MAGISTRATE'S COURT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10287, 23 May 1919, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

POLICE AND CIVIL CASES. Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., presided over yesterday’s sitting of the Magistrate s Court. Ehnma Crawford, a middle-ased w °- man, pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness. The accused, offended on several occasions during the past six montlis. A fine of J3l was imposed, in default 7 hours' imprisonment. Crawford was also prohibited. Donald McDonald, who was said to bo subject to fits or insoonoty, was hned ,-i.' iU demult 2X days' imprisonment, tor breaking his prohibition order. it was, stated that the accused kept away from liquor for montlis at a Umo. Ine magistrate Said he was giving him a final l-nanoe. ana if ho -came oetoro the court again on a similar charge he would be sent to the inebriates' island. Robert Pitts, who admitted a breach of his prohibition order, was convicted and discharged. Pitts had been betoio the court the previous day kr druukonnoss and was sentenced to three dajs imprisonment. He said he had ser d at the front, and, if given a chance, would ,go away to the country. Ihe chance was given him. SENT TO A HOME. John toiUiam Rickman, who was be- ■ ore the court a few nays ago on a ciiarge of being a rogue and vagabond, in tlmt he had insufficient means or support. appeared on remano. Hickman was found sleeping in some scrub neai vVadestowu, ahd was m a pool state oi health- Inquiries were made with tho obiect of getting tho old man into the hoine, and Acting-Sub-iuspector Lmoison* 1 said that Rickman had been in the tkhiro Home. He ,conformed to the rales of the institution for a timo, hut subsequently refused to do anything, ihe Sse against the accused was adjourned sine dm on the understanding that he goes back to the home and conforms to the conditions.

USUAL MODE OF SPEECH,

Hector Gilchrist was charged with Koing aboard the Port Sydney, an overseas vessel, without authority, ihe evidence was to the effect tnat the deieudant was formerly a sailor on the Port Sydney. was paid off, but went aboard the ship again. He was ordered to leave by the chief officer, but refused and used obscene language.. Gilchrist was under the influence of drink at the The accused said he had been a soldier, and simply want on the ship to get some army papers he had left mere. The magistrate said that these particular breaches of the War iteguiations were becoming too common, but the court would take into consideration that accused had been a member of the crew. The language he used the court would look upon as a sailor s usual mode of speech, and under the circumstances ho would-be. fined 19s, in default to go to jail for 48 hours. A DESPERATE CHARACTER.

Emil Karen, a member of the. crew of the Terpsichore, appeared on charges or being absent from his ship without leave, and that, beeing an alien, he landed in New Zealand without permission from the Collector of Customs. The accused pleaded guilty. air id. on. luvans, who appeared for the shipping company, said that the defendant was a cause of danger on the ship, and the authorities did not want him back. , . The magistrate : Is this the man with tho knifo? ',, , , 1 Cddh'seT sard that*it was. On May flrd he was before- the court and sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment for being absent from his ship without leave. Karen returned to the vessel on May 16th, and the entry in the log stated taut he refused auev on the 17tn, 18tb, 19th and 20th. On the 20th he left tho vessel without permission, came back in the evening, armed himself with an axe and said he was going to do for tho captain. , 1 Tho magistrate said the man was an alien, and the' shipping company could hot evade As responsibility by passing the' accused over to the civil authorities in New Zealand. The court was desirous of knowing what the complainants intended to do with the accused, who appeared to be a desperate character. Mr Evans said there was a certain amount of doubt as to Karen’s sanity. Acting Sub-Inspector Emerson pointed out that if it was proved that the defendant was insane the shipping company would have to send him baok to the place where ho came from. There was. evidence that Karen had threatened to kill the captain. At the time the defendant was under the influence of drink. ,

The shipping company having' nnder-

taken to send the accused to America by the first convenient vessel, the magistrate convicted and ordered the defendant to Pav X 3 Ss costs on the first charge and sentenced him nominally to three months’ imprisonment on the second. STOLEN BLANKETS.

Maurice Cornfield, a sailor who had deserted from the Kaikoura, pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of blankets valued at JC'S, the property of the New Zealand Government.

Acting-Sub-Inspeotor Emerson said the uccuseu nua seen leaving the Kaikoura with the stolen articles, and was stopped by a Customs officer. Cornfield i.o- ■ •■■vv ..r.d wa» .irre-i.eu bv the police. Detective-Sergeant Cox said that the iwiire uccivr.i luonua.io;'. from Tokoonaru Bay that the crew of the Kaii.oara had bonders' blankets and clothing in their possession. It was found that the soldiers, who returned to the Dominion bv the Kaikoura, had discarded blankets and clothing on the deck and informed the crew that they might have the articles. The defendant was convicted and diecharged. WORTHLESS ARTICLES.

William Clark pleaded guilty to charges of stealing a coat and vest, watch chain, and hat valued at 30s, the property of John Liddle. and a rug and towel, valued at 30s. the property of Mrs Bunbe-rry. Chief Detective Boddam said that the accused was a, seaman on the barque Daniel and was paid off at Whangarei. Ho made his wav to Huntly and stayed at a boardinghouse kept by Mrs Bunberry. On leaving there he took the goods which were the subject of tbe information and was arrested on his «t----rival at Wellington. Nothing w-as known previously against the accused, who was in possession of clean discharges from the ships ho had been on. The owners had placed a certain value on the stolen property, but they were valueless. The coat and vest were old, the chain was a brass one. the towel in a filthy condition, and there was only half a rue. The defendant said he had been drinking and ‘ did not remember taking the property. Clark was convicted and ordered to vome up for sentence when called upon. SAT ON THE .DOORSTEP. Albert Edward Webloy acknowledged trespassing on his wife’s property during the currency of a prohibition order. The accused, who had been drinking for three weeks, sat on his wife’s doorstop and refused to go away. His condition was such that the magistrate remanded him for a week's curative treatment. CIVIL CASES. In the following undefended civil cases judgment was given for plaintifi "by default :—Veitch and Allan v. A. T. McDonald, XU 12a sd. costs X 1 13s 6d; J. E. Fitzgerald v. Robert Strang; £5 19s 2d. costs XI 11s 6d:; same v. Wi Nicbolls, XI. costs 10s POSSESSION OP A HOUSE. Mrs C. M. Taylor, widow, preoeeded against T. J, Molnemey, • clerk, for possession of premises at 99. Webb street. The plaintiff further claimed the rent and mesne profits in respect of the premises at the rate of X2 3s per week from March 31st.' 1919. down to date of hearing amount to Xl« 14s Bd. Mr B. M. Beechey appeared for plaintiff and Mr T. W, Hislop for the defendant. Mr Frazer, said, that the' tenancy had been a loose arrangement, hut ho considered that the defendant had a good long tenancy. He made ah order for possession in a month, and gave judgment for plaintiff for the amount of rent claimed.