MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 427, 9 February 1909, Page 11

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

1 f -POLICE CASES. ' vv, ' (Before Mr. W. G. Ridden, S.M.) ' ' "A CAP VALUED AT Is. 6d." ' John" Hughes pleaded cuilty to the theft of a cap valued at Is. Cd., tho property of J.'!!: l'lockton. Sub-lnspeotor Phair stated that Mr. Levy, a second-hand dealer, saw accused enter Mr. Flookton's shop aud take a cap, putting it , , on his head, and commencing to walk away. He wiiß followed and given in charge. Nothing was known against him previously. Accused said ho had tho money in his ' hand to pay for tho cap when tho man caught hold of him. • ' His Worship r entered a conviction and order , to pay expenses, 10s., in default 48 hours' ,impri6onmont, tho cap to be returned | to tho owner, - j SEAMAN ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE, m •' A burly seaman named Phillip Chas. Hackfjtt pleaded guilty to having absented I hinisolf from tho steamer Kaikoura without | leaie.j ! i ' ,His Worship warned defendant that no I was liable to 14 days' imprisonmont, but tho | Court would not send him to gaol on tho present oharge. Ho bo convicted and | ordeied to forfeit two days' wages and to pay I oos|s 75., in default 48 hours' imprisonment. ''Y • - INSOBRIETY. John Phillips and Wm.. Tierney, charged j with insobriety, woro each convicted and I fined los., in default 48 hours' imprisonment. One first offender »as convicted and dis-' charged. I '■! MAINTENANCE. „ I Josspli Koriny, charged 'wilh failing to | maintain his two children, did not appear, His Worship consideiod that there was sufficient, evidence to show that defendant was in- work in Taranaki, and an order to pay r 4s.'per week in respect of each child would be made. it was shown what defendant's* earnings were, the order mighl bo ini> I , - -Michael Lane did not appear in ansner to a "charge of disobeying an order to pay os. per > week towards the maintenance of his illegitimate child (arrears £2 17s. 6d ). Defendant was convicted and sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment, the warrant to bo sus-1 1 pen'ded if the amount is paid within 48 hours.' ill. P. W. Jackson appeared for complamantl" jWh. Collier Boulter was convicted and , fined 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for'disobedience of an order to pay 7s. 6d. per week towards tho support of his mother ' (arrears £1 2s. 6d.). Kelly appeared for * complainant. - , t J Hodgson Bell was convicted and fined 205., Trith the alternative of seven days' impnsonnient, for disobedience of an order of the Court to pay £1 4s. per week towards the maintenance' of his four children (arrears , &).\ '- ,H .PROHIBITION ORDER. A order, to have twelve ' months' currency' in the Wellington, Hutt, anxLNowtowu licensing districts, was issued against S. I. Luxford -, , ' k', ' "JUVENILE COURT. ' ' Two boys, fourteen and a half and fourteen \ears of agd respectively, were charged before tho Juvenilo Court with having ab Foonded from the AVeraroa Industrial School on January 27. Both defendants were ordered to be returned to the school. > /UNUSUAL MAINTENANCE CASE. . ACTION BY THE BENEVOLENT ' TRUSTEES. \ ■ A. H.' Truebridge/ lhanager o'£ the r Ohiro Home, proceeded against - Goo. tones' i on'a charge of failing to jmaintain his father, Thos. Jones, an inmato bf'the.-OhirorHome'. >• Mr: Neave, who appeared for complainant, stated that the application was" one l>y the 1 Benevolent Trusteei> v The old man, Thos, Jonee", hadTieen antnmato'of the Ohiro* Honi'e off-and on smee 1906.' He had been discharged at his own request 'several times since then, but he had been continuously in thei-home since' March last'. Tho Trustees had been informed by the inmato that, lie had a son able to contribute something to his support, and they now made application that he, should pay something. The cost of ' maintaining the old man was 9s. 6d. pel week, and since March' the amount the Trustees had disbursed on his behalf was £17 2s. The Trustees asked' that defendant bo ordered to pay Bs.''a week until the £17'2b. wa'svyepaid. A.'H. Truebrjdge stated thftt application had been mado to defendant in the matter, but no reply had been received. The' old man was about 72 years of w age,' and had been suffering from chronic rheumatism, and in> witness's opinion was quite unable U, eupporfc himself. <. , , - Defendant's father stated that he was 73joais of age, and was , quite able to work. He would leave the home when ho got a billet. He was quite satisfied he could work Geo. (Thos. Jones, flaxmill manager, stated that he was getting,£s 10s. per'Tieek Sd , long as the mill was 'open. Witness' wis contributing towards the support of, his , motHer, and hod, been doing, so for five years. Ho gave a detailed statenifiut of his weekly, expenses, which left a balance of 09. , For tho "past fifteen yeare defendant's fathet had not contributed to the support of\ lus wife or any of his children, but-had wanidercd about the , country.' Witness had taken the old man to < his. home, but Le had.had to be,sent away, because of his objectionable behaviour;' Ho subsequently obtained good employment for a man of his • age; hut left the district when a prohibition , order was taken oui against him. To Mr. Neave: Witness could not make an effer* to .pay so much per week off the •mount. (' ~ ( His' Worship said it had teen proved that the old mau was an inmate of tho home, ano was being kept by the Trustees. If the i old, man went to work, tho liability of defondant would cease, but so long as the f a V^ r , Y, as a destitute person, tho son waliabl4;> the only question- being to what amount. It was undoubtedly a hard case considering the behaviour of the old man , , and defendant would not.be ordered to nav the-amount in one sum, but in instalments of ss. per week. ' Mr.'Neave intimated that the Trustees would bo satisfied if os. per week was paid until the sum of £10 was liquidated. / Mr. Herdman appeared for defendant