MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20835, 20 April 1933, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

WEDNESDAY. (.Before Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M.) BICYCLE MISSING. Sydney Frederick Pearce, a builder, aged 31, of Belfast (Mr M. J. Burns), was charged with drunkenness and with the theft of a bicycle valued at £2, the property of Robert Nelson. Senior-Sergeant J. Fox said the owner of the bicycle saw the accused take it from outside a boardinghouse. The owner was half asleep at the time and did not take much notice, thinking the accused would bring the machine back. However, it had not yet been found. Mr Burns said accused had taken the bicycle to an hotel twice, the first time with the consent of the proprietor of the boardinghouse. On the second occasion he became completely drunk and had no idea where the bicycle was. Pearce was fined 10s on the first charge, and on the second was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on within six months. He was ordered to make restitution of the value of the bicycle. INTOXICATED DRIVER. Laurence Gasson, a salesman, aged 24, was charged that on April 18 he was found intoxicated while in charge of a car. Mr J. T. Watts appeared for the accused, who pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant Fox said that Traffic Inspector Kay had seen the accused and a companion walking round a car. He kept them unc(,er observation as he thought they were not fit to drive. The car was driven off and the traffic inspector stopped it. Eventually the accused and his companion were taken to the police station. A doctor was called and his certificate was to the elTect that the accused was under the influence of liquor and not fit to be in charge of a car. It was not a bad case and there had been no accident. The accused's companion had been fined for drunkenness earlier in the morning.

Mr Watts said the accused had been celebrating the marriage of a friend. The accused was prepared to have his license cancelled if his name could be suppressed. The Magistrate said the suppression of the name would be left to the newspapers. Accused would be fined £lO and costs. FALSE STATEMENT. James Morton Davidson, for making a false statement to an officer of the Labour Department, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on within 12 months. It was stated that he had received £SO which he was not entitled to by making the statement, and he was ordered to make restitution cf £25. LEVIES NOT PAID. On charges of failing to pay unemployment levies, the following were dealt with:—Charles Valentine Atkins, convicted and discharged on eight charges; Nelson Henry Francis Bethwaite, fined 10s and costs oh two charges, convicted and discharged on two charges; William George Bowron. convicted and discharged on five charges; Cecil Mark Brown, fined 10s and costs on two charges, convicted and discharged on two charges; John Daniel Carney, convicted and discharged on 10 charges; Stanley Darrel!, fine 10s on one charge, seven other charges were adjourned; Leo John Erickson, fined 10s and costs on two charges, ordered to pay costs on two charges; Albert Ernest Leggett, convicted and discharged on five charges; Peter Taylor, convicted and discharged on twq charges. TIME BOOK NOT KEPT. Charles William Henderson was fined £5 and costs for failing to keep a wages and time book.