MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 112, 4 February 1908, Page 10

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

POLICE OASES

(Before Mr. W. (J. Riddcll, S.M.) OIiSTRUCTIXG A FOOTWAY. A charge of loitering on tlio footpath at Uio corner of Willis, and Boulcott Streets on December 19 alter having been directed by a constable to movo on was preferred against n young man named Bane. Jividenco was given by Sergeant Kelly that a crowd had collected at tho corner of the streets in question whero a motor car had broken down. Defendant- was standing on the footpath talking to some friends, and after tlio ear had. driven off witness began to disperse tho crowd which had gathered .and almost entirely blocked the footpath. Defendant and bis friends wero asked to movo 'on, but although tho friends shifted defendant refused to do so. On being asked a second timo defendant wished to know for what rcasqn, and witness told him bo was committing a'breach of'the city by-laivs. Defendant refused t-o givo his name, although fisked for it several times, so witness took a description of him and left. Defendant's friends then collected round him on tho footpath, and witness went back and asked them to 'movo on, which they all did with tho exception of defendant. The same proceeding was gono through again. Corroborative evidence was given by Constablo Packer.

Defendant deposed that he ' war standing talking to a friend at the corner of Boulcott and Willis Streets when tho sergeant 0 along and ordered him to move on. witness was off tho main lino of traffic, and protested against being moved on without a reason being given by tho policeman. His Worship held that thero was no difficulty about tho matter in question. It appeared clear that defendant could not havo known the street loitering by-law of 1904 and the power of constables to move on people m, vrero l standing talking in the street. Iho by-law was wido in its application, and made it clear chat no person should remain, or loiter on any street after being directed to~ move on by a police officer or inspector of nuisances. Defendant, by his own evidence, showed that he questioned tho authority of the constable, and tho Court was prepared, to grant that ho might have done this honestly,. Defendant must bo convicted and fined 2(Js., and costs 215., in default 24 hours' imprisonment. Mr. Cook appeared for defondant.

OBSCENE LANGUAGE. A seaman named John Bennett pleaded guilty to a cliargo of having used obsceno language in Waring Taylor Street.. It was stated by the polico that defendant and another nian had a quarrel on Saturday 'evening, and the' language complained of was used when a constablo separated the men. His Worship, iii fining defendant £5, in default 14 days' imprisonment, remarked that hardly, a week passed but somo 0110 was brought beforo tlio Court accuscd of using very bad language. . ALLEGED THEFT. ' . ■ A young man named John Lawler pleaded guilty to a ehargo of stealing a ! pair of trousers valued at 15s. 6d., tho property of .Aloxander Croskery, arid was remanded until Wednesday for sentenco in order to enable tho police to mako inquiries into his previous character. Mr. Buddlo appeared for defendant. ' ' 1 ' ' MAINTENANCE CASES. . ' ' Duncan Anderson was ordered to pay ss. per week'towards the maintenance of his wife, Adelaido E. M. Anderson, and 10s. per week towards tho support of his daughter, with costs £1 • Is. :\lr. Blair appeared for complainant, and Mr. Hindmarsh for defendant. Jamos Curtis ,was ordered to pay 2s. Gd. per woek towards tho maintenance of each of his jtwo grand-children. Mr. Nbilson. appeared for complainant, and Mr. Levi for defendant.' Claude M'Cully was remanded to appear at Dannevirko on Friday on a cliargo of disobeying an: order for'tho maintenance of his illegitimate) child. ' MISCELLANEOUS.

Henry Clements pleaded guilty to a charge of having 'insufficient lawful means of support, and was convicted and sentenced to ono mouth's imprisonment, with hard labour. Ernest Maxted was convicted and fined' 205.,. in default seven days', imprisonment, for disorderly conduct 'whilo under tho 'influence of liquor. On a second cliargo of. wilfully damaging a door, value 255.; the same defendant was convicted and fined 205., and ordered to pay tho sum of 255. to make good tho damage, in default, 14 days' imprisonment. Prohibition orders wero issued against Arthur Scott and Christina Duncan, both orders to liavo tivclvo months' currency. For insobriety, William Ballantyno was convicted and finod 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment. Three first offenders wero convicted and lined 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment, and four others \vero convicted ;and lined os., in default' 24 hours' 1 imprisonment.