MAGISTRATE'S- COURT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10279, 14 May 1919, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S- COURT

CHARGES OF. INSOBRIETY. Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., presided yesterday at the' Magistrate's Court. _ Ambrose Patterson, who was found in a helplessly drunken condition, was lined £l, and ordered to pay Ss expenses, in default to be imprisoned toi three days. Donald McDonald, who had two previous convictions against his . name 'tor 'drunkenness, was charged with breaking- his prohibition, order. He was fined £3, in defaula fourteen dayß' imprisonment. A SHOP THIEF. William Smith, who pleaded guilty to a chargo of theft, Was sent to jail tor three months. Acting-Sub-Inspector Emerson said that the previous evening the accused was seen to remove an overcoat, from the front of W. Hornig and Co.'s shop in Cuba street. An employee, following Smith up, secured him and took him back to the shop. The police were sent for. Prior to the arrival of Constable Gunn, the defendant ran away, but was again secured by an assistant, at Hornig and Co.'s premises. Smith had been before the court a number of times and had been convicted on twentyfive occasions, four being for theft. He had not been working for some time, and stated that he had been living on insurance money he received on account of an accident that befell liim- while working at Dimock's baoon factory. The stolen property was valued at £2 9s 6d. PURLOINED TROUSERS. "It's better to go about in a pair of ragged trousers than a pair of stolen ones," said the magistrate to Henry Pye, a young man who pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of trousers valued at £1 19s 6d, the property of Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd. Chief Detective Boddam informed the court that lie accused was engaged by a cleaning contractor to assist in cleaning the shop windows of Kirkcaldie aid Stains, Ltd. While carrying out tie work, he stole the trousers, and suspicion rested on tho cleaners as a. body. The trousers were missed from a window- .display, and subsequently Pye, who was only 19 years of age, was found wearing them. It was not the defendant's first lapse, unfortunately, cs he had been convioted of theft on three previous occasions. The magistrate said that Pye-was a young man and he did not like bending him to jail, so he would be another chance. He would be convicted and fined £5, in default to go to prison for a month. The cost of the trousers was ordered to be refunded at the rate 01 10s per month, and a month, was allowed the defendant in which to find the amount of the fine. BY-LAW OFFENCES.

For driving a. motor-car without first obtaining a license, Arnold Vivian Castlos was fined 10s, with-7s costs. Harry Fann was fined ss, with costs 7s, for driving a vehicle at night without lights. Arthur Guest was ordered to pay court costs for committing a. similar offence. ■ -, >

For failing to register bis motorcar, James O'Connor was fined 10s, with 7s costs.

Alexander M. . Pickford, manager of tho Artcraft Theatre, was proceeded against for allowing the theatre to be overcrowded on March 22nd. Mr J. O'Shea, city solicitor, stated that tho theatre was inspected on March 22nd, when several persons wore discovered standing in a passageway in the stalls, and 16 more persons were found standing in the dress circle. There was a danger to the publio, in cases of panic, if the passageways leading to tho esita wore not kept clear. The by-law was framed to prevent overcrowding in places of amusement, to diminish as far as possible accidents that might take place during a panic. Mr T. Young, who appeared for the defendant, said that the .corporation inspector called at the theatre shortly after it was opened. A number of tho seats had been reserved, and it was while tho manager was arranging seats for his patrons that the inspector called. Four persons were given back their entrance money,' as seats could not he found for them, and by 8.16 avery nation in the theatre was seated. ' The magistrate said a reasonable time should be allowed the management of theatres to find seating accommodation for patrons, but in the case before the court it was. udulttcd that persons were permitted to stand up till 8.15 o'clock. The defendant would bo convicted and fined £l. with 7s costs. CIVIL CASES. In the following, undefended' civil actions judgment was given for plaintiff, by default:—Samuel Brown, Ltd. v. William Bice, £lO 10s 6d, costs i!l 186 6d; H. Baldwin and J. Mitchell (assignee of the estato of Q. M. Williams) v. Charles E. Binns, £4 18s Od, costs 10s; John Nicol v. Stanley Booth, I7s 6d, coats ss; Dunlop Kubber Company of Australasia, Ltd. v. J 5. Soott, 16s 9d, costs ss. In a judgment summons caso Thomas Sifflet ivas ordered to pay the New Zealand Automatic Bakeries, Ltd., the sum of £l 7s lid forthwith, or go to jail for two days. The warrant to be suspended for a week.