R.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3793, 24 April 1891, Page 3

R.M. COURT.

MA STEBTON—FRIDAY. (Before Colonel Roberts, R.M.) BREACH OF RAILWAY BY-LAWS. M. P. Britt was charged by Sergt. Price with a breach of the Railway By-Laws in travelling between Carterton and Masterton on March 20ih without having previously paid his fare. John Johnston, sworn, stated that he was Guard on the Government Railway between Eketahana and Cross' Creek. He knew the ac.used, **. who travelled on the railway on 20th March. He got in at Carterton. Applied to him for his ticket soon after leaving Carterton, and he handed him the half produced. This was no good. Told him the ticket was no good, and requested the payment of the usual fare, 2s Bd. He refiwed to pay. The ticket available for one month fronflßßate of issue, and was issned on Math 19. The ticket would not have been snipped had it been good. It was no good between and Masterton because it punched. The ticked had been by a guard. He had drawn Vthe attention of the stationmastet at ¥ Masterton to the matter. * Benjamin Cockburn, stationroaster at Masterton, deposed to knowing the accused. On the 20th March his attention was drawn to the accused by the guard of the goods train, who showed him the ticket produced. The guard said he had received it from, a passenger in the train, but it was no good as it had been purchased. Mr Britt was pointed out as the holder of the ticket and witness interviewed him and* asked him for the amount of his fare. He declined to pay, stating that he had purchased the ticket at Eketahnna. The ticket had been issued at either Eketahnna or Carterton on March 19th. The ticket having been punched was no good to the accused when he got it at Carterton. Refused p. to allow the accused to proceed to ■" Eketahnna under the circumstances. Had the ticket been whole the accused could have travelled between Carterton and Eketahnna with it. For the defence, the accused stated that on the morning of the 20th he got a return ticket from the stationmaster at Eketahnna. He went to Carterton, and shortly before arriving there the guard came to him for his ticket. He gaye him two tickets, one a yellow and one a blue. He was getting oat at Carterton and asked the guard for bis ticket. The guard gave him one and he he put it in his pocket. This was the same as he gave to the guard coming to Masterton. Sergeant Price stated that there were no tickets colored yellow and blue issued on the railway. The accused: Oh, God ! I might be mistaken. I might think it yellow and you might call it blue. Yon know me Sergeant Price, I would not rob the Government of 2s 3d. Sergeant Price: I know that yen would not rob the Government unless by mistake. But still, there's the ticket. I*m not prosecuting, it is the Commissioners. *fc The Bench : I must convict you. A penalty of 5s and 7s costs is inflicted. At the same time if you j consider you are hardly, dealt by, you can apply for a rehearing. The accused: I consider it i unjust. I won't pay. Sergeant Price : There you are again, you are up to your old games. Tne Bench: You have till ten o'clock to-morrow morning in which to pay the fine. The accused: I don't care, I won't ply, even though I get twelve months.