THE COURTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 5, 30 January 1909, Page 2

THE COURTS.

A BREWER FINED. | By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invcrcurgill, Friday. Richard Whitlinglon, brewer, war, lin.•J .150 for making false entries in a book. The ease was previously dismissid by the Magistrate on the ground that the errors were due to negligence, but i;he Customs appealed to the Supreme Court, where it Has held that there should have been a conviction. No costs 'ivtre allowed. The .Minister will be ■asked to remit the line.

PRISONERS SENTENCED. Duneilin, Friday. In the Supreme Court, Oscar Rn.ssub ■was sentenced to one year's imprisonincut for breaking and entering. Robert Waller Sieberman was sentenced to .twelve months', and Thomas Flynn on | .'two charges of bigamy to live years' 'imprisonment.

BOOK-MAKERS FINED. Wellington, Last Xighl. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, llurrv Fenwick, who iicscrib,u nmiself as a' bookmaker, and who was defend ed bv Mr. Filzgibbon, pleaded not guilty to a' charge of having betted on Minimal' racecourse with an infant at the last race meeting. The " infant'' turned out to be a snapping Maori lad eighteen and a half years of age. The defence to the prosecution was a straight out denial that the defendant had any knowledge of anv such bet having been nniile by him. ' Counsel admitted Ihe and in cases where they look all reasou-

able precautions and question persons whom they suspected of being under age. if anv olfcnce was committed it was of a purely technical character. Ihe object of'the Act, it was submitted, was to prevent betting with infants in "tote shops." and on the public streets. The accused, Harry Fenwick. staled oil oath that he invariably inquired of the person who desired to bet with him his age, and indeed, not very long ago. when he hail a doubt about a young fellow's age and questioned him, the " infant " became incensed, icnd taking oil' his coat oll'ered to fight him. ] His Worship said the penally for this ■offence was a severe one, as in the discretion of the magistrate the olfeildcr might he lined CIUII. Defendant would be"lined C">, with costs C 4 Is '.ld. In regard to a similar charge brought against "Bob" Hunter, counsel said after llis Worship's decision in Fenwick's case he would enter a plea of guilty. Defendant was lined i'o, with C2 5s costs.

A SHIPMASTER FINED. ' -, Christchurch, Last Night. Captain Sellars, of the collier Canopus, was lined 7s till at Lytteltio for failing to carry two trimmers, as provided by the schedule to the Shipping and Seamen's Act. It was shown that the vessel carried six firemen, instead of three as the schedule provided, and that a fireman could do trimming when necessary. There was nothing for trimmers to do, as the Canopus' hunkers were practically self-lilling. The Bench recommended an alteration of the Act to meet such cases.