MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27012, 11 April 1953, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

FRIDAY (Before Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M.) IMPRISONED FOR THEFT Leslie John Walding, aged 44, a labourer, pleaded guilty to a charge that on April 4 he stole two necklaces and four earrings, of a total value of £4, the property of Emma Sarah Constance. He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Detective-Sergeant G. W. Alty said that Walding was found in Storeys Tourist Hotel in suspicious circumstances. The police were called and Walding gave several false names before he admitted his correct one. The necklace and earrings were found in his possession. It was later found that they had been stolen from the Embassy Hotel. Walding was well known to the police. Walding told the Court that his trouble always had been drink. He had work to go to in the North Island and would go there when he got out of prison. The Magistrate said that Walding had been pretty continuously before the Court over some years and had 27 previous convictions.

YOUTH SUPPLIED WITH LIQUOR Philip Roger Naylor, a barman at the Grand Hotel, Christchurch, was convicted and fined £4 on a charge of supplying liquor to a person under 21 years of age. A second charge of supplying liquor to another youth under 21 years of age was dismissed. He pleaded not guilty to both charges. Senior-Sergeant C. A. G. Mcßae prosecuted and Mr B. J. Drake appeared for the defendant. Sergeant B. R. Alty said that at 4.5 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, he and Constable H. C. Gibson saw two youths in the public bar of the Grand Hotel. They had empty glasses in front of them and there was money on the bar in front of one youth. When questioned, they admitted to being 16 years of age. The barman said he thought they were over 21, said Sergeant Alty. Supporting evidence was given by Constable H. C. Gibson. Mr Drake said that one of the youths, who was wearing a dark suit, could have been taken to be more than 21. There was a doubt whether the barman did supply the two youths in particular with liquor, for the man with whom they were drinking might have bought the drinks. Naylor, in evidence, said he did not have any doubt about the age of one of the youths, and he did not see the other. He had been instructed by his employer on the law regarding this matter, but did not consider it necessary to question the youth. “I am satisfied - that beer was supplied to both the youths, but one youth has a more mature appearance. The information in that matter will be dismissed.” said the Magistrate. “The age of the other youth is most obvious.” James Henry Smithers, licensee of the Grand Hotel, pleaded guilty to a l charge of supplying liquor to a person under 21 years of age. He was convicted and fined 30s and costs. For the defendant, Mr Drake said that it was a case of vicarious liability, as the licensee was responsible for the acts of his servants. He had issued instructions to his barmen not to supply liquor to youths, and was himself in another bar at the time the youths were in the hotel. TRAFFIC OFFENCES The following offenders against the traffic regulations were prosecujed by the police and penalties were imposed as stated:—

No warrant of fitness: Norman George Brown, 10s (no rear view minor. 10s; no warning device. 10s; no tail-light. 10s; insufficient lights on vehicle, 10s); Ronald Albert Dowling, 10s; Graham Walter Keenan. 10s; David James McAslan, 10s; Harold Frank Needham, 10s (no driver’s licence. £2); Thomas Jajnes Garronsway Richards. 10s (np driver’s licence. £1). Riding unlighted cycle at night; Theodorus Johannes Schuyt, £l.

Parked motor-cycle on footpath Stephen Noel Clarke. 10s. P Drove vehicle other thap specified on licence: Trevor James Everest, £1 Failed to give way to traffic on the right David Marshall Quick. £& 81