Magistrate’s Court DRIVER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30192, 25 July 1963, Page 7

Magistrate’s Court DRIVER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Noel Victor Leeming, aged 22, a radio serviceman, was yesterday committed to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of negligent driving causing death on April 14 He pleaded not guilty to the charge in the Magistrate's Court, and was represented by Mr R. L. Kerr Messrs C. J. Croode and R. H Harris. Justices of the Peace, were on the bench

A passenger in a car driven by the accused in Moorhouse avenue at 12.20 am on April 14 was fatally injured when the car struck a power pole near Colombo street. She was Angela Carol Adcock. Evidence was given by two other passengers in the accused's car at the time of the accident, Corinne Lynette Turner and Maxwell Lee Wilby. They said they could not estimate the speed the car was travelling, although they considered it a reasonable speed. lan Grieg Dunmill said that the car passed him just before the accident. He estimated its speed at 50 miles an hour. Leeming was remanded on bail until the Supreme Court hearing. (Before Messrs E. L. Tinker and P. A. Le Brun. Justices of the Peace) FALSE PRETENCES DENIED On a charge of false pretences, Involving a cheque for £lO at Ashburton on May 13. Noala Alston, aged 36, a housewife. was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. She pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Mr G. R Lascelles. Bail was allowed. Evidence was given by Raymond Thomas Bryant that a woman came into his shop in Ashburton on May 13 and bought a shirt for £3 9s 6d. She signed the cheque “N. S Allstone." The cheque was returned by the bank with the note “signature unlike specimen held." He thought the woman who came into his shop was the accused. Alan Steven Baxter, manager of the New Brighton branch of the Commercial Bank of Australia, said that the accused opened an account with his bank on May 3. She deposited £23 Is. but had drawn out £l7 15s. On another charge of false pretences at Ashburton on May 13. involving a cheque for £5. Alston was remanded on bail until August 16 BIGAMY CHARGE On a charge of committing bigamy at Christchurch on July 12 last year. Daniel Scannell. aged 31. a labourer, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. He was allowed bail- Scannell (Mr G R Lascelles) pleaded not guilty. Patricia Faye Webster. a waitress, said that she was married in New South Waies in 1950. The marriage was still binding. On July 12 last year she went through a form of marriage wtih the accused Scannell knew she was married. but it was decided to describe herself as a spinster, said Webster. She said that earlier this year she pleaded guilty tn the Magistrate's Court to a charge of bigamy and was fined £3O (Before Mr E S. J. Crutchley, S.M.) ATTEMPTED OFFENCE ON GIRL A youth, whose name was suppressed, was remanded on bail to August 2 on a charge of attempting to have sexual intercourse with a girl aged 12 He pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant G M Cleary said the offence came to light when the girl, who was at prunarv school, told other gtris that tlie accused had been interfering with her. The offences were committed at the girl’s home The accused had said that the girl was partly to blame by encouraging him. The girl was precocious, and general talk about sex among the family had contributed to the situation. Senior-Sergeant C'.earv said. FOUND IN HOUSE Found in a Fitzgerald avenue flat in the early hours o< July 2. a vouth said he was looking for a girl named Shir.ey, whom he had taken home about three month* before .according to evidence given when Mervyn Anthony Rich, aged 19. unemployed. pleaded not guilty to <_ charge of being a rogue ai - a vagabond tn that he was found by mflht • &? 1 * £ Fitzgerald avenue. He was convicted and remanded in custody to August 2 for sen-Senior-Sergeant Cleary said

that Rich had worked for only four days since February. He had been hanging around the town, and was a complete nuisance. SHOT PROTECTED GAME

Robert Leslie Holder, aged 20. a soldier, was fined £5 on a charge of killing protected game—a paradise duck—at Medbury, on the Hurunui river on May 4. He was also fined £2 on a charge of hunting without a licence. Holder, who did not appear, pleaded guilty by letter.

Mr J. G. Leggat. who prosecuted. said the defendant eave an unsatisfactory explanation to a ranger when questioned. The ranger spent most of the day Investigating the matter and travelled a considerable distance. It was found that the defendant had shot a paradise duck, and his shotgun Was seized. In a letter to the Court Holder said he was going to Waiouru camp two days after the opening of the shooting season. He had been a member of the Acclimatisation Society for three or four years. CHARGE DENIED

Pile defendant had admitted taking the gaff from the car with the intention of using it, said the Magistrate when fining John Ernest Chatterton, aged 19. a clerk, £1 on a charge of taking acclimatised fish otherwise than in accordance with the Freshwater Fisheries Regulation. 1951. Chatterton pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Mr R E. Wvlie. Ross Thomas Novts, a ranger, said that about 4 pm. on June 9 he was approaching a small trout-spawning creek. He saw’ Chatterton run towards a car and place something in it. The defendant admitted it was a gaff, and said he was looking for fish. Mr Wylie said that the evidence did not disclose any action which could constitute an offence. The defendant had gone with two girls, one of whom was an Australian, to show them the spawming fish The gaff was left on top of the bank. CHARGE DISMISSED Suspicion was extremely heavy, but he would hesitate to believe that perjury had been committed. said the Magistrate when dismissing a charge against James Alexander Auld, a farmer, of Cheviot, of hunting without a licence at Spotswood on Mav 5. Auld pleaded not guilty. Louis William Hoff, a ranger employed by the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. said that Auld at first denied that he was a member of a party which scattered ■ hen the witness arrived The defendant later admitted he was and that he did not have a licence. He searched the defendant’s car. but did not find a gun. Auld said tn evidence that he had been to a polo match and had then gone to the McClintocks' farm and had a cup of tea. The two McClintock brothers went shooting, and he and others accompanied them One of the guns was sticking, and he was as t ed to fix it. said Auld. He took out the firing oin. After it was replaced he fired about three shots to test the gun. Corroborative evidence was given by witnesses for the defence REMANDED A girl, whose name was suppressed. was remanded in custody to August 2 on a charge of theft of three nightdresses valued at £2 4s lid. the property of Woolworths (N.Z.). Ltd., on July 23. INCOME TAX CHARGES For failing to furnish returns of income, the following were fined:—lvan Edward Berkett £3: Contract Drilling, Ltd., £5: Colin Robert James Crawford £2; George Henry Patterson. £2: Lester William Milton. £5: Gordon Nurse. £2; Trevor Henry Oakley and Joan Beatrice Oaklev. £2: Thomas Edward O’Brien. £2: Andrew William OLoughlm. £5: Patrick Stenhouse (two charges 1. £5 and £5; Norman Lyle Stewart and Bettv Stewart. £2: Norman Lyle Stew-art. £2: Brian Thomas Sullivan. £5; John Robert Telford. £7: Frederick George Tippett. £2; Henry Uoyd Williams. £6. (Before Mr A. P. Blair, S M.) FINED £5 John Barclay Rainey, aged 20. a farmer, was fined £3 on a charge of shooting without a licence. He pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Mr G T Scott. There was a conflict of evidence. but he saw no reason to doubt the truthfulness of the ranger, the Magistrate said i "here was a possibility that the ranger had been mistaken or put a wrong interpretation on a conversation. It could be that the defendant had been hunting hares as well as ducks. Rainey claimed, in evidence, that he was hunting hares.