COURT NEWS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 53, 6 July 1938, Page 3

COURT NEWS

7 CRUELTY TO HORCE I \ i ; ;• ' MAORI YY r OMAN FINED The monthly sitting of the Opotiki Magistrate's Loui’t was Jieul yesterday before Mr it. L. Walton. S.M. A Maori woman Mrs T. Tepati was charged with cruelty to a horse Derendant did not appear. Sergeant J. Isbister, who prosecuted, stated that on the 17th. of June lie went to the Waioeka- Rah, ; accompanied by Constable Cooper . and saw a horse with a large wound near one of the rear thighs. The wound was as large as a dinner plate and the flesh had Peon taken away. The tendons and sinews were showing bare—no flesh was covering them. The owner of the horse said she had been away tor three weeks but admitted that on her ireturn she. had taken no steps to have the wound dressed or have the animal destroyed. ‘‘lt is one of the worst cases of cruelty 1 have ever seen,’' concluded the Sergeant.

The 'magistrate convicted the defendant and imposed a flue of £5 with costs..

LANDS HIM IN TROUBLE FRIEND’S GOOD TURN Unusual circumstances resulted in Guy Appleton being charged with driving a motor-cycle without lights and also riding a motor-cycle while not being the holder' of a driver’s license. 'The police evidence showed that on June 19th. Constable Cooper met the defendant at 12.'Jt) a.m. The defendant was taking the motor-cycle to the Waioeka Rah as the owner was drunk.

Mr Hodgson who appeared for defendant said that MV Appleton came intq town in a private ear and intended returning by the same means. He met the owner of the motor-cycle who was quite drunk and was persuaded to ride the .motor-cycle back to YYaiooka. When defendant went to take the machine lie found it had no light. He waited until very late when there would he no traffic on the road. Defendant made no attempt to speed up when he saw the constable and was only travelling at a steady pace. Defendant had previously owned a mot-or-cycle but did not have a license now as he had no cause to have the license. Defendant had no means of getting heme as his car had gone out.

Mr "Walton said that under the circumstances he would fine deleudant 10/- and costs on the charge of having no license; on the other charge defendant would he convicted and ordered to pay costs.

GYCLK WITHOUT LIGHT A. McGregor, was charged with riding a cycle without a light on the Waioeka road on the same date. Sergeant Lshister said Constable Coopei was on dutv on the aioeka road. Defendant said his kerosene lamp had gone out but when the constable felt it the lamp was quite cold. Mr Hoi, who appeared for defendant, said that McGregor had passed him before being stopped by the constable and the light was. burning then. r J he magistrate convicted defendant and ordered him to pay costs. UNLICENSED VEHICLE p. Lambert was charged that on the 2nd. June he used an unlicensed vehicle. Inspector Delves said he saw defendant in Goring Street yith the old number plates. Ihe vehicle uas not licensed. Defendant in evidence, said he went to the Post Office and filled in the papers. He then found he did not have the engine number. On the way home he called at the &aleyards for a while and "as soon by the inspector. Defendant was fined 10/-, the magistrate remarking that he had evidently made an attempt- to secure the license.