FROM STAGE TO POLICE COURT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 25, 30 March 1915, Page 1

FROM STAGE TO POLICE COURT.

At the 1 ukcknhe I'clic: Court 0:1 Thursday Nsr a tnmllim entertainer rair.td Frank Smith, al as Andis, was charged before Vcss-s C. Koadley a:d F. Peikms. J.P. 'a, with having afsauited Willi in Herry Guest, a carter, and with having i.y raeanj of falie pretences attempted to obtain the sum of 5s from the said Guest. 'lhe accu:ed visited Pukekohe som?. lew weeks ago in con pany with a maa named JefTerco •, whu apfeared as an impersonation actor at the Lyceum Theatre. The accused web titn Jelfeiaon's assistant, but on Wednesday last he "showed' ai a co:,jur:r. After evidence had b:cn piven on the ciiarj:: H'sault, to wheh accused pica* 1 •■ ' "ccused asktel for an a jo*- obtain the services of a r d him. The applii led to by the liencl- ur resumed after . ti ten ■ minutes, Mr H. n. MaFon then appesrirg tn defend. Un Mr Mason's request the evidence previously given was repe3ttd. Guest deposed t"at on Wednesday accused engaged him tu cart luggage to the LjC2um Picture Tfcer.it: e, which he did. He had had previous trouble with accused a few weeks past, when accused arranged with one of his (Gueit'i) employees to cart luggage, for which he aid not pay. Jt was on that account that he had made it hi 3 business to attend personally to the tecond lot of carting ordeed by accused He carted the luggage, etc., back to the railway station that (Thursday) morning for accused, who was to leave by the 7.15 a.m. train. Wlien he asked a.cased to pay os tor the work accused wanted to give bim an order on Mr Jjhn Coady, pictiare theatre proprietor, but he ,i*ad*previously received instructions *Wn Mr Coady net tu receive any orders made out on him. / ccused got angry and struck him two or three times and followed up the assault bj trying to pull him into guard's van. Hs (Guest) attempted to Jeave to obtain the services of the police and accused, hiac, said: "You will not leave thii Btation alive; I'll push you under the tain," and tried to do so. He (witness) got away and a little later give information to the police, itve accused having in the meantime missed his train. Accused said that the' previous time he had visited Pukekohe he wifc an empbjee of Jeii'erson'p, ar.d waf not responsible f r the charge made for cartage. As to the assault the trouble had arisen through the carter obstructing him from putting his luggage into the guard s van.

Evidence in connection sti;h the second charge was thm taken. Accused said that he told Guest when he gave him the ordir on Mr Coady that if he (.oady) did not honour it that he would pay it. Mr Mason tail that accused assumed frcm previous contiacts he had made with hall proprietors, although no arrangement had teen made to the cll'ect with Mr Coady, that Mr Co?dy would pay for the cartage. John Coady, picture theatre proprietor, was the next wit.es?. He said that accused might have b?en under the impression, although there had been no arrangement between them, that he (Coady) was going to pay tor the cartage, but he would not have honoured any nrdc: made on him. He thought that Jellersun was tha truilty party ii. connection with tha previtus noc-payment of the cariage.

It reply to Sergeant Cowan, accused said that Jefferson and*not hs (accuser) was responsible for the r.on-payrnent of debts in some other towns they bad visited. In iuflicting a fine of £1 and ordering accused to pay Court costs 7s and witnesses' expenses LS>, Mr Roadley remarked that accused came into the town, incurred a debt and trud to evade the payment thereof. It was vety dishonourable, and to accentuate matt;rs hs had assaulted tha carter. Accused was 03 short cf the required amount, but he was able to borrow the money and he subsequently departed by train.