POLICE COURT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 266, 31 March 1911, Page 2

POLICE COURT

A sitting of the Magistrate's Court vas held yesterday morning before Mr. f. S. Fitzherbert, S.M., when tUc follow- , ng cases were dealt with:— | DRINK AND A REVOLVER. On Tuesday morning a young man named James Gow, alias Thomson, who described himself as a draper, arrived from Onehunga by the steamer Rarawa. He was then under the influence of liquor, and he proceeded to get further under its inlluence. Within a few hours of his arrival he was in the police cells. When sufficiently recovered he was taken before Mr. C. M. Lepper, J.P., who convicted and discharged him as a first offender. A few hours later, however, he was again in the cells. Yesterday morning he was charged with drunkenness while in possession of a firearm. After outlining the facts stated above, Sergeant Haddtall stated that when he was released yesterday afternoon prisoner had a little over £S on him. When re-arrested he had only at little over £2, but he had in his possession a new revolver and some ammunition. Prisoner's excuse for purchasing these things was that a woman in Auckland had disappointed him in love, and he bought the revolver with the intention of shooting her. Sergeant Haddrell added that he did not tnink that prisoner was' in a fit state to bo allowed at large yet, and suggested that he be remanded for a few days for medical observation. In answer to His Worship, prisoner said he had bought the revolver at Berry's. He remembered buying it, but he did not know what he bought it for. He had no intention of doing anything to himself. Prisoner was remanded to the gaol until Monday for medical observation and care. BY-LAW CASES. Several cases of breach of the borough by-laws, brought forward by Inspector Tippins, were dealt with. Percy Power pleaded guilty to riding a horse on the footpath in Watson street. He explained that he only went on for a few yards to avoid some rough metal. A fine of 5s and costs (7s) was imposed. For a similar offence in the same street Thomas Jones also pleaded guilty. He explained that there was no kcrbing to indicate where the road ended and the footpath began. A similar penalty was inflicted. G. W. Gunson was charged with driving a motor-car on the footpath in St. Aubyn street. Mr. A. R. Standish appeared and pleaded guilty. He excused the absence of defendant, on the ground that he had an important engagement. Defendant was a careful driver, and had just gone on the footpath for about fifteen yards to avoid a heap of metal. His Worship stated that he always held that a man should come and plead for himself, but in this case he would accept counsel's plea. It was a dangerous thing to drive a motor-car on a footpath, and if a person chose to save his tyres at the risk of running someone down, he must pay for it. Fined 10s and costs (7s).