POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 187, 7 August 1913, Page 4

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. E. C. Cuttea, S.M.)

DRUNKENNESS.

Three actual first oflenders were fin,<l 5/ apiece, a-nd the price of relaps/ lo two, whose last appearance occurred more than six months ago, was '0/ each. Patrick Criminins and Jaiue, \f Taylor also had to pay 10/ apiece. WHEN IT WAS DARK. For driving vehicles at Dev-wiport after sunset without having proper Lgh-u Kobert I£. Jackson, Albert Frost Ind James King were each fined 10/ and -/ costs. Joseph Lyons, for similarly infringing the by-law on Lake Road, "prof, fered tie explanation that a shaft of his vehicle broke while he was c-n the road home, an-d the work of getting it repaired delayed him till after sundown. He was ordered to pay 7/ costs.

For a similar breach of the by-laws, in Symonds Street, William Pratt was fined 5/ and 7/ costs.

THE IMPATIENT TRAMCAB. , His Worship gave judgment •' hi the prosecution against Chirlea Scale, a tramcar conductor, charged that on June 0 he caused a .tramcar to be started before an intending passenger, who iru entering the car, had properly boarded it. The case wae heard on July 1, and the evidence for the prosecution was to the effect that an old lady had put a child of six years on the step of the car (at the Three La-mps etop), and hereelf ■had one foot on the step, when the car started, with the result that the lady was thrown to the ground.

His Worship said that the difficulty arose not so much from eareleesnree afi from an unwise arrangement between the conductor of the caT and the motorman in which the motorman, when the conductor was busy taking tickete, should look back to see that all the passengers were on, signal to the conductor with his gong that everything wu6 right, and then receive the eta-rting eignal from the conductor. For the conductor to give the signal to start without himself teeing that everything -was right was an obvioue breach of duty, and ihie Worship hoped that the arrangement remarked on would not be continued. Aβ the expenses were heavy only a email fine woul-d be imposed. Defendant wonld be filled 10/, and ordered to pay all costs. JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS.

When Joseph South and Jamee South were called a3 principal parties respoasible for an assault on Edward Reardon and Horace Bunn in the Royal Hotel, Joseph did not put in an appearance.

Horace Bunn told the story of the affair from his point of view, which waa that of the man in front of the fist. He was in the bar of the Royal Hotel on the evening of Friday, July 11, he said,'when Joseph South came in, and got in front of him. As he reached for, his drink, past South, he said to the latter, "Excuse mc, brother." "You're no blank ■brother of mine," remarked South, and he struck Bunn. The barman jumped over the counter, and put South out. Next day, shortly after 6 p.m.-, Bunn and Eeardon were again in the bar of this Koyal Hotel, in different compartments, when Joseph South (Bunn said) rushe.l up to Bunn, saving. "You're the one," and set upon him, blacking one of his eyes and' breakiilg tbf'ee of his teet-h. After the assault South left ■

Eeardon said that lie was in the bur on the Friday when Joseph South ;"left by request." He was also in the bar oh the Saturday, and saw Joseph South rush at Bunn "like a tigerj.'. and assault him as described. After the fight wa3 over somebody struck him (Eeardon) in the mouth, breaking a tooth.. He didn't know who struck him, but James South, whom he knew, met him in jjhe bar just afterwards, and said that he was responsible for the blow.

A barman, in describing the Saturday night mix-up, said that Joseph South and a younger brother (not James).were in the fight that Joseph etarted with Bunn. When they were finished . with, Bunn they were swinging tUeir arm? round and lashing at anyone they could reach. James South wasn't in the.roir, and witness didn't think he struck Reardon.

James South admitted having told Reardon he struck him, but added that he did not strike the blow, and only made the remai-k to Reardon to shield the young brother. Gus, who wae in the disturbance with Bunn.

The charge against James South was dismissed, and Joseph South was convicted and sentenced to three months' hard labour. The Magistrate also directed that an information should be laid against Gus South.

MISCELLANEOUS. Jennie Davidson (30), for soliciting in Grey Street, was fined 10/, and prohibited. James Hog-an and Vvilliam lAneen, on charges respectively of stealing , and receiving, were remanded till Thursday next.

X. X. "Walker and W. H. Bout, w-ho ■had neglected the necessary formality of informing- the Registrar of Births, within 62 days of the event, of an important family addition, were fined 5/ and 1/ costs each for tie omission.

John R. McFarlane, ior permitting his drains at Xorthcote to be a nuisance! was fined 10/ and 28/ costs.