POLICE COURT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5014, 16 August 1926, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

PAEROA, THIS MORNING. (Before Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M.) LICENSING ACT BREACHES. Eli Mit'chell, labourer, 'Whai'epoa, was- charged with purchasing liquor at Paeroa on July 31 while being a. prohibited person. A second charge of being on licensed premises during the currency of a prohibition order was also preferred. There was nd appearance of defendant. Constable McClinchy stated that in company with another constable he had seen the defendant in the act of drinking a mug of beer. When accosted defendant admitted that he. was a prohibited person. Mr G. M. Harris, Wharepoa, who employs, defendant, said that defendant was a married man, separated from his wife and family. He was a hard-working man, and was not a habitual drunkard. He pleaded 'for a. chance for defendant. Defendant was convicted and fined £1 and costs 7s on the first charge, and on the second charge was convicted and ordered to pay costs, 17s. ’ THEFT OF LIQUOR. Robert Gage, a Maori, was- charged with the theft of a 5-gallon keg of beer, the property of a carrier, from the Criterion Hotel on Tuesday last. A plea c*f guilty was entered. Constable McClinchy related how the accused had picked up the, keg from tire hotel and taken it across the road to the river sjide of the stopbank. , Accused had been drinkinground the hotels during the day. Gage said that he had found the keg, and was in the act of taking it tor the police station when he was accosted by Constable McClinchy and charged with the offence,. It was the first time ,he had been in .serious trouble, and he was sorry for hi® rashness. .The Magistrate said that he would regarid the act as a very foolish one, and accused would be given a 'chance. A conviction and fine of £2 would be entered, with costs. 7s, in default 14 days’ imprisonment. Fourteen days were allowed in which to find the ■money. OBSCENE LANGUAGE. William. James Holwell, labourer, Paeroa, was charged with using obscene language at Paeroa no Friday evening last. Mr E. W. Porritt appeared ’tor ac'cused, who pleaded guilty. Mr Porritt said that the matter leading up to the incident when the language was’used Went back a long way. During the football season last year trouble had arisen over.a bottle of beer, which accused alleged had been stolen from him on the return journey from Hikutaia to Paerpja. Constable McClinchy agreed with the facts, and stated that Holwell generally was a good boy and a hard worker, but he was very quick tempered when he had liquor. The language complanied afi was filthy, and the public was entitled to consideration.

The Magsitrate feminded accused of the leniency which had been shown him dn previous occasions on account of his youth and cir'cumstancesv The language complained df was flltihy in the extreme and would not be tolerated.

Ih convicting and fining Holwell £5 and costs 13s 6d, in default 28 days’ imprisonment, the Magistrate warned him that if he appeared again before the £ourt he would be severely dealt with. Twenty-eight days were allo'we.d in which to find the money.