MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25629, 19 October 1948, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

MONDAY (Before Mr F. F. Reid, S.M.) REMANDED ! Arthur Claude Just, aged 30, was re- j manded until October 28 on charges of. breaking and entering the dwellinghouse' of Rose Gladys Gasson, 101 Brougham street, and committing theft, and of failing to comply with the terms of his release op probation. ' Brian Patrick Michael Joseph Ward, aged 23. was remanded till October 28 on a charge of assault with intent to commit rape at Hanmer Springs on October 16 Noel Graeme Mills, an aircraftman, aged . 18 (Mr P. H. T. Alpers), was remanded till October 26 for sentence on a charge of stealing radio parts worth £4 19s from the R.N.Z.A.F., Wigram. He had previously pleaded guilty to the charge.

SENTENCE FOR THEFT James Frances Stanford Cruden, aged 26, was sentenced to terms of three months’ imprisonment with hard labour (to be served concurrently) on each of two charges of theft—stealing clothing valued at £lO and stealing dress accessories and jewellery valued at £25 14s. Accaused had pleaded guilty at a previous sitting of the Court. SUSPENDED SENTENCE Stanley Edward Mee, aged 27, appeared for sentence on a charge of being idle and disorderly in that he had insufficient lawful visible means of support, a charge to which he had pleaded guilty at a previous sitting of the Court. Mee Was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on within 12 months.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Andrew James Lee, aged 45 (Mr J. K. Moloney), was committed to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of indecently assaulting a boy aged 11 years on October 1. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, was allowed bail in the sum of £lOO, and one surety of £lOO. BREACH OF PROBATION John Alexander Sheerin, aged 26 (Mr D. J. Hewitt), was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment for failing to comply with the terms of his release on probation. , . The Magistrate said Sheenn knew he had to report to the police: but tried to mislead his counsel by false allegations. (Before Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M.) NEGLIGENT DRIVING ALLEGED William Graham, of Belfast (Mr R. A. Young), was charged with negligently driving a motor-car at the intersection of High and Cashel streets, on September 13, causing the death of Frank HarPe Dr. A. L. Haslam represented Harper’s relatives at an inquest held in conjunction with the charge. Dr. G. C. I. Burns, pathologist, gave evidence that the cause of Harper’s death was a fractured skull with inter-cranial hemorrhage due to violence. Dr. E. O. Dawson, surgical registrar, described Harper’s injuries on admission to the Christchurch Public Hospital, a subsequent operation, and his death the following day. Basil Munce Rout said that on September 13 he cycled with Harper toward town down Pages road and Cashel street. Harper was on the left of the witness. At the High street intersection (about 7.50 a.m.), he saw no traffic on his right, but on the left there was a taxi 100 to 150 yards away. The cyclists took their right-of-way. When they were threequarters of the way over the crossing, he saw the taxi close up. It veered to its left and appeared to accelerate in an effort to pass in front of the cyclists. Harper was struck. The taxi was travelling fast and did not slacken pace. Harper and witness fin tended to pass down Cashel street and turn south into Colombp street. Lorna Emily Smart described seeing the man struck by the taxi. She was cycling behind them.

William Edward Cassidy, a passenger in the taxi, estimated its speed at 25 to 30 miles an' hour. He had seen the two cyclists approaching on the right ana warned the driver when they were 25ft from the car.

. George Allen Stevens, a police constable, said he had interviewed accused after the accident. Accused said he had not seen the approaching cyclist because of a strong-sun. Gralram pleaded not guilty and was committed to .the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed In the sum of £lOO and one surety of £lOO. The Coroner found that Frank Harper died at Christchurch on September 14, 1948. the cause of death being fracture of the skull and inter-cranial hemorrhage, the injuries being suffered in a colision with a motor-car driven by William Graham.