MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 600, 31 August 1909, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr.'W. G. Riddell, S.M.) ' V .-' ■■■:'..•• '•'.■ —' . ;Watched from a window. , Another two-lip raid, though not such a largo one as that-organised a Mittlo' while back; brought a batch of eight alleged offenders into Court. Their names were as follow:—George Longhurst.'Janies'Martin, John Henry' Murray, David M'Cooinbe, Harry Needham, Edgar Shaw, William Henry Shepherd, and Joseph Spence. They all pleaded not guilty, and ,all save Murray were defended by Mr. Herdman. Mr; Fitzgibbon appeared for' Murray.' ■' - Constables M'Annirin,' and Thomson 6tated that on August 19 they went down to tho Thorndon .Railway- Station, and from a window in the refreshment room watched the accused,, .who were all 'esprcsjmen, tossing'twopennies. They could only swear to money being passed in one case. , Mr. Herdman said that the defence w.as- a total denial .of ' the. charge. . The men went down to the station in the ordinary'course of their work, and to pass away the timo till the train came in, tossed for places on the stand, and tried, who could "head" the pennies. But no one ever bet oir the toss. The defendants went into the' box and gave evidence to this effect. ,"..'• His Worship remarked that from their evidence the men were a peculiarly innocent'lot. The 'circumstances were suspicious, but thero wc.-; only sufficient evidence given to convict. Shepherd, Loughuret, and-Martin of playing'a frame'of chance. /The other informations would be 'dismissed. The charge against Murray was withdrawn. The three 'accused named. were fbc-d £'■}, and 7s. costs, default seven days' imprisonment, ''-..•'.'' •''.'' .;.A;-RAID .ON FOWLS. "',■■ 'A charge of stealing seven fowls, valued at 2lis., the property of Henry Toms, was preferred against 'Alexander M'lnnes! Defendant,' who -was represented by Mr. Jackson, pleaded not guilty. Evidence _was given to tho effect thai K6." had-.been, seen going into the fowl, house, and leaving with a sugar-bag containing something which wore a suspicious appearance. He was- : convicted and fined.4os., and ordered to pay... the value of the stolen' property, 205., and costs. 125., in default. 11 days', imprisonment. '

■ ASSAULT ON KAIWAKKA EOAD. For an assault committed on the KniwarraRoad, George Bowdeu was fined JM, and costs 65., in, default 11 days' imprisonment. ■ Tho facts of tho case'wore that as two men, ono of them Gcorgo Wiiidruin, were searching for their hat,'near the railway crowing' on tho road to ICaiivarra, accused canio up with a mate, and (lung n bottle at Windmill, cutting his eye so severely that ho was laid up for a week. His Worship ordered that .El Is. of tho fine should go to defray Wiiidruni's medical expenses. CTIAKOE OF THEFT. A young man, named Andrew Paulson, was charged with the theft at llartinborough of a rug, valued at' .£2 25., the property of Timothy Donovan. Sub-Inspector Norwood stated that accused was at present undergoing sentence for a previous offence. A remand to September S was granted by his Worship. ' INSOBRIETY. Lawrence Hanratty, who had been, three times convicted of drunkenness, was sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment. • Three first offenders who failed to appear wero fined 10s; cach, with tho usual alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment. OTHER CASES. A _ oliarge against George Vondetechmitt, of failing .to maintain his wife and child, was dismissed. Mr. M'Grath appeared- for complainant, and ilr. • Herdman for defendant. Kato Welsh applied for, and was granted, an order protecting her earnings from her husband, David Welsh, ilr. Jackson appeared in support of the application.