POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 213, 6 September 1907, Page 5

POLICE COURT.

THIS DAY. (Before Messrs. W. Duncan and Denbigh, J.p.'s.;. Inebriate.—William Davis, a second offender, was fined £ 1 and cab fare, in default 48 hours. Alexander McXair, another second appearance, was fined 10/ with the option of 48 hours. One first offender forfeited bail, and four others paid the customary two half-crowns. On French Leave.—D. Straker, a seaman on the ship Hampton, was brought up to-day charged with absenting himself without leave, and .with- playing up generally wnen he got ashore. He complained that he had not been given a decent show, and expressed supreme contempt for the physical prowess of the Auckland police. "To think it should want two of them to take a little man like mc," he snorted. He was ordered to be returned to his ship, and all costs incurred recovered.

Desertion.—A young maa named James Gates, who admitted that he had deserted from the H.M.S. Powerful, was ordered to be placed on the vessel at the earliest opportunity. By-Law Infringements.—Alfred Goddart, charged with leaving his cart without first attaching the chain, pleaded that some of the roads in Grey Lynn were so bad that it was unsafe to leave a cart standing if the driver didn't wish to get stuck up. He was let off with costs 7/. William Townsend was fined 5/ and costs 7/ for leaving a vehicle unattended in Hobson-street without affixing the chain to the wheel. Peter Perkins, who owned a van not properly licensed, was fined £1 and costs; William Bathurst, for driving a van without being licensed to do so, was fined 1/ and costs 7/; John Laidlaw, for failing to keep as near as practicable to the left side of the street when driving, was fined 5/ and costs 7/.

A Further Remand.—Joseph Coles, accused of stealing £9 belonging to Robert Speck, was, on the application of Detective Cox, remanded for a further week, to allow of the procuring of an important witness from New Plymouth. "Langwidgc". — William Woods was fined f 1 and costs for using "language" on a tramcar on August 29. A Motor Number.—Arthur Thomas Pittar, defended by Mr J. Alexander, pleaded not guilty to driving a motor car without having the registration mark so affixed as to be easily distinguishable. Mr J. Turner, City Traffic Inspector, complained that the number, painted on a grating in front of the car, was not sufficiently legible at all angles. Mr Alexander contended that, in any case, the Motor Regulations Act of 1905, dealing with this question, was not now in force, having been repealed by the Act of last year, and that there was accordingly no machinery in force to say what way a mark shall be affixed, or whether it is distinguishable or obscure, An adjournment was then made to view the car, upon doing which the Bench decided to dismiss the case, as the lettering was considered to be quite sufficiently legible.

Harkins' Point. — The case against Frank Jagger, of carrying on an offensive business at Harkins' Point in contravention of the Public Health Act of 1900 and its amendments, was withdrawn, Mr Mays saying that the charge had been held over since November, during which time defendant had thoroughly complied with all necessary conditions under the Act. He therefore asked leave to withdraw the information, which was granted.