THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19812, 27 December 1929, Page 6

THE COURTS.

MAGISTERIAL. THURSDAY. (Before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M.) J DRUNKENNESS. Six first offenders or statutory first offenders, for drunkenness, were fined amounts ranging from 5s to 20s, •with cab hire where such was necessary. CHRISTMAS EVE CHASE. William McCormick, aged 26 years, the man who was chased by a crowd in the City oti Christinas Eve and finally arrested by Detective E. M. Thomas, was charged with assaulting-a girl in Peterborough street. He was also charged with wilfully damaging a pair of trousers, valued at £4, the property of Detective Thomas. McCormick was not represented by counsel, and pleaded guilty to both charges. Chief-Detective J. Carroll said McCormick, after following the girl, a stranger to him, into Peterborough street, went up behind her and threw her to the ground. Two young men witnessed his action, and others joined them in a chase. Detective Thomas, who was nearby, borrowed a bicycle and caught and arrested the accused. Nothing was known against him, and the only thing that could be said in mitigation of his action was that he was under the influence of liquor. McCormick said, in answer to the Bench, that he had been in New Zealand nearly five year*. He had fairly steady employment as a boilermaker. Mr Mosley fined McCormick £lO, witih witnesses' expenses £l, and costs, oa the first charge, the default being fixed at two months' imprisonment. The Bench directed that £3 of the fine be paid to the girl. McCormick was also ordered to pay for the damage to the detective's trousers, in default 11 days' imprisonment. Mr Mosley told the accused that he couid consider himself very lucky. He was letting him off so lightly only because he did not like sending young fellows to gaol. DRUNK IN CHARGE OF CAR. Cecil Alian Payne, farmer, of Woodend, was charged with being in a state of intoxication while in cbarge of 3 car in Fapanui road on Christmas Eve. Mr C. S. Thomas appeared for accused and entered a plea of guilty. Senior-Sergeant T. Shanahaa said Payne had driven down Papanui road in an erratic fashion, the car bumping into another vehicle when he pulled up at a grocer'* shop. Mr Thomas faid accused had met friends in the City, and made the mistake of mixing fcis drinks. Neither vehicle was damaged when P3>ne pulled up, the bump being very slight. Between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. the police allowed Payne to leave the station and drive his car away. A fine of £B. in default one month.'* imprisonment, was imposed. CONVERSION OF BICYCLE. William Nelson, a labourer, was fined £6 and costs, in default one month'i imprisonment, with three days allowed in which to pay. on a charge that on December 25th, at Christchurch, he unlawfully a-d without colour of right, but not so as to be guilty of theft, converted to his own nse a b;cycl». valued at £ll 10s, the property of Raynald Wislang.