MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25732, 18 February 1949, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

THURSDAY (Before Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M.) FAILED TO APPEAR William Oreste Bergamihi, a builder’s labourer, aged 59, failed to appear on a charge of indecently assaulting a female. A warrant was issued for his arrest. ASSAULT Henry Bruce, a salesman, aged 41 years (Mr J. K. Moloney), pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Lillian Anderson at New Brighton on February 16. He was convicted and fined £4 and ordered to pay costs. Bruce was also ordered to take out a prohibition order for a period of 12 .months. Daniel O’Sullivan a dealer, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Leonard Thomas Butterfield. He was convicted and fined 20s and ordered to pay costs. THEFT AND DRUNKENNESS William McGowan, a labourer, aged 52 years, appeared on three charges, one of drunkenness and two of theft. He pleaded guilty to all charges. On the theft charges, it was stated that he stole 12 pairs of socks valued at. £1 7s, the property of the Cash Clothing Company, and three men’s pullovers valued at £3 7s 6d, the property of Millers. Ltd; The Magistrate said he was convinced that drunkenness was the cause of accused’s troubles. He was convicted and ordered to be detained in an inebriates’ institution for a period of two years. PROBATION Andrew O’Neil, a painter, aged 35 years, pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining credit by fraud from Albert Leslie Bigwood. It was stated that the accused hired a taxi to take him from Christchurch to Lyttelton. On arrival there he was unable to pay for the fare. O’Neil was convicted and released on probation for a period of 12 months. He was also ordered to accept employment as directed by the probation officer, and to make restitution of the sum of £1 ss. Bert Jarman, a waiter, aged 21 years (Mr H. W. Thompson), appeared for sentence on a charge of theft. He was convicted and placed on probation for a period of 18 months, and was ordered to make restitution in one month. VALUELESS CHEQUE Gordon Alexander Milne, a farm hand, aged 31 years, appeared on a charge of intending to defraud Bernard Francis Smyth of the sum of £lO, falsely representing that a cheque drawn on the/ Bank of Australasia for £l5 Ils was valid. He pleaded guilty. It was stated that he had 13 previous convictions. He was convicted and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour. OFFENDERS WITH FIREARMS Eleven charges concerning firearms were heard. Several others were withdrawn. "Settlers are becoming alarmed ond very concerned by indiscriminate shooting.” said Sub-InspectOr G. H.. L. ’ Holt. “Cattle and sheep are being shot ( and we have, been obliged to send out “I can well understand the danger,” said the Magistrate. For discharging firearms on roads, Ar- : thur Edward Cooinbes., Ernest Edward Coombes, Neville Arthur Theobald, Con- . rad Edmund Sutton, and Robert Albert Hamilton were convicted and fined £2 10s 1 each. Hamilton was also fined 20s for carrying a loaded firearm in a motor-car. A charge Of firing on a road against Christopher James’ Tonkin, who pleaded not guilty, was dismissed because the evidence was conflicting. For procuring firearms without permits, Raymond Joffre Gatehouse, Keith Johns, and Roy Kenneth Rose were convicted and fined 10s each. For delivering possession a firearm without a permit, Eric Frank Hamberger was fined 10s. CIVIL CASES (Before Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M.) JUDGMENT BY DEFAULT Judgment was given for the plaintiffs - by default in the following cases: —Bruce : Willard Eades v. Wilfred B. Eady, £24 19s ’ 2d; W. Whittaker. Ltd., v. R. W. Camp--1 bell, £2 15s 6d; W. T. Glasgow v. Fred- ‘ erick Stephen Dobby, £2 12s 6d.