MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 75, 21 December 1907, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

- POLICE-CASES. : (Before Mr, W. ;G.:,Riddcll, ;, UNSTAMPED. WEIGHTS.. ..A Chinaman -named Ngan Kee was charged..by the Inspector ox.' Weights and Moasures with having had in hi3-possession on. December : 18i unstamped 'counter .scales and weights.Defendant- admitted that both the scalos and -the weights wore .unstamped, but ho did, not know that ho was broaldng -the'law' by; using the scales'. His Worship entered a conviction and fine, pf 55., • and costs 75., and ordered the scales to bo forfeited. . i : ' - DAMAGING A POLICE- CELL. "A foreigner named Franz Michallek 'pleaded "Not guilty" to a charge of insobriety, and "Guilty'' to a'second chargo of damaging- the interior of a police cell to the extont of 14s. Evidenco was called to show that accused wa3; arrested for insobriety, and, on being placed in a cell at the polico station, damaged the movable contonts of the cell. .On the first charge aceusod, was convicted and fined 55.,-in default 24 hours' imprisonment,- and on- tho second chargo was convicted and fined 10s., and costs 10s. 6d., and ordered to pay for ,the amount of damage dono,' in default seven days': imprisonment.

A CUSTOMS AGENT'S TROUBLE. ! Chas. Bailoy, Customs and commission agent; romanded .from. "Wednesday, was brought forward for sentence on a charge of appropriating for his own ' use . £12 10s., money handed j», him by Douglas Patrick, draper, for the purposo of clearing certain goods. Chief Detective M'Grath stated that inquiries mado> showed that defendant, had nover been in trouble, boforo. He was a married' man with 'two children. Mr. P. Jackson, who appeared for tho dofence, pleaded, for leniency. Accused was a young manj and had been living in Wellington for . the past ;14or 16 years. He boro an fcxcelleiit' character, and during tho six months lie had been in business as, a Customs agent,'had done very well. . On the present occasion defondant entrusted with certain'monoy in order to clear goods for Mr. Patrick.'' It was admitted that tho act specified '• in 'tho information was a wrongful' 1 one, but'it was the'full intention of defendant to clear the goods' with, other monoyv coming to -him. The amount had .since boon refunded, >ind Lionel Caselberg gave evidence as to the good character borne by' dofenda;nt, and to • endor'so his statements remarked .that defendant was still working for his (witness's) firm. Robort A. Scott, manager of' the W.F.C.A., and D. S. Patrick, draper, also gave ovidenco as to the past career of the defondant. His Worship remarked that by pleading guilty and refunding tho money accused'had dono all he' could to place in tho same position ,as they had : boon before tho trouble, but a penalty must be imposed. Defondant would.be convictcd-and fined £5, in default 14 days' imprisonment, a fortnight to be allowed to pay tho 'fine. WARNING TO PROHIBITED PERSONS. ; .George Roache was charged with insobriety, and also- with having boon found on licensed promises during tho currency of a prohibition order. In answor to tho second charge, defondant said ho wont into the hotel to bring a friend out. 1 . " Ilis Worship pointed out that whon a prohibition order was granted against a porson, no matter whether by his own coifsent or othorwiso, that person must not enter licensed premisos on any account. If bo wished to communicate with any person insido tho hotel he must get someono who was not prohibited to help him. On tho first charge accused would bo convicted and fined 10s., in default;4B hours' imprisonment, and on the second information a conviction and fino of £2 and costs 75., in default seven days' imprisonment, would be imposed. MISCELLANEOUS. William A. Barrow was ordered to contribute the sum of 6s. por week towards tho support of oach of his thrco children, and to pay costs 4s. Mr. Ayson appoared for defendant. Martha-Earl was connctcd and finod 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for drunkonriess, and five first offenders, woro also dealt with. Ono was convicted and fined 10s., in default_ 48 hours' imprisonment; threo wero eonvietod and finod 55., in default 24 hours' imprisonment; and one was convicted and discharged.