BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1900, 7 November 1913, Page 8

BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE.

TEN PERSONS IN COURT. SOME REMANDS ON HEAVY BAIL. ' ONE MAN IMPRISONED. y-M CITY MOTORMAN IN TROUBLE. As a sequel to Wednesday's riot, several persons appeared before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer charges. Agnes Udall, Charles Johnson, William George Cockell, Alexandor Churchman, and George Johnson were charged with "being members or an unlawful assembly, and conducting themselves in such a manner as to cause persons in the neighbourhood of such assembly to fear, on reasonable grounds, that the persons so assembled would disturb the peace tumultuously."

In these cases the police made application for a remand until November 12. Tho application was granted. In granting the woman bail in the sum of £20, the Magistrate remarked that ho did so only on the distinct understanding that during tho period of her remand she kept away .from all disturbances or assemblages connected with the strike.

Mr. J. F. W. Dickson made apslication for bail on behalf of Cockell. Counsel stated that accused waß not a striker, but Jfad been discharged from the Wajiine. A similar application was made by Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon on behalf of George Johnson. Counsel stated that Johnson was a married man with a family. «He had for the past five years been employed at Hutson's brickworks. He had been led into the crowd bv others.

His Worship remarked .that the defendants had a right to bail, but the amount must be substantial. Bail in the sum of £80, or two sureties of £40 was allowed in each case. Neither Churchman nor Charles Johnson made application for bail. Twenty-one Days' Caol. A. plea of not guilty was entered by Thomas Quirke, when charged with using obscene language to a mounted constable. In the course of evidence the arrest-

ing constable stated that the accused had attempted to break through the line of mounted constables at the corner of Bunny Street and Lambton Quay. When ordered back, he used the language complained of, and also called him (witness) a "scab." Accused defied the charge, and refused to give evidence. A sentence of twenty-one days' imprisonment was imposed. ' Tram Motorman's Conduct. Charges of creating a breach of the peace in. JFeatherston Street were preferred against Henry Edward James Moore, a motorman employed on il» city tramways, and Hugh Collins, a clork. Moore was further charged with absenting himself without leave from H.M.S. Pioneer, from which vessel he deserted two years ago. Collins pleaded not guilty, and was remanded until November 17. Bail was allowed in the sum of £5. Moore pleaded not guilty to the charge of creating a breach of the peace. Evidence in support of the charge was given by a detective, who stated that ho saw accused and Collins engaged in a stand-up fight in Featherston Street. Ho separated them, but they resumed the figtit, and were ultimately arrested. Moore stated that he and Collins had an argument on the question of "unionism." During the course of this argument Collins called him (Moore) a liar, and a fight then took place. Moore further stated that he did not throw stones at the special constables. Mr. Riddell: It is not as if you had not been warned. The papers have warned all persons not connccted with the strike to keep clear of the crowd. You did :iot keep away and you got yourself into trouble. Accused was fined £3, in default 14 days' imprisonment. In respect of the charge of desertion, Moore pleaded guilty, and was ordered to bo detained in prison until si,ch time as he could bo handed over to the naval authorities. The Assault on Sergeant Dew. A big waterside-worker named William Johnstone pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Samuel Joseph Dew, a sergeant of police. When arrested, the accused had two pieces of iron and a union ticket in his possession. Inspector Hendrey stated that the assault was of a very cowardly naturo. Accused had thrown a piece of iron at his victim regardless whether it maimed or killed the sergeant. ' Johnstone was remanded until Wednesday for sentenco, pending further reports as to Sergeant Dew's condition. It was quite probable, explained Inspector Hendrey, that a more serious charge would have to Tie preferred against the'accused. Another Charge. John Troy, another bulky person, was remanded until Wednesday r.ext on a charge of doing actual bodily harm to David William Fraser, a mounted special constable. '• On a recent niglifc four men were discovered by railway officials on tho Tokoniaru raiiway bridge. Suspicion is attached to the ciromnstßucei, but tho jjrito. is .ÜBidswagaA,