POLICE COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 324, 25 February 1910, Page 3

POLICE COURT.

.. A sitting of the Police Court was held yesterday morning at the Courthouse before" Messrs D. Berry and Boon, J.P.'s. MARITAL AMENITIES! On the application of Mr. J. 11. Quilliam (solicitor foj- defendant), the case of EditTi Salt v. J as. Salt, claim for failing to provide adequate means of support, adjourned from last week, was further adjourned till Thursday, March Bid, for hearing by the Stipendiary Magistrate. DRIVING HORSES ON COUNTY FOOTPATH. , v Patrick McGeehan was charged on the information of Wni. 11. Loughlin, ranger for the Taranaki County Ooiiiicil, withliaving on 2Utii February drivn horses on the footpath on Elliot Road. Mr. J. H. Quilliam appeared for the prosecution. Deiendant, who plea J: d not guilty, conducted his own case. Mr. Quilliam stated that this ease was laid under section 15a of the Public Works Act. The Taranaki County Council had constructed l'ootpatks \u some of the outlying districts. It was the practice of livery stable-Keepers 10 have their horses led through the borough and on reaching the outskirts they were let go and driven by a man ,t» the paddock. They then went neaer skelter, and some got on the footpath, which they damaged considerably.

J, William H. Loughlin, county ranger, gave evidence that at G. 40 a.m. on I January 20th, opposite the golf links, he saw defendant driving about twenty horses in the direction of town. Six •r seven of them ran on the footpa'.h for about five chains. They were travelling at the rate of about ten per kour, trotting and cantering. He told defendant hie would have to report ; t. Defendant replied that he could not help it; there were too many for one man to drive. The horses were driven loose through the borough in the mornings. They were still driven loose along the Elliot Road.

. To defendant: It was about 6.40 a.m. I think you were the man, but I could .not take my oath on it. They were Jones' horses. To the Bench: To the best of my belief defendant was the man in charge ol the horses. This closed the case for the prose 2Ution. Defendant, in tile course of his evidence. stated that he was a groom i'.r Mr. West. He bad never driven hordes on that road since he had been with Mr. West, so knew nothing of the case. Hia employer paddocked his horses up ,that road. Witness often took "he horses up at night, but never brougnt them back in the morning. Cross-examined by Mr. Quilliam, witness stated that he may have led horses up the Elliot road, but had never brought them down. He had led horses up past the footpath and let them go loose on the road to the paddock. Mr. Quilliam told the witness to be cautious. "You understand the consequences of perjury." Cross-examination continued: Witness stated that he had never spoken to Loughlin on the Elliot road, nor had Loughlin spoken to him. It was between 4 and 0 o'clocTc in the evening when "he took the horses back to the paddock. He did not know who brought the horses hack in the mornings. Mr. West had five or six new hands working for him. He mentioned the names of some of them. Two others drove the horses besides himself. He did not think it strange not to know whoSrove the horses, as he cleaned harness, etc., all day. He would swear Loughlin never spoke to him about driving horses on the footpath. Mr. Quilliam, in addressing the Bench, said thai the position was that prosecutor said defendant was the man, whilst defendant sail ne was not. If there were a conviction defendant wo lid be liable to be prosecuted for perju:y. .He would therefore ask for a week's adjournment to enable evidence to le brought. The Bench granted an adjournment till Thursday, March 3rd, remarking in reply to defendant that the latter could also bring any evidence.

A RACECOURSE INCIDENT. A man named Andrew Dawson wasi charged on the information of Charles, Stone with unlawiiilly assaulting con--1 iainant by striking him on the jaw I. .vith his clenched fist. The offence was alleged to have occurred on the New Plymouth, racecourse on Wednesday, February 16th, Defendant pleaded guilty, but alleged that complainant had at various times provoked him. and, having had two or three drinks, he struck him "on the impulse of the moment." Charles Stone stated that on Wednesday, just after the seventh race, he received a blow on the jaw. He was knocked down unconscious and when he c&mo tip again lie was very He could not see who had hit him a .id did knf>w till told by several witnesses. He gave defendant no provocation, and, in fact, was trying to keep out of liia way. He had been annoyed for the last .'lghteen months. Defendant: Did you not provoke me at Vvaitara on my return from Mokar. ? The Bench stated that had nothing to do with this case and fined dofendir.it 20s anu'eosts 17s, in default seven days' imprisonment with hard labor. ! Defiadant asked for time in wli'en to pay. Complainant alleged that he whs likely to leave the colony. The police, I however, gave defendant a very favorable character and he was allowed nine days—until his next pay-day—to find trie money.

BOROUGH BY-LAW CASES. On the information of Mr. B. Tippins, borough inspector, Wm. James was fined 2s 6d and costs 7s for driving in the borough at night without li»hts. C. F. Davy was fined a similar amount for riding a bicycle at night without lights.