THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16147, 27 February 1918, Page 2

THE COURTS.

v SUPREME COURT. PRISONERS TOR SENTENCE. The following prisoners are to coma up for sentence this morning:—Harold John Eelv\arcl Barrett, theft; Gcardon Francis Walls, attempted arson. MAGISTERIAL. (Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.) IMPORTUNING. Annie Wilson (Mr Twyncham) plead, ed guilty to a charge of importuning in Madras street. ' Accused was given, a chance, and was Ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. MAINTENANCE CASES. Bartly Hynes was ordered to pay 10s per week for tho maintenance of his -illegitimate child. Robert Garrick was ordered to pay 2s 6d per week towards tho support of his mother. Wm. Pago Scott was ordered to pay 15s a week towards the maintenance of his wife and four children. On the application of his wife Christopher C. Flanagan's maintenance order of £2 os was increased to £3 per week. May Smith, who was in arrears £43 for the maintenance of her child, and came up for sentence, had the order and arrears cancelled. Henry L. Bourk was ordered to pay 2s 6d per week towards the support of his mother. Margaret Rolfe applied for a separation order from her husband, G. W. Rolfe, on the ground of habitual drunkenness and persistent cruelty. After hearing the evidence his Worship adjourned tlie case for a month, and ordered the husband to pay 30s a week maintenance for that time. A prohibition order was also issued against Rolfe, with his consent. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. Harry Jackson (Mr Dougall) claimed £155 3s 7d from Wm. Steele (Mr John, ston) as damages alleged to have been received in a motor collision, which occurred, it was alleged, through defendant's action in leading plaintiff to believe that he (defendant) was about to turn to the right up Glandovoy road from the Fcndalton road. A number of witnesses were examined for the complainant, the case taking all the afternoon, and his Worship then adjourned the further hearing until Friday afternoon. . ASHBURTON. (Before Messrs R. Clark and \Y. W. White, J.P.'s.) John Waddell, t on each of two charges of exceeding tho speed limit with a motor-car, was fined 20s and costs. John Williams and Alfred Silcock, for similar offences, wero- each fined 10s. A conviction without fine was entered against Elsie Toppin for riding a bicycle on a footpath. COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER S ADVENTURE. SUIT FOR DAMAGE. A case presenting some unusual features came before his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) at the Supreme Court at Wellington on Monday. The plaintiff -was Percy George Waller, commercial traveller, Christchurcli, and the defendants Hamilton Gilmer, Wellington, and the Public Trustee, as trustee in tho estate of the lata Mary Ann McArdle, John O'Kane, and others. The plaintiff in t his statement of claim set out that defendants were interested to various degrees in the Trocadero Hotel, T,anibton Quay. On or about June 30th, 1017, plaintiff said that he was. with the knowledge of plaintiffs, locked up and detained in a room at the hotel for a considerable time without means of egress or escapc, because of a defcetivp lock. By reason of that circumstance he suffered ''great pain of body and mind," and, further, was prevented from attending to his bsuiness and fulfilling engagements, which put him to considerable expense. Plaintiff therefore claimed £75 general damages and £68 7s 6d special damages. In their statement of defence the defendants denied that, to their knowledge, the lock of the door was defective, and, further, that all reasonable steps were taken to secure the prompt release of the plaintiff from the room. The defendants further stated that the plaintiff could have obtained egress from the room either through the window or through the fanlight over the door. Mr C. W. Nielson appeared for plaintiff, and Mr A. W. Blair for all the defendants. Aftar hearing legal argument his Honour reserved hi* decision until Wednesday morning. He agreed to inspect tie room.