Police court.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1917, Page 7

Police court.

A LENGTHY LIST. A number of eases w«ro dealt _ vith yesterdav at the usual weekly sitting of. the Magistrate's Court, Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., presiding BETTING CHARGE FAILS. James Mouatt pleaded not guilty to ft charge of unlawfully baring made a wager oyer a game of "snooker" in a billiard room, contrary to the New Plymouth, borough by-laws. Albert Ward, the other party to the alleged wager, was also charged. Sir. A. H. Johnstone, who appeared for Mm, asked that the case against Mouatt should be taken first. • Senior-Sergeant Bowcren prosecuted. Benjamin Tipping deposed that on February 13 he went into the billiard saloon, when Mouatt said that be would play Ward a game of "snooker," and have 5s on the game, Ward giving him SO points. Ward said nothing. Mouatt won that game. They played another game, in which Ward gave Mouatt lo points. Mouatt again won, and wanted i to play another one, putting four halfcrowns on the table, it to his pocket when Ward decided to play. Ward did not want to play, but Mouatt 6aid he would give him a chance to get hi 9 money back." Witness left- before the. game was finished. To defendant: Witness would swear that defendant put four pieces of money on the table. Later in the evening defendant said he would bet as much as

he liked, and insulted witness, but next day apologised. To defendant: You insulted me by saying that I came up there spying. Defendant: That was the remark made in the room. You are aware that it takes two to make a bet.

Thos. Fitzgibbons, plain-clothes constable, deposed that defendant admitted playing "snooker" for Is per game. Ward lost two'games, and the third game Mouatt offered to play for 2a or nothing. A witness named Hooker, who was siting beside Mr. Tippins. did nqt sec any betting. He saw Mouatt and Ward play two games, but left before the conclusion of the third game. He would have known had there been any bet-

ting. The police had taken a state' ment from witness.

To Senior-Sergt. Bowden: Tlio police did not endeavor to extract a wrong statement from him.

James Armit, billiard-room marker, deposed that the only money he saw pass was the money paid by Ward for the tables. Had money been thrown on' the table be would • have seen it and stopped it. as betting was not allowed. He saw Mr. Tipping later that evening, but Mr. Tippins never mentioned tingTo the senior-sergeant: Witness had been told by his employer not to allow betting. He.did not hear what was said at the argument between Mouatt and the inspector. Defendant gave evidence that he had played Ward two games, winning both, ami then~offered to play a third game, "double or quits." This game Ward lost, and paid 2s for the table. Later he saw Mr. Tippins and told him that they said in the billiard room, "Look out for Peeping Tom." Witness relied on the ease of 'Police v. Jdckson that "snooker" could be played. To the senior-sergeant: Everyonß was familiar with the case Police v. Jackson. All were not dummies. The Magistrate said there was no evidence of a bet having been made. All that could be said was that defendant had. offered to bet, • but there was no eviedncc that Ward had accepted it. The case was accordingly dismissed. Senior-Sergeant Bowden was then granted leave to withdraw the ease against Ward. ,

TEAM AND TRAP. Win, Jenkinson pleaded not guilty to a charge of impeding traffic on the corporation tramways. Senior Sergeant Bowden prosecuted. Defendant was not represented by counsel. Constable Parkinson gave evidence that near Te Henui bridge, defendant drove rght across from his correct side on to the rails, and a tram car close behind had to pull up sharply to avoid a collision. ,

George White, motorman, stated that at Watson street he sounded the gong <ery loudly so as to warn defendant. Me kept the gong ringing all the way down the hill, but defendant was talking to a companion and failed to take any notice. About a-.ehain from the bridge defendant pulled right across and witness had to apply the emergency brake. N. James, conductor, also gave evidence. The defendant stated that he did not hear the gong when going down hill, but when near the bridge he heard the gong, and immediately shot across the road so as to avoid being pammed between the bridge and the side of. the tram. He submitted a plan of the locality showing how tne road narrowed. >

The Magistrate said no doubt defendant had done the best he could when . he heard the gong. The question was, Did ho wilfully impede, because through carelessness he did a certain thing f Defendant was convicted and fined 5s and costs 17s. A CASE DISMISSED.

A lad named George Mather, who was unrepresented by counsel, pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving a vehicle with insufficient lights on the Mountain road near Tauke. Mr. C. D. Grant, county inspector (Mr. Quillian), prosecuted, and gave evidence in support.

Defendant slated that he was merely a passenger in the cart, in which were several children. The horse was hardmouthed, and when the inspector called out, defendant assisted the small boy

who was driving it to pull up. It was a ''right moonlight night, and they had no light. He told the inspector who ■vned this cart, but the inspector want--1 his name as driver. Air. Quillian had.no reason to doubt 'cfendant's statement, and the case was 'ismissed. 3Y-LAW CASES. Hugh Hamilton was also charged on /he information of the police with, driving a meat wagon on the wrong aide of ■he street .nd thereby impeding the M-affic of the tramways. Defendant, vlio was not presen., pleaded guilty, nid was convicted and fined 5s and lOsts 7s. John Anderson was charged, on the information of the police, with attempting to board a train at Eltham whilst the train was in motion. Defendant, who did not appear, forwarded a letter admitting the offence, and was fined 10a and cssts It. .''

J. H. Kibby was charged, on tlie information of the police, with permitting a vehicle to stand in the street otherwise than alongside of sfnd parallel with the footpath. Defendant did not appear, and was fined os and costs 7s BREACH OP ORDER A Maori named Tiki Keti was charged, on tiro information of the police, with procuring liquor at Okate whilst prohibited. Constable D. J. O'Neill (Rahotur'gave evidence, and accused, who did not appear, was fined £3 and costs £2 fis. THE WRONG PERSON CHARGED. Wm. P. Mantle, for whom Mr. Lawry appeared, pleaded not guilty to a charge laid by Inspector Tippins of permitting a horse to stand on the footpath in Brougham street. Inspector Tippins gave evidence.

51r. Lawry stated that defendant usually left his horse in Mr. Veale's yard, securely tied, and while at dinner Mr. F.uss, a cabman, told him that he had found the horse wandering near the club, and had tied St up, but the horse had backed on the footpath. It was not on account of any negligence on the part of accused, rior was it the act of himself or his agent. Evidence was given by defendant and Howard Russ.

The Magistrate, in dismissing the charge, said that but for the kindly action of Russ the offence would not have occurred, and defendant wa* not responsible. The inspector said that had he been told that defendant had not tied the horse up he would never have brought the present charge. He would have to sheet the charge home to the responsible person.

The Magistrate deprecated the attitude of some people in taking a pride in getting an advantage over the inspector, instead of assisting him. Leo Walsh pleaded guilty to a charge of refusing to obey the direction of the borough inspector at Motorua on March 31 (the day of the arrival of the Home liner). He was fined 20s, with costs 7s.

James McNeill, who did not appear, was fined 10s for allowing a horse to, wander on Avenue road.