POLICE COURT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1926, Page 13

POLICE COURT NEWS

CHARGES IN NEW PLYMOUTH, DESERTING SEAMAN TO PAY COSTS. Desertion from the s.s. Tasmania on or about- April 12 was the charge preferred against Richard Mulvaney a seaman, in the Police Court at New Plymouth yesterday. The vessel had sailed for Wellington the next day, Detective Meiklejohn explained. Considerable assistance had been rendered the Union Steamship Company by Mulvaney on one or two occasions since his desertion, said the manager, Mr. A. R. Thompson. He would not like the man to be dealt with severely, as he had helped the company out of a difficulty. The Tasmania was now on her way from Liverpool to Fremantle, and would not be coming to New Zealand. “He is a rather decent type of man and is fairly industrious,” said the detective. “He has behaved himself since he left the ship.” Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M. (to Mulvaney): What have you got to say for yourself? Mulvaney: I have nothing to say, sir. The magistrate told him that the fact that the police had a good opinion of him made all the difference. He would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence' when called upon and would have to pay costs £2 7s and witness’ expenses os. It would depend on himself ■whether the offence was referred to again in court. UNREGISTERED MOTOR-CAR. “Since the police have taken proceedings I have lost my job,” said Neville Brennan, formerly a motor-car salesman, who pleaded guilty to driving an unregistered car on the Breakwater Road on November 13.

It was a demonstration car, said Sen-ior-Sergeant McCrorie. He contended it was being used for pleasure at the time. Brennan had been dismissed for this and another breach of the by-laws. Brennan said lie was taking the car back to the garage. In consideration of the fact that defendant had already been punished, the magistrate intimated that he would convict him and order him to come up for sentence when called upon. He would have to pay costs amounting to 7s. It was customary in such cases to inflict a heavier penalty, however. For allowing his motor-car to stand in Powderham Street without lights at 8 p.m. on October 30, Henry Percy Metcalf was convicted and ordered to pay costs amounting to 265. He pleaded guilty and explained that he had drawn his car up outside a garage to have a puncture repaired. He could find no one about at the time. A plea of guilty was entered on behalf of Edward Beal, who was charged with stopping his motor-lorry in St. Aubyn Street on October 2 without giving warning by holding ou£ his right hand. As a result of the omission Sergeant Martin was unable to draw up his cycle before touching the back of the vehicle and he injured his hand. Beal was fined 10s, with costs 7s. “If the complaints continue he can expect to pay something to the State as well,” said the magistrate when ordering A. A. Francis, of Dunedin, to pay costs amounting to £2 2s on an application for arrears of maintenance of his two children. The case was brought by Mrs. E. V. Foot, who was previously married to Francis. The arrears mentioned amounted to £l5, but since the summons had been issued they had been paid. A prohibition order was issued against Percy Phillip Eva.