STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD.

S.M. COURT. 'l-rom Our Own Correspondent). Strutfordf-Jan. li). Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., presided at the court sittings here tiiis a fteruooii. Francis Alex. MeMinn, charged with attempted suicide, by cuttiug Itis throat with a pen knife, in Broadway, on January 1, was convicted and discharged, after being admonished by the S.M., and ordered to pay costa totalling £22 9a Od. At the request of the police, charges brought against Fred Whittle (keeping hotel open after hours), T. A. Sullivan (breaches of the Licensing Act) and R. Williams (Kaponga), Hugh Campbell (railway employee), George Smith and Philip Beere (stock agent), for being on premises and not being bona fide lodgers, were all adjourned to the sitting 011 February 15. Charges preferred against Horace Phillips, Ngaere, for retaining a man on his farm who was wanted for the Expeditionary Forces; and Neilson, contractor, for employing a man who had not registered, were also adjourned to February 15. TRAIN—CAR COLLISION. F. C. Hopkins, taxi driver, was charged with committing a breach of the Railway Act, by attempting to cross a level crossing without taking proper precautions. Sergeant Dale conducted the ease, and Mr. Rutherford represented Hopkins. S. F. Beniielt. driver, stated that he assisted to bring up the southern express on December 22. The train was an hour late, and his engine ran on to Midhirst and then returned to Stratford. It stopped at Stratford station, and then came on to the crossing. He did not see the motor-car himself, being on the other side of the engine. He was clear about sounding the whistle, and had lights showing on the engine. J. Hancock, porter, said he was present when the engine arrived back from Midhirst. Half way between the station and the crossing the whistle' was sounded. When approaching the Fenton street crossing he heard the fireman sing out "Whoa!" and then heard a crash. He heard the bell ringing before, the collision. To Mr. Rutherford: He was positive about hearing the bell and whistle going, whilst the engine carried lights. D. Nolan, signalman, stated he was 'on duty on the night of the accident. He saw the engine'approaching, and sounded the bell, and the engine whistled. The engine carried a light. Walter Smith, laborer, said he saw the car go down the street, and was sure the bell started to ring after the collision. He did not see any lights on the engine. He was positive the collision occurred before the bell rang. Constable Tizard deposed that shortly after the accident he had a conversation with Hopkins, who stated that he did not hear the engine approach, or see any lights. Air. Rutherford said defendant was certain .the bell was not ringing on the occasion. The night "was dark, and it wasn't an hour when a man would expect a train, The express was an hour late, and the engine went on to Midhirst. so it would be about one and a half hours late. Defendant had taken every precaution. He then called F. C. Hopkins, defendant, who said he was going down Fenton street and he did not observe* the engine on the crossing until It was almost on him. The bell did not start ringing until after the collision. The engine struck the side of the car, swinging it round. To Sergeant Dale: Was going between five and six miles an hour, and could pull the car up in a quarter of its length. Within five yards of the line he could see half way down the line. He did not hear the bell ring until after the collision. R. H. Campbell, wlio was in the car, and H. R. Gibson gave evidence. The latter was positive (here was no light showing on the engine. S. F. Bennett, recalled, said the engine had two lights. He was certain of this. They could not leave without lights, and besides the leading light, he also had a red tail light. After briefly reviewing the evidence, judgment was given against Hopkins, who was fined £1 and costs. JLL-TRKATING SHEEP. A, .7, Reading, Ngaere, farmer, was I charged'with ill treating sheep. Sergeant Dale prosecuted, and Mr. Stanford defended. The sergeant said the police had instituted this charge under the Police Offences Act, but it was very probable that a civil action' would arise out of file same case. Nicholas B. Fry day, farmer, said his property in the C'limie road adjoined that of Reading. On January 4 he saw defendant chasing sheep and lambs off his (Reading's) property. Defendant ran alongside the sheep, carrying a large stick, with which he was hitting the sheep until they jumped the fence on to Fryday's land. There were three ewes and two lambs. When he saw Reading, defendant said: ''Keep your sheep on your - land." Defendant knocked one sheep down, and it died. He never saw defendant strike the lamb, which was lying down in a creek, exhausted, and alongside was the stick (produced). When he struck the ewe the stick was intact, but was broken when found alongside the lamb. He had the skin removed from the ewe, and found bruises on the back, and on the skin on the back of the head blood was found. He admitted his sheep were trespassing, but there was nothing to prevent defendant from quietly driving the stock to the pound. Mr. Stanford said this was something in the nature of a neighbors' quarrel. Mr. Reading had had *i>me trouble with Mr. Fryday's sheep. In hlsicxamination of Mr. Fryday, the latter admitted that Reading had remonstrated with him re"-' garding repairs to the fence. He could not see the sheep being struck at first until he got close. The sheep ran ahead of the dog, and defendant followed. He had examined the fence and post. He saw wool on the wire, but not on the post. It was not consistent to say the sheep ran into the post and received injuries. He was positive there was only six sheep trespassing, and the fence was ten feet away. He could not see the lamb ill-treated, but could see Reading raising the stick. The sheep were running, and "a wild man was after them." He did not send a man to take the sheep away from the defendant, and gave him no instructions to that effect. Evidence was given by E. Taylor and H. Knight regarding the locality of the farms, conditions of the fences, etc. Before putting defendant in the box, Mr. Stanford stated that the chargesheet made it one of ill-treating two sheep, whereas not one of the witnesses had seen defendant strike more than one sheep, and Constable Tizard admitted that in laying tf,.-. charge of ill-treating sheep, the lamb was omi of the two iaditel tad a bt of

