POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 137, 10 June 1911, Page 8

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M.) j MOTOR DRIVER AT FAULT. j Wm. T. Gilmour (Mr. Singer) pleaded not guilty to a summons of negligently driving a motor car in Karangahape- i road. Tbe charge was the result ol a' slight' collision between a horse and defendant's motor car, about two months | ago. Defendant was following a two- ■ horse dray, driven tandem fashion, up Pitt-street, and at the junction with Karangahape-road defendant attempted to cross in front, and turn towards Sy-monds-st'reet. The leader of the team was struck lightly on tbe nose. Defendant said tbe dray appeared to be turning in the same direction as he wanted to go, and the leader suddenly swerved. Defendant, said Mr. Singer, was the most expert driver in Auckland. He had driven in London, the Continent, and America, and had traversed over 200,000 miles in cars, and had never yet iigrured in an accident. After hearing the evidence his Worship said that' the accident was very slight, and nothing much in it, but one or other of the drivers must have been at fault. He considered the driver of the motor car was at fault. He would be fined 5/ and costs 19/. A STREET FIGHT. The cases pending against Henry Gilbert, Hugh Duggan, Michael Connolly, and Joseph Soul'h were heard. The charges Here that Dugg-an, Connolly, and (South assaulted Wm. Barker on May 20th. thereby •causing him actual bodily harm, that South assaulted Henry Moore by striking him in the face, and that Henry Gilbert did assault Moore by throwing a bottle at him. Duggan and Gilbert were also charged with using threatening behaviour. Mr. Lundon appeared for Gilbert and Connolly, Mr. A. J. Moody for Duggan, and Mr. t-inger for South. Sub-Inspector Hendrey said that the facts as he had them were that five younp men including Barker and Moore, were proceeding up Queen-street on the Saturday night in question, and somewhere about 10.45 they were stuck up by one of the act-used, and a general challeii-ge was given for the best man to light. Moore and his companions said they were not looking for a fight, and immediately South came up and struck a blow at Moore. Moore stepped aside, and the blow missed. Immediately after this Gilbert was seen to throw eitber a glass or a bottle at Moore, and this struck the footpath and broke. Another bottle was thrown at Moore, and he started to run. He heard someone sing out "duck.'' and bending down, a. bottle went over his head. He went for a constable, and returning with him, they found Barker lying unconscious on the footpath. Gilbert and Connolly were at once arrested, and immediately Connolly came up. and tried to prevent the constable taking the arrested men. As to the worst' assault on Barker, there was no actual evidence as to who knocked him down, nor was there actual evidence as to who kicked him, but as be was left in tbe midst of the accused, tbe only inference was that it was their work.

After the 'hearing of considerable evidence all the eases against the accused ■of assaulting Barker were ivithdraTvn. but South and Gilbert 'for the assault on Moore were convicted and fined respectively 10/ and lfi/ costs, and £2 and C I 12/. Gilbert and Duggan, for threatening behaviour, were convicted, Gilbert being discharged, and Dugigan fined 10/ with Hi/ costs.

THE DRUNKARDS. Wm. Henry Quinn, a third offender, ■wa3 fined £ 1 or three days, and Chas. Weal, for drunkenness and procuring" while prohibited, was also fined £ 1 or three days. Two first offenders were lined 5/.