MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 336, 24 October 1908, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

. POLICE CASES. (Before Mr. W. G.'Riddell, S.M.), ' UNLAWFULLY ON PREMISES. Ellen Anderson,. Nellie, . Woods, and Henry Ostcrberg were charged with having been. found by night without lawful excuse ill an unoccupied house in Forester's Lane, the property of Bethune and Co. Defendant Woods was convicted and sentenced to 14 days' Imprisonment The other two defendants were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.' OBSCENE LANGUAGE. James Patrick Hassett was charged (1) with using obscene language and (2) with resisting Constable Lister .whilst in the execution of his duty. Accused pleaded guilty to both charges, and on':the first was convicted and sentenced to. 21 days' imprisonment. ' On the second charge a sentence of one month's imprisonment was imposed, to run concurrent with the first sentence. James Macfarlane and Timothy O'Sullivan pleaded guilty to separate charges of having used obscene language in a tramway car. His Worship held that there was no excuse for the use of the language complained of. .Each of the defendants .would be convicted and .fined £o and; costs 1 ' 205., in default 21 days'•imprisonment. Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for O'Sullivan. THEFT OF A WATCH AND CHAIN. ; ■ Alexander Young and Arthur . Richards were brought forward for sentence on a charge of having on or about August 24 stolen a gold watch and metal chain, also 7s. iii money, the property of Edward Peter O'Brien. ' Young was convicted and'fined £5, in default 21. days' imprisonment,.' and Richards was convicted and ordered , to Opine ,up for sentence when called upon on condition that lip. refunded lis. < MISCELLANEOUS; • . ' ' A young man named Martin Pollock was charged (1) with insobriety, and (2) with indecency in GliuMee Street. On tho first charge a conviction. and line of'ss. was entered. /A conviction and fine of £3, in default 14 days' imprisonment, was imposed on the second charge. * Mary Jefferson, alias Carson, was brought forward for sentence on a charge of importuning, and was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when■'-called" on, on condition that she goes into • the Salvation Army Home for a period of-three months. ■ William Albert Parker-was charged with having, between September 14 and 19, at Wellington, stolen six autograph albums, valued at 10s. 2d., the property of Messrs. Collins Bros., Ltd. On the application of the police a remnud was granted,until October 26, bail being allowed in .the sum of j

£10, and ono surety of £10. Mr. Toogood appeared for the defence. - . A young man named John Patrick Collins was charged with having, at Otaki, on October 14, assaulted and robbed one Charles Stuart of a ; gold watch and chain valued at £25. Accused was • remanded' until October 30. ' Thomas Tracy was charged (1) with having, on October 21, at Levin, obtained credit for board and lodgings to the amount of £2 ss. 6d., with intent to defraud. ono Frank Rhodes; and (2) .with having, on October 15, at Levin, obtained tho sum of £5 from Winifred Winchester with intent to defraud,, Harry Baiker was also charged with obtaining board and lodgings to tho amount of £2 19s. with intent to defraud Frank Rhodes. No evidence was offered for tho prosecution, a. settlement having been arrived at, and the informations were dismissed. Mr. .Wilford appeared for defendants. : TRUANCY. ■ A batch of parents appeared in answer W charges, of , failing to send \tlieir children to school regularly. Fines were imposed as follon r :—John Morgan, 3s. and costs 75.; Charles Blackbeo, L. Lanvad, and Fred Upliarn. 2s and costs 75.; George Duranfc and.George Meyers, ordered to pay Court costs 75.; Mary Hughes and Mrs.'. Lurid* quist, fined 2s. without costs: . I . - . KARORI CASES. The long-standing trouble between a seo-tioii'of-the residents of Karoriand the local school .committee over the closing ,of tho side-school was revived when five residents—* Henry Bradncck, Wm. Hook, Jas. Moxliam,Denis Mulhaiie,,.and Alfred : John. : Slack— whose, children had been attending the sideschool, .now closed, appeared on .charges ~o? failing to send their children to the main school. Mr. Wilford, who appeared for the. defendants, raised technical defence .to the arguments of Mr. J. Dineen,-truant inspector. Counsel.-. urged that tho informations must be dismissed as the letter of appointment': held .'.by tho: Truant. Inspector,: which! authority gave him power to lay the informations; and prosecute,, was dated October. .21, whereas the informations were swprn on October 12. .. / . • His Worship held that the first' point' raised for the defence, was fatal to the,prosecution, and the other points indicated, the .necessity for great care m the laying of .in-, ■formations. Each of the informations would bo dismissed. It .was shown that the Truant Inspector's authority had become so dilapidated that he had : had another one signed since he ha<f laid ;-V HARBOUR, BOIARD AND PORTER." Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., gave his reserved decision in the case of the Harbour Board (Mr. Weston) v. David Grinton-(Mr. Fitzgibbon).. Defendant, a porter, - 'was cha.rged with a breach of the Harbour Board by-laws in having failed to keep. silence when attending on the wharf as a-porter, on the arrival of the steamer Maori from Lyttelton. His Worship said he had looked up authorities on the case, . and . considered if unnecessary to deliver a written judgment, as tho points raised for the defence had been fully covered in. the case Johnson v. BelL. Defendant must be; convicted and fined 10»< and costs £1 10s.