MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 13

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

POLICE CASES. (Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.) A SAILOR IN TROUBLE. , A bronzed young seaman off tho steamer ludravelli, Patrick Murphy, came forward to answer three charges: (1) of wilfully disoboying tlic lawful commands of Captain Cullington, master of tlio vessel, (2) of unlawfully assaulting Noel P. Pitcher, mate of the steamer, and (3) of using obscene language. The whole of the charges arose the same day, and evidenco showed that defendant had not been getting on well with his officers. Mr. Johnston, who appeared for the captain of tho vessel, informed the Court that accused had been- a source of trouble throughout the voyage from Amorica,' his disobedience having given the officers a groat deal of annoyance. On one occasion .previously this man had struck the mate. ■' Captain Cullington deposed that he and the mate met accused as they were walking along tho wharf. Tho sailor hauled off and struck the mate on tho faco, and subsequently used the language complained of. Corroborative evidenco was given by tho mate. Defendant pleaded guilty, to the first and last charges, but not guilty to the second. Accused said the mate had threatened him more than once'on the run out. He (witness) was under the' influence of liquor at tho time of the trouble. On tho first charge defendant was convicted and fined £1 and costs 95., in default 7 days' imprisonment, on the "second 40s. and costs os., in default 7 days' imprisonment, and.on the charge of using obscene language a conviction and fine of £3, with tho alternative of 14 days' imprisonment, was imposed. ■. The captain, in answer to a question, said he did not want the' man back on tho ship. Defendant immediately notified that ho would not go back. Sub-Inspector O'Donovan explained that under the Shipping and Seamen Act defondant must bo placed on board tho ship within a month. ASSAULTING A CHINAMAN. A middle-aged man named James M'Quado pleaded not guilty to a chargo of having on May .11' unlawfully assaulted a Chinaman named Young Soo on tho Karori Road. Complainant' stated, through an interpreter, that ho was on his way to Kelburne with his baskets when two men camo along in a cart. Ono of them throw a stono at him, and the other hit him with a potato. Tho men then got out of tho cart and came tip to him, ono of thempunching him on theoye, and both kicking him while he was on tho ground. Witness called out in the Chineso language, as he was afraid of getting killed. Defendant was one of the men.. ' \

Evidence was given by a young lady that she saw two men attacking the-Chinaman. Defendant was the man who punched him on tho face. The man appeared to bo endeavouring to take, the Chinaman's bamboo away. Another witness also saw the Chinaman defending himself. Defendant stated that he threw an apple at the . Chinaman as he and his mate were driving past. Tho Chinaman threw it back and then began to pick up stories, whereupon witness pulled up tho cart and ran up to tho Chinaman, who hit liira with tho bamboo disabling his arm, which was still ,in a sling. His Worship convicted defendant and fined him 205., and costs' £I,os. 6d., in default 7 days' imprisonment. '. . : 'OBSCENE LANGUAGE. A young married man named William Patrick Neary, a trainer of ponies, appeared in answer to a charge of having used obscorio language on a tram'cari.on May 4. Mr. O'Leary for. accused, who pleaded not guilty. • Evidence was called to show that accused had boarded a Miramar tram in Courtenay Place with'a companion, and' had used , tho language complained of. After two witnesses for the'prosecution bacH.'been' heard Mr. O'Leary- intimated; that accused would alter his plea to one of"guilty. He had been undor the influence of liquor at the time of- the offence, and did not know what had happened. On tho advice of his counsel he had pleaded, not guilty. His Worship entered a-conviction and fine of, £7. and. costs £1. 35., . in default ■ one month's imprisonment. SUNDAY TRADING. , ... ; George Chong, a Chinese: fruiterer at Rona Bay, entered a plea of guiltv to a charge of Sunday trading on May. 10," and was'convicted and fined 20s. and costs ,165.,, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, . Mr. Hfcrdmari, who appeared for defendant, urged that.the offence was a trifling once, and asked that only a light fine should be imposed. • , ■ His Worship, remarked that defendant had six days to carry on'his work, but ho must close his shop up on the seventh. Mary Barry, Taranaki Streot, and Mary Curry, Tory Street, wore each convicted and fined 20s. and costs 75., in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for Sunday trading; and Andrew Moran ; Tory Street, was convicted and fined 205., in default throe days' imprisonment, for a like etfence. . BREACHES OF THE STAMP ACT.; Mary Ann Lennie was convicted arid fined 10s. and cost 3 7s. for having, on December 7, 1807, signed, a receipt for rent paid,'which' receipt was liable to duty, without duly, stamping .tho same. The same defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs 75., on a charge that, on or about. December' 7, upon payment to her by a certain tenant or. an amount of £2 10s., when giving a receipt for tho sum, she did separate the amount paid with intent to evade tho duty, Both prosecutions arose out of a recent civil-case, in -which a rent-book was produced as evidence, and impounded by. the Magistrate. PROHIBITED PERSON'S. Richard Dunn was convicted and finod 40s. and costs 75., in default seven days' imprisonment, for haying, on May 14, at Wellington',- procured liquor when a prohibition order was in force against him. ' The same' defendant wr.s convicted r.nd fined, 20s. and costs 75., in default three days' imprison-' mcnt, for having, on May 15, being a prohibited person, entered tho Crickoters' Arms Hotel. .-. _ . ■ - For entering the Victoria Hotel on May 9. 1 during , the currency'of a prohibition order, Emma : Hastings was convicted and fined 20s. and costs 75., in default seven days'/imprisonment. . MISCELLANEOUS.

A young man named John Thompson pleaded guilty to a charge of indecency in Mannors Street, and was 'convicted and fined £5, in default 21 days' imprisonment. Mabel Caulton was granted a summary separation from Bertie Caulton, defendant being ordered to pay his wife 205.. per week. Costs, £2 19s. 6d., wore allowed. Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for applicant. Alexander Swanson ploaded not guilty to charges as follow.—(1) Between May 14 and 15, at Wellington South, stealing a jointer plane, valued at 155., tho property, of Amos Meaton; and (2) between May 14 and 15, at Wellington- South, stealing a jointer plane, value 10s., the property of Arthur Gunderson. Sub-Inspector O'Donov&n informed tho Court that defendant had only been arrested on Thursday evoning. Tho police wore making further inquiries, and asked for a remand until next Friday. Peter Chalmers appeared on remand on a charge of having found in a stato of helpless drunkenness in Buckle Street on May 14, and was convicted and ordered to pay medical expenses, 17s. Gd., in dofault <8 hours' : imprisonment. Fred Pearce, charged with drunkonness, was remanded until May 29 for curativo treatment. F«nr first offenders worcbrought forward, one boini coprict-d mid fined 10s., in 'defxnlt 24. hours' iisiprisenment; another Bs, is iefmlt 24 kours' imprisonment; and two n'ere convicted and discharged.