THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15454, 6 December 1915, Page 2

THE COURTS.

« MAGISTERIAL. (Before Mr 11. W. Bishop, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Ono male first offender was fined ss, : in default 24 hours' imprisonment. A TAXI DRIVER'S LAPSE. George liieks, for whom Mr Cassidy appeared, pleaded guilty to a charge of having been found drunk whilst in charge of a taxi-cab. His Worship said that he held strong views regarding a man who got drunk whilst in charge of a taxi. There was no excuse for him. Ho was a danger to the public. If he -wanted to get drunk ho should wait till he got home. Hicks was also charged with having stolcu a bottle of lemonade, value 2d, from Solly Mahomet. Hicks' pleaded guiltv to *this charge also. A fine of 20s, or 48 hours' imprisonment, was imposed in respect to tho first charge; on tho second Hicks was oonvicted and discharged. CIVIL BUSINESS. There was no appcaranco of the judgment debtors in tho following cases in which orders were made: — Sidney Obery was ordered to pay Bell l>ros. .€4 12s 6d forthwith, in default four days' imprisonment. P. Percival •was ordered to pay Marriner Bros. £4 6s Gd forthwith, in default four days imprisonment.

LYTTELTON. (Before Messrs C. Ferrier and L. A. Stringer, J.P.'s). DRUNKENNESS AND OBSCENE LANGUAGE. Joseph Gallagher,, a youthful-looking person, pleaded guilty to a charge of being found drunk on the ferry wharf on Thursday night. He was also chargcd with using obscene language in tho same place. He admitted the charge of drunkenness. but had no recollection of _ using the language charged against him. On tho charge of drunkenness he was convicted aud discharged, and on that •of using obscene language was fined ■to, or in default, a month's imprisonment-. FORGERY. Further evidence in the case against George Williams, alias Edward Aiden Thomas, of forginrr * certificate of character under tho Stripping and Seamen's Act. 1903.. purporting it to be signed by Captain R. Pearson. master of the Opouri was heard. Captain Pearson, master of the steamer Opouri. stated that the letter j-.rodneed did not his signature. He did not know the accused, and did not give him a recommendation of any kind. Jamps Patterson, superintendent of tho Sailors' Home at Lyttelton. said the accused had staved at the Home for two days last month. He had aaked for a sheet of paper and in envelope, with which witness supplied him. ll© recognised tlx* paper produced as that which he had given the accused. Tho accused pleaded guilty to the charge and was committed for sentence at tho next sitting of the Supreme C-oiirt.