trouble with the sheep trespassing. On the 4th instant he tried to get, the sheep away. Frydivy accused him of killing his sheep, and lie denied this saying he was taking them to the pound. He drove the sheep down to the smaller gate to get them oil to the road, and the sheep ran up the road towards Fryday's property. To Sergeant Dale: lie had been a daily farmer for some years, but did not know much about sheep. Regarding the injury to the sheep, he thought it might have been caused through being hung up in the fence. Denied ill-treating sheep. In driving the sheep, he was only following the advice of his solicitor to have them impounded. He was not prepared to give an opinion as to the possibility of a sheep getting its ears anil back of its head injured through coming into contact with a fence. He admitted that he twirled his stick overhead to make the sheep go. He stood over one which was stuck in the mud, and by twirling the stick hoped to frighten it to move. He did not stop to help it out of the mud, as he had to follow up the other sheep. He admitted that he struck the sheep which w r as stuck in the mud, but did not ill-treat any of the others. The S.M. held that the charge had been proved, and fined defendant £2 and costs £2 3s. MOTOR-CYCLE REPAIRS. A claim by F. Norcross (Mr. Thomson-) against W. Barlow (Mr. Coleman) was for £7 2s (id, for repairs to a motorcycle. From the evidence it was shown that Barlow lent' his cycle to a man named Richardson, and the latter took it to the garage to be repaired. Noreross said Barlow promised to pay for same, but it was only a verbal promise. After hearing evidence, the S.M. awarded plaintiff £1 12s Cd, with costs 15s. GENERAL. The patriotic mart to-morrow will be controlled by Mrs. Paynter, whilst Mesdames Bridge and Good will have charge of the mart. It is desired to be made known that ±he takings at the mart will go to the Red Cross funds, and at the tea rooms to trench comforts. Mrs. W. H. Harris has received the distressing news that her brother, Private Frank Wrobleske, was killed in action in France on December 8. This is the second brother she has lost, the first making the j supreme sacrifice at Gallipoli. ! The Wharehuia settlers mustered strongly to the welcome-home tendered to Private McCracken and Trooper Witt this week. Both soldiers were presented with addresses of welcome, whilst congratulatory addresses were delivered by Messrs I'. 11. Wellington and G. Sangster. A short but very enjoyable programme of songs, recitations,- etc., was contributed by Mesdames Collett, Edgewear, Boolmer, Miss Sangster and Masters Judd and Hamilton. The accompaniments were tastefully played by Miss Sangster. A meeting of the executive committee of the A. and P. Association was held last evening. Present: Messrs. .T. W. Boon (president) in the chair, C Jackson, W. J. Lopdell, T. Ranford, W. Jones, A. Huggett and R. Dingle. Olsen Bros, Kginont Village, were thanked for their donation of £fi for next show. The Methodist Sunday school was granted the use of the grounds for n picnic on- 24tli or .list instant, and the Stratford District High School also granted the use of the grounds for a similar purpose, The protest entered by Mr. Holmes against Mr. Linnell in the dog section was considered. The committee dismissed the appeal, and disqualified Mr. Linnell's dog for being unregistered. Only circus horses ,are to be allowed on the showgrounds in future gatherings between H a.m. and :> p.m. Mr. C. Smith (Brunswick, Watiganni) was elected a member

It is very frequently a perplexing duty in trying to discover just what would please him for a birthday gift. Don't trouble any longer, but just hasten to C. E. James' warehouse, and if he prefers a pipe you will find the -best varieties here, ditto smokes. If he likes literature choice reading will be found on the shelves. If in need of military brushes, the shop for the purchase is C.E. James', don't forget it.*