MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13108, 6 May 1908, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Mr H. "W. Bishop, 6.51., presided at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Cecilia McMillan was convicted ana fined 20a and costs for behaving in a disorderly manner while drunk. John D. Speight was fined 203 and costs for procuring liquor during tao currency of a prohibition order. Arthur J. Cargo was similarly charged. Mr Caseidy appeared for *lefeudant, and for leniency. ThA Magistrate, as this was a first breach of tee order, fined accused 20s and costs-

Mary , Sidpn (Mr Donnelly) was charged with importuning on April 3rd. Station SerjjeaJit Johnson stated that the chief -witness tor tho prosecution had not put in an appearance, despite tho fact that ho had been duly served with a summons. Tho Magistrate therefore dismissed the case. A second charge- ot a similar nature against tho same defendant was adjourned for & week. John Black was charged with using obscene language. Tho complainant in this case dki not appear, and the case was dismissed. A CA§E DISMISSED. Jlobert Young Ferguson was charged with obtaining £3 from Edward Power by means of a valueless chaque. Edward Power stated that on January 31st last defendant gave him a cheque for £3 on tho Bank of New South Wales, Nelson. Witness cashed tho cheque, but subsequently it was returned to him by tho bauk marked "no account." Ho did not lay the information in this case. Ono of the detectives who happened to visit his hotel saw tho cheque lying on his desk and took it away to make enquiries in regard to the matter. The next thing he knew was that tho polio© had arrested defendant for the offence. Defendant had pa%tho money some timo prior to his arrest, and witness did not wish to have 'proceedings taken against him. Detective Ward said that ho arrested €ho accused at Gcraldine. In reply to the charge, ho eaid he had imade a mistake. Ho had a banking ■account at xVshburton. and intended ■to get it transferred to Nelson, but ho forgot all about the-matter. In ■regard to the statement made by_ Mr Power as to how the police obtained (possession of tho cheque, it was not quite accurate. He happened to be iimaking enquiries in regard _to the accused at tho Masonic Hotel in April. Power remarked that Ferguson had given him a valueless cheque. He took the cheque from tho safe, and handed it to witness, and asked him to make some enquiries in regard to it. The Magistrate said ho certainly took exception to the erbatoment made by Mr Power. Some people, it eeemed.to him, excused themselves by putting the *down to officious interference on tho part jef the* police. The case -would be dismissed. THEFT. Wm. Emerson pleaded guilty to -stealing two bicycle tubes from the Railway Department's sheds. Mr Leathern stated that the, accueed had borne an excellent ch-amacter hitherto. The tu!bas bad 'been given to him by another mam, and defendant sold them to a bicycle dealer at Sydenham for ss, and they wore subsequently traced back to defendant. The Magistrate said that these thefts were rather frequent, and numerous complaints were made to the police abtmt them. It seemed to Mm that tbcro was grnnt difficulty in sheeting tho charges homo judging by the few oases of this description that came into Court. As this was accused's first offence he would give him tfhe option of a fine—though it would be a substantial amount. Hk> -would bo fined £5 and costs, in default one month's imprisonment. I MAINTENANCE CASES. < i Charles Henry Preece applied to have a maintenance order for the support of his wife cancelled. Tho Magistrate granted jfche application. Alexander Findlay Anderson made a similar request, which was aleo granted. Chas. Newbory was charged with deserting his wife, who applied for an order under the Married Persons Summary' Separation Act. Mr Fleeher appeared for complainant and Mr Donnelly for defendant. After hearing a ouantity of evidence, the Magistrate dismissed the application for a separation order, but ordered defendant to coutributo 15s a week towards the support of his wife. ' • ♦ John Page (Mr Wright) was charged with failing to provide maintenance for an illegitimate child. Mr Cassidy appeared ior complainant, and after hearing the evidence of complainant, her, mother, and defendant, the case was adjourned for a week, in order to allow defendant to call other witnesses.