MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26264, 8 November 1950, Page 10

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

TUESDAY (Before Mr Rex C. Abernethy. S.M.) IDLE AND DISORDERLY Alexander Mouat, aged 44, an accountant, pleaded guilty to a charge that, on November 4, at Lyttelton, he was deemed to be idle and disorderly, in that he had insufficient lawful means of support. The question of penalty was adjourned for a fortnight, Mouat to remain in the care of the Salvation Army meantime. Sub-Inspector J. J. Kearns said it was not the usual vagrancy case. Mouat, a native of Scotland, arrived in New Zealand about two years ago after having served for a number of years in the Imperial Army. He left it with the rank ot major. He was on a pension from the Army. He got out of work and began drinking, reaching such a state that he went to the police at Lyttelton and asked them to lock him up as he had no money, no means of sapport, and no place 1° He was a married man with five children, his family being in Britain. He is a good type of man and one who could make good. Drink is his trouble.” said Sub-Inspector Kearns. Mouat told the Court that he had domestic trouble. He wanted to get things straightened out and to try to work his Passage back to the Old Country. He had had a job but gave it up. He was making no excuses for his present condition. for it was solely his own fault. He had no friends or relatives here and Lad come to New Zealand from India after his discharge from the British Army, in which • ia , d served for 17 years as a commissioned officer. The Magistrate: You don't want to go to gaol, do you? Mouat: It’s the only place I can go. I have no money, no means of support, and n 2 °ver my head. I can’t wander about the streets for I would only get into more trouble. .The Magistrate: You haven't thrown in the sponge, have you? This is a big country and there is plenty of work. The Magistrate asked Major P. G. Norman, of the Salvation Army, if the Salvation Army could do anything for Mouat. Major Norman said they would be prepared to look after Mouat and. through the immigration authorities, might get him a passage back to Britain. Mouat agreed to go under the care of the Salvation Army, and the Magistrate a »A ur^ d ,he mat ter for a fortnight. u S i ar s aII ri S ht when you are brought back here in a fortnight. I can convict and discharge you and give vou trate h<?r chance ' Mouat -” sa *d the Magisif XN £ D . FOR DRUNKENNESS aged 33 ’ * labourer, pleaded guilty to a charge that, on November 6. he was found drunk in Racecourse road, having been once previous!v convicted of a similar offence within the last §ix months. ’ He was fined £2. in default four days’ imprisonment. REMANDED ■ K sl1 ? Pugh ’ aged 28 - a labourer, and Victor Julius Edwardson, aged 22 a labourer (Mr W. G. P. Cuninghami’ were remanded to November 14 on a joint charge that, on October 7, they broke and entered the warehouse of Frank A Cook, Ltd., and stole six cases of whisky, valued at £Bl. Edwardson was also remanded to the same date on a charge that, on October 31, he escaped from lawful custody. | Applications for bail were refused Robert Francis Wyatt, aged 51, an engineer (Mr A. I. Cottrell), pleaded not guilty to a charge that, on November 6. while in a state of intoxication he was in charge of a motor-car in Harper avenue. He U'as remanded to appear on November 14. and w-as allowed bail in >is own recognisance of £25. An app’ication for interim suppression of his name Xvas refused. Roderick Crooks, aged 43, a pastrycook (Mr R. P. Thompson), pleaded not guilty to a charge that, on November 6, while in a state of intoxication he was in charge of a motor-car in Yaldhurst road. He was remanded to appear on November 14 and was* allowed bail in his own recognisance of £25. TRAFFIC OFFENCES In cases brought by the Transport Department for breaches of the traffic regulations, penalties were imposed as follows: Riding unlighted cycle at night.—John Burrowe?, 20s (no red reflector. ss); Peter Lindw’all Clarkson, 20s (no red reflector. ss). Exceeding speed limit.—Kevin Patrick Horgan. 30s; Noel John Smith. 30s. Exceeding speed limit with pillion passenger.—Allan John Cain, £2 10s. No warrant of fitness.—Thomas Grose. 10s. No blue light on vehicle drawing a trailer. —Ernest William Rich, 10s (no tail light, 10s). No red reflector on cycle.—Maxwell Fitzgerald, ss; John Frederick O’Brien. ss. No brake on cycle.—Lyell Vincent Kermeen, ss. No vehicle authority.—Wilfred Arthur Wilson. £2.