MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 422, 3 February 1909, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W. G. Riddoll, S.M.) POLICE CASES. ' MAY HALLETT IN COURT. ARTIST ATTEMPTS TO SKETCH HER. A SMALL "SPENE" ENSUES. Tho idle, and the ounous, and possibly the genuinely interested, flocked to the Magistrate's Court in largo numbers yesterday morning to gaze on May Hallett, alias Curtm, alias Baker, alias Bannerman, who appeared on a charge of having, on Januaiy 2aj at Wellington, obtained tho sum of £50 from ono Walter Clifford by means of a certain false to wit, by representing that she was tho niece of the late Sir Henry Campboll-Bannerman. Before the Court opened tho crowd began to gather, and by 10 o'clock the Court room was full to overflowing Accused, an attrac-tive-looking young woman, above medium hoight, entered the dock with a calm, almost bored expression, and ignored the gaze of the curious crowd. She was gowned in a green costume, which was topped by a white motor cap, shading a demure-looking face i When tho charge had been read by the Clerk of tho Court, Chief Detective McGrath, who had chargo of the case for the prosecution, asked for a remand for a week Mr. Wilford, who appeared for the defence, opposed the application, and suggested that tho formal taking of evidence in tho lower Court should be dispensed with, and the case gone into fully before a jury, when both sides could call their evidence He (counsel) had witnesses to'oall from Dunedin He was prepared to admit formal matters in order that the casoniight go up to the present sitting of the Supremo Court. Counsel was quite prepared to help the police to get the committal made at once. - Thero seemed-to be no reason why accused should have to wait for three months until tho following ciiminal sittings' of' the' Court : :' The' woman had : beon' : arrested since Saturday, and there should bo no reason why a prima facie case could not be.brought forward at onco by tho Chief Detective.

Chief,: Detective .' informed v. the Court-;that ; :it' was;quite/impossibleltd ; h'ayq the case -ready;ias ;Mrl; : :Wilfor4-i\suggested: ; It was'all;; veryv-well'for'counsel to-say.that he Witnesses had to/be ibrougbt -from' a distance,: and he (the' Chief J Detective) saw: no reason why this'.'matter:/:should^bp-rushed' 1 through anv more : than/ any; other" case;: fe* ■ ?•''.'; •;' ';?» His Worship: , l':am^bt.:prepared ; te alter the procedure/of :.the/>Ckmrt;T.:v./'Y : fc-/:::' At this^sJ^^iJ'^'./{DD'jtfi'^He'fej'^' : exception,;to^ari^artist, ? at',' the" ; press -table, skotohing''his':clion't;>"SucKa proceeding/: lie 'allowed ~ Thejartis'ft.r,6se:ahd-'explaihed: tolne Courtthat ho'V.hadvjbe^.::-ißke^chin£:.in^C^urts' r --fb>,' 30 yearsy''an'd-:'only;phce previously hadloxcep-' tion been/taken-to;:his:;.wbrk-beiiig.done- in' the Cpurti : .;:'; ; .i.v;';\","-;- --'fY'Y.YY^^YYAYVY'-H-";' His,: Worship ; ito-/counsel:' Wlll *%« ;tfiei:prop^;rp,"r^'du'ro-ifiyou ; - : 'wi'sK'': tho Court :to^takd;actibn;". : .ZZ:';:'/;. V-?:k - v

Mr. Wilford went on to argue that' His Worship was tho guardian of the Court, and oonld order that the sketching should not bo allowed. "I ask vour Worship to say that, ho (tho artist) shall not sketch my 'His Worship: "Very well, you can bring tho matter before mo in .tho proper way." Mr. Wilford: "Why ho'will bo sketching your Worship next.". His Worship: "Accused will be remanded to February 10.' Mr. Wilford made application for bail, and pointed out that a prohibitive amount should not be fixed. Chief/Detective M'Grath said that ho had no objection to bail being granted, but asked that it Ehould be substantial. Bail was fixed in the sum of £50 and two sureties of £25 each. , INSOBRIETY. ' Mary Parker, alias Bond, appeared on remand on a charge of insobriety, and was convicted" and ordered to pay medical expenses, 17s 6d., in default three days' imprisonment. John M'Laughlm and Peter John Kenny, both charged with insobriety, asked that prohibition orders should bo taken out against them, which requests were granted. Fines of ss. 11016 imposed in each case. Ono first offender, who failed to appear, was fined 10s,

RESERVED JUDGMENT. A DEAL IN RABBITS. Dr. A. M'Artflur, S M., gave his reserved decision in tho civil case Milesi and Ingle (Mr. Beere and Mr. Fitzgibbonj v. Hurcomb (Mr. Hindmarsh), a claim for £64 6s. 2d , as the result of a deal m rabbits. His Worship said that defendant had stated in his evidence that he was-willing to settle if a claim for £50 for certain benzine was waived. If ■plaintiffs were prepared to take judgment tor £47 12s lOd , the Court would enter it. Mr. Beero intimated his willingness to take judgment for the abovo amount, which was accordingly entered. Costs, £4 15s, were allowed.