MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13910, 8 December 1910, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.) One first offending inebriate was fined os and costs, in default 24 hours imprisonment, and another, who pleaded that ho had "caught his toe on the. 'toepathV was convicted and ordered to pay 14s medical expenses. George Roderick Murray, a statutory second offender, was lined 10s and costs, m default 48 hours' imprisonment, the Magistrate warning him that he was on a fair way of being sent to Pakatoa. Christina Lawson, with 109 convictions against her, was sent to gaol for twelve months for being an idle and disorderly person.

On a charge ot obtaining the sum of 19s by means of falsely representing that ho was the agent for a certain Christchurch firm, Edward J. Keid was remanded until Wednesday next, tho Chief Detective intimating that other charges were pending. Oii the information of the Heathcote Road Board (Mr F. S. Wilding), Robert Hart, for whom Mr Leathern appeared, was charged on three informations with driving three heavy drays without being licensed to do so. Mr Leathern objected to the cases being brought, on tha ground that the informations had been* laid somo six months ago, and had been withdrawn upon defendant paying the wheel tax. The present cases had been brought, he said, for the purpose of obtaining solicitors' Ices. .Sir Wilding entered an emphatic protest against the allegation. '" He said that three charges out of the six previously laid had been withdrawn "because defendant had pleaded he was hard up. He had refused to pay costs. The Magistrate reserved his decision. Grace Hoddinott was convicted and discharged for riding her bicycle on the footpath, and Charles D. Mackenzie, George Pavne, Cecil J. Giniblett, Lewis Peter Christie, and Victor Tolcher were each lined 7s and costs. Arthur Charles Smale, a lad, was mulcted in 5s and costs.

For having ridden bicycles at night without having lamps attached, Thomas Henry Harvey, A. H. Jewiss, J. Agnew, Frank Herbert Salter, James Murchison, and Edward Hennessy were each fined 10s and costs, and Michael Roily and Henry Hancock, the former who pleaded that his lamp had gone out when he was only 50 yards from his destination, nnd the other, who was a lad, were each ordered to pay 5s and costs.

Horace Randall and John Dacro were charged with riding their bicycles along Sea View road, at New Brighton, at a greater speed than nine miles an hour. The evidence of Constable Rowe showed that a child had been knocked down and hurt. Defendants wero each fined 5s and costs.

John T. Dingle, for driving at night without two lumps attached to his vehicle, was fined os and costs. For allowing horses to wander, Frank Sears was fined os and costs and Richard Sunderland, guilty in respect to four auimals, was fined 10s and costs. A similar charge against Ernest Wright was dismissed, after the Magistrate had heard defendant's explanation. Joseph I-oyelL Joseph Moynrt, John Howard, May Hewitt, Frederick Johnston, Jas. Gordon. Harry Steinman, Albert Sutcliffe, and George Winstone were each fined os and costs for having an unregistered dog. Chas. Hammond was charged with tho theft of money and postal notes to tho value of £3 19s Id, the property of his employers. Mr Loughnan, who appeared for accused, said that ho had hitherto borne an unblemished character, and did not mix with undesirable associates. He had cashed tho notes because he was hard up. Tho Magistrate remarked that he would take the lad's good character into consideration, and would convict him and order him to come up for sentence when called upon. On a charge of vagrancy, Joseph Scott was convicted and sent to tho Salvation Army Homo until such timo as suitable employment was obtained for him and it was deemed advisable to allow him his liberty again. LYTTELTON". . (Before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M.) A lad, aged 14 years, was charged with having, between November Ist and November 28th-, stolen from his employer, Robert Forbes, a largo quantity of goods, including a tent, hvo watches, four razors, twelve pocketknives, etc., of a total value of £13 3s 9d. Mr Hunter appeared for tho lad, who admitted the thefts, and asked that he might be dealt with leniently. His Worsuip convicted tho boy, and committed him to Burnham Industrial School. His father was ordered to contribute 8s per, week towards his maintenance. .

David Taylor was charged with having, between November 7th and November 12th, stolen from his employer a watch and a pocket-knife, valued at Bs. Mr Hunter said that the lad, who was just 16 years old, admitted the offence, which was his first lapse. Mr Bishop severely cautioned the lad, and convicted and discharged him. Stanley David Stewart pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving goods, valued at 12s 6d, from the first accused, knowing tho same to hay© been stolen.

His Worship said he considered the receiver worse than the one who stole the goods. It was fortunate for tho accused that it was his first offence, otherwise ho would have been sent to gaol. Accused was fined 40s, in default one month's imprisonment, and ordered to refund the valuo of the goods, ss. WAIMATE. (Beforo Mr Hutchinson, S.M.) At a sitting of the Juvenile Court a boy twelve years of age pleaded guilty to stealing a bicycle, and was severely reprimanded and discharged. A girl of sixteen years pleaded guilty to stea'lln g ~** 4s in money from the house in which she was stopping, and was convicted, cautioned, and discharged, her mother being ordered to pay the sum stolen, to the owner. In the case, S. H. Lightfoot (Inspector of Factories, Timaru) v. A. S. Jones and Co? defendants pleaded guilty to three charges of breach of the Factories Act by not paying young women employees their wages within the timo prescribed by the Act. A fine of £2 2s was inflicted in each case.

His Worship gave judgment on a case heard by him on November 22nd in which the licensee of the Criterion Hotel, D. Lawlor, was charged with allowing a billiard room to be kept open for play after hours. The billiard room was apart from the hotel building, and leased by defendant to another person. The charge was dismissed.