MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Wairarapa Age, 12 February 1927, Page 6

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

MASTERTON SITTING. THEFT OF A COAT. A sitting of the Maslerton Magistrate’s Court was held yesterday. Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., presided. Albert Holt, a young man, was charged with having committed a theft of an overcoat, valued at £5, the property of Thomas Vaughan. Accused pleaded guilty, saying that ho took the coat when he was drunk, and did not know *what ho was doing. Sergeant Dyer said that Mr Vaughan had gone to the Soldiers’ Club about 9 p.m. and hung up his coat. When Mr Vaughan loo'ked for his coat at 10 p.m. it had gone. At 11. o ’clock accused went to a boarding-house for a bed, but the following morning had disappeared. The proprietor of the ‘boarding-house saw accused at 6.15 the following evening. IJp was then wearing the gabardine overcoat (produced) and suggested that the boarding-house proprietor should advance him 15s on the coat. This was done. Later on the boarding-house proprietor noticed an advertisement for the coat and telephoned for particulars. It was then ascertained that the coat was Mr. Vaughan’s. Accused was arrested in Wellington. Replying to His Worship, the Sergeant said that Holt was not a member of the Soldiers’ Club, nor was he a returned soldier. Defendant, w'ho had a previous conviction for theft against him, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. PROHIBITION ORDER BROKEN.

John Duffy, for whom. Mr. J. Macfarlane Laing appeared was charged with procuring liquor during a period when a prohibition order was in force him pleaded guilty, and was fined £2 and 8s costs. t BY-LAW AND MOTOR BREACHES. Jack Kerins, for riding a' bicycle without a light, was fined 10s, with 8s costs. James Noble (driver), was charged with using a motor* lorry without a heavy traffic license, and also with operating a motor lorry not equipped with a reflector. A. Capewell (owner) was charged with permitting the motor lorry to be used. After Inspector John McGregor had given evidence, Noble was fined £2 and costs for using the lorry without a license, and the owner was also fined £2 and costs. On the charge of using the lorry without a reflector, each defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs. TROUBLE OVER WAGES. William Condon, occupier of a factory: was charged with failing to pay an employee, T. Manion, his wages at not more than fortnightly periods, and with failing to keep a wages and overtime book. The Inspector of Factories appeared for the prosecution. For failing to pay Manion his wages regularly defendant was fined £1 and 10s costs, and for failing to keep a wages and overtime book defendant was fined £2 and 13s costs. A DEFENDED CASE. William Leslie Udy. 21 years of age, of Parkvale, Ekotahuna, w r as charged (1) with driving a gig without lights, and (2) with negligently driving a gig. Mr. H. R. Biss, for defendant, pleaded guilty to the first charge, and not guilty to the second. The evidence of Constable Wilson recemetery hill, Whakataki) was contracharge of negligence arose (when defendant’s gig was turned over on the cemetery hill, Whakataki, was contradicted by defendant and also by Thomas Victor Wright, another drover who was in the gig at the time. His Worship said that on the charge of driving without lights the defendant would be fined 10s and 8s costs. In the other case the Magistrate said that when the evidence of the two drovers was examined it was found that the constable’s evidence was supported. His Worship said he believed the constable’s story. Defendant was convicted and fined 20s and 'Bs costs.