MAGISTERIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6700, 18 October 1905, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

ASHBUKTON-WEDNBSDAY.

(Before his Worship the Mayor and Mr B ' Alcorn, Justices of the Peace.)

ALLEGED THEFT,

A young man named Henry Frnncia Smith T&fas charged with haying sfco'en a bicycle at; Eakaia on October '3rd, valued at Jib, the property of Ernest Spehoe.

Accused, who was undefended, pleaded guilty. Sergeant Fouhy stated the accused had a long }ist of previous convictions against h?m for theft, bui;g!ary, and' prisqn breaking. Spu'th p'lpa'dpd tp be deq.lt with aurutnarily, and said that if the Bench viewed the case leniently he would promise to reform. His parents resided in Ashburton, and had agreed'to fiad him employment in the locality. ■ ' Sergeant Fouhy said that the accused had disposed of the bicycle to & board in q;housekeeper in Dunedin for 10s as payment for board.

Accused, in reply to the Bench, said his mother had agreed to refund th ( e $Qs to tiia purchaser of tho mncbins.' The Bench said they regretted to see a young man in such a position, more especially when the respectability ef his family was taken into consideration. In view of the accused having promised to reform, thpy would deal leniently with him. The offence was a aerious one, and accused woujd be sent £0 gao| for 3 months? han} labour. $Y-LAYF CASES v . James Bland, whp did not appear, was fined 10s and oostd for riding a bicycle iv East Street after dark, without a light. James Johnstone pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle in East Street without a light. Defendant said the night wns v&ry clear, and he did not usmlly break the law in this manner. The Bench imposed a penalty or 5s without costs. Arthur Madden, oharged with allowing •a calf to roam about the streets, pleaded guilty and wbb fined 2s 6d and costs. Henry Reeves, a lad, was fined 5s and costs for riding a bicycle on the footpath within the Borough. 411 the above Hhargea were laid at the instigation of the police, The Bench said that they intended to doal more severely with persons who broke the by-laws in the future. Riding bicycles after dark without lights and on the footpaths was becoming a serious praotioe and a menace to public safety. The Court then adjourned.