must view the evidence as tendered in a serious light. Accused was convicted and sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment? in Thames Gaol on the charge of being drunk and disorderly, and on the other charge was convicted only.