LAW REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 738, 10 February 1910, Page 9

LAW REPORTS.

IMPROPER PRINTS.

"THE STATUTE IS