MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 84, 15 May 1914, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.) Four first offenders were each fined 5/-, with the usual alternatives. BY-LAW BREACHES. George Sage, for bicycling on the footpath, was fined 7/-. John Jones, James Burke, Julia Wilding, and Newman Johns were each fined in the sume. amount for similar offences. William Reid, who rode his cycle without a light, was fined 10/-, with costs. James Jessop, who drove his motor cycle too fast over a crossing, was fined 5/-. Edward O 'Brien was charged with alighting from a moving car, and was fined 5/-. Hannah Sewell, who admitted falling off a tram car was fined the same amount. William Scott, for attempting to board a moving car, was fined 5/-. William Charles Ealham was charged with leaving a motor cycle on the road unlighted. He was convicted and order to pay witnesses' expenses, 5/-. William Gallagher, who left a horse and vehicle unattended for more than five minutes, was fined 5/- with costs. Glendwr Powell, who allowed his horse to wander in the street at Sydenham, ,;was fined 5/-.

Charles B. Higgs, the owner of ■ a. motorcycle, was charged "with riding his machine and allowing'another person tp ride such bicycle on other than the part provided for accommodation.'' The, Senior-Sergeant explained <that this was brought under the new bylaws, but he was of opinion that it referred only to taxi cabs. The defendant had had a passenger on his luggage carrier, and he admitted the fact. The city motor inspector was called, and gave evidence that the'by : law referred only to licensed passengervehicles. The motor inspector, from the witness ibox, volunteered- the information that people carrying passengers on the backs of their machines were a danger to the public, and might be proceeded against under another section dealing with that offence.

"I know whether they arc a danger to others," said Mr Bailey: '' they are certainly a danger to themselves. " , The information was dismissed.

• John William Blyth was charged with driving a flock of sheep through Rutland Street shortly after midday. He was fined 5/- with costs. George Barker was charged with failing .to keep to the right side of the road when driving a motor car. After hearing evidence the Magistrate dismissed the information. On a charge of using insulting language lie was fined 10/- With costs. Mr Johnston appeared for defendant. LYTTELTON. ' (Before Messrs W. C. Cleary and F. W. Anderson, J.P's.) THE GERALDINE MURDER. Harry Cripps appeared on remand on .the charge of the murder of Adam Stevenson at Geraldine on April 23rd. On the application of Senior-Sergeant Ryan Cripps was remanded to appear at Geraldine at 9.30 a.m. on May 20. AN ECHO OF THE STRIKE. Alexander Reid appeared on a summons laid by John Moody that at the Christehurch railway station on May 7, lie did use threatening behaviour, whereby a breach of the peace was occasioned. Mr A. T. Donnelly appeared for Reid and pleaded not guilty. Seiiior-Sergt. Ryan said that for some considerable time a number, of the new members of the Arbitration Union had been subjected to insulting remarks while travelling in the trains. Several of the members of the Wharf Labourers' Union reside in Christehurch and make the train trip daily. On May 7 Reid was alleged to have said that "You can smell the this morning." Moody then asked what was meant, and the men came to blows, ending in Moody's head going through j a railway carriage window. ! John Moody, the complainant, said j that in the melee he sustained a cut ! lip and had his head pushed through j the carriage window. | Charles Davis and Galvin Telford, j wharf labourers, who were in company j with Moody on the morning of the assault, gave corroborative evidence. Alexander Reid, boilermaker, of Addington workshops for the past ten years, in stating his defence said that on the morning of May 7 he travelled from Lyttelton to Christehurch. He did not notice Moody till he was approached by him. Moody wanted to know what were the remarks lie- (Reid) had made. Moody rushed off the train and grabbed him round the waist. A scrimmage resulted, ami he only acted on the defensive. It was' in pushing hi in away that Moody 's head went through the carriage window .The only remark he had made on leaving the train was "Here we are again."

Wm. Harkess, called by the defence, said that the words used were "Here we are again."

The evidence of others 'was taken in support of the defence, and the bench decided that, considering the conflicting evidence, the information would be dismissed.

DARFIELD.

At the Darfield Court yesterday, before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M ~H. Somerville, of Kirwee, was convicted and discharged for failing to attend drill, and A. A. Montgomery, of Springfield,

was fined 10/- and costs for a similar offence.

iFor allowing cattle to trespass on tlie railway, J. Hoglund (Springfield) was ordered to pay 9/6 expenses. Annie Brownlee (Springfield) was similarly penalised. Michael Morrissey was fined 10/- and costs for breach of a prohibition order, and was convicted for being on licensed premises. .Tames Watson, for accompanying a prohibited person into licensed premises, was ordered to pay costs. Judgments for plaintiffs were given by default in the following cases: —Malvern County Council v. W. J. Adams, claim £3 9/6; E. Boocock v. W. H. Bell, £1 2/3.; same v. R. S. Stanley, claim £3 8/4; same v. C. J. Bloor, claim £24 11/7. RANGIORA. (Before Messrs C. I. Jennings and C. R. Good, J.P's.) ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING. Carl Klingberger was charged with breaking and entering the house of H. Mehrtens, on Tuesday, May 12. The prosecution was conducted by Sergeant Mackay. llie. evidence was to the effect that Mr and. Mrs Mehrtens retired to bed about 7.30 p.m. on the night in question. At about 8.15 they were awakened by the dog barking, and the accused, whom Mr Mehrtens recognised by his foreign accept, was trying to seize the dog. He next heard the accused trying all the doors and windows. He went to sleep again, and was awakened by hearing his wife say, "Who's there?" Then he heard the smashing of glass. He jumped out of bed in time to see a man climbing out of , the window of the dining room. His wife also jumped out of bed, unlocked the front door, and ran round to the back. He saw accused jumping over the wall, and recognised him by his back. He would know the accused anywhere,/because he worked for him. - Klingberger gave evidence on his own behalf, and also called evidence to prove, that he was in the Red Lion Hotel'about 8.5 p.m. Th 6 Bench decided that a prima facie' case had been made, out, and committed the accused for trial.