TE KUITI S.M. COURT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 41, 2 August 1907, Page 3

TE KUITI S.M. COURT.

Friday, July 26th, 1907. [Before Mr W. H. Northcroft, S.M.] INDECENT ACT. George Mercer was charged, on the information of the police, with committing an indecent act at the Te Kuiti railway station, and also for being drunk and in possession of two bottles of whisky during the currency of a prohibition order. The accused pleaded guilty and asked His Worship to deal leniently with him as it was a case of distress, and in the matter of being drunk while a prohibition order was in existance, stated that he had only been in the colony a short time and thought they were issued only for one month. For the first offence defendant was fined 20s, and costs 15s, and for the second, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. BREACH OF RAILWAY BY-LAW. W. Bradley was charged, on the information of the police, with being drunk and behaving in an offensive manner, while travelling in the train to Te Kuiti. The defendant explained that he was -suddenly taken ill in the train and tried to get to the platform, and that he had only had a couple of drinks. His Worship remarked that it was a case for a prohibition order, but would be satisfied if defendant would -promise not to touch liquor for twelve months, and, on consenting, the defendant was fined 10s, and costs 17s. WORKING ON SUNDAY.

A young carpenter appeared to answer two charges, one for following his usual occupation by working at his trade on Sunday, and the other for disturbing the Church while at service in the hall. Evidence was given by the police,, who asked for a conviction on one of the charges only. The defendant, when asked what he had to say, detailed his case as follows: On the Sunday in question he was in the back of Mr Erikson's shop, putting up a shelf in a room which he was going to occupy. He was 'doing the work for his own convenience and was not receiving any payment, land he only drove seven nails in all, and did not consider he had disturbed the Church congregation. The defendant called evidence to substantiate his statement, and the case was dismissed. THE LIQUOR LABEL.

C. Thompson was charged with a breach of the railway by-laws, by bringing liquor into the King Country not bearing the regulation label. Mr Hine appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty. The police evidence was to the effect that the kit did not bear a label, but the defendant produced a label which he stated was en the kit at the time, and His Worship dismissed the information. EXPOSING LIQUOR FOR SALE. C. Thompson was further charged of having, during the months of May arid June, exposed liquor for sale. Constable Matthews in his evidence on behalf of the police, stated that defendant frequently visited Te Awamutu, and brought back liquor, and had been doing this for the past two months. He had been seen going about with bottles containing liquor showing from his pockets. He frequented billiard rooms, and had been seen chumming up to some persons there; then they would go outside, - and goodness knows what would happen. He was certain that defendant never took the liquor home, and strongly suspected him of selling it to the Natives. To Mr Hine : A case was the most I have seen him with, and am certain . it Iwas liquor. I keep a good look out, but as yet I have not been able to prove that a sale had been effected. Thompson stated that he had gone to Te Awamutu on several occasions W Ao procure- whisky for his own use, and }?afi never had any dealings with the Natives. He had used the liquor himself and had also treated friends. £y the Police : I remember leaving a certain parcel at a house, but always took the liquor home to my own place. My wife approved of liquor fn moderation- I have never been ordered off any premises at 2 o'clock in the morning ; I know the man, and can prove it, too; the liquor I carry

is for my own use, and I drink it when it suits me. I have never brought liquor for the Natives, and what I brought on May 24th, I drank in my own house, and on June Ist I had two bottles. My averngc earnings are £2 8s per week, and the liquor costs 5s per bottle. To His Worship : I am not very strong and suffer with my heart. The money I earn is by contracting and horse dealing. .His Worship: Don't you know that spirits is the worst thing that anj r one who suffers from a weak heart can take! He then asked defendant to show his receipts for the past two months, and decision was deferred. SUPPLYING NATIVES. A further charge against the same defendant of being suspected of serving Natives with liquor, was withdrawn. SLY GROG SELLING. A. Campbell was charged with having, on June sth and 7th, sold liquor to Natives. Evidence was given, on behalf of the prosecution, by T. Henwood and D. Meredith, but the principal witness (R. Scott) was not present. Adjourned till August 29th, at Taumarunui. TOO MUCH LIQUOR. David Scown was charged with bringing too much liquor into the King Country, having on June 26th brought twelve bottles, and another twelve bottles on June 27th. Mr H. Hine appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Const. Matthew, sworn, stated on 26th June he came from Auckland to Te Kuiti by train. At Te Awamutu he saw the defendant with a portmanteau of liquor properly labelled and by the weight of it reckoned it contained a dozen bottles. Defendant got off at Te Kuiti and went to the boardinghouse, and that night there were signs of a considerable amount of drinking going on. Next morning Scown went to Te Awamutu again and returned with another portmanteau. When questioned as to how much he had stated twelve bottles. I told him he had brought twelve the night before, but he denied it. I said that I came up in the train the night before and that his portmanteau was full. Defendant said, " You prove it." I mentioned that that could be easily done, but " I want to know what you did with the liquor." As I could not get a satisfactory answer I took possession of the portmanteau (produced), which contains five bottles. Defendant came to my office that night and admitted that four bottles were for himself and the rest he intended taking to Paernako. To Mr Hine.—l had detained the bag, and while talking to defendant a man, who passed himself off as a Government surveyor, came up and took two bottles. He was satisfied that those two bottles were not sold. He had no reason to suspect defendant before this date. Mr Northcroft: Who is this other man ? Why is he not here ? The Police: He is now serving a sentence in Mt. Eden, and will be brought up on two charges when the time expires. Const. Lander, of Te Awamutu, gave evidence to the effect that he saw defendant at Te Awamutu on the day in question with a portmanteau properly labelled. Mellar was with defendant and was carrying three small hand bags. Mellar had been passing himself off as a Government surveyor. For the defence David Scown stated that he came into Te Kuiti on June 25th, and proceeded to Te Awamntu on jthe following day and brought back some liquor (six bottles of whisky and six bottles of beer) duly labelled. On arriving at Te Kuiti he took his portmanteau to his own room, and in the evening he and some friends drank it, with the exception of one bottle. He did not sell any of it, but as he had promised to take some back to camp, went to Te Awamutu to get some more. He said he was not the worse for liquor that day at Te Awamutu, and while there met a man, named Mellar, outside the hotel. Coming back in the train Mellar gave him a drink, which he said was salty, and made him sick. He did not remember the bag being opened, and could not account for the missing bottles. To the Police: None of the men that were with me in my room asked me to bring back liquor. The trip cost about £2 ss. I was paid off on the 26th, but intended going back to camp for a while. On the 27th I procured twelve more bottles, but cannot account for the five missing ones. I was not in Mellar's company all the time. I remember going to the office that evening, but was sick through the effects of the drink Mellar gave me in the train. His Worship, in dismissing the information, stated that he was satisfied that the defendant's statement was true and that he had not sold any of the liquor. A WAGGON CASE. Ormsby Bros. v. R. Chestnut. — Claim, £3 ios, balance due on waggon made for the defendant by plaintiffs. Mr Hine appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr Franklin for the defendant. This case had been adjourned from last Court day, and after lengthy evidence had been given by both plaintiffs and defendant, the case was again adjourned, His Worship remarking that it would be necessary to have the waggon on view before any settlement could be arrived at. KEEPING PIGS. Two local residents were fined 20s and costs, and 10s and costs respectively, for keeping pigs in the Te Kuiti township. CIVIL CASES. Mr Franklin appeared for Messrs Green and Colebrook in several small debt cases against Natives, for which judgment was obtained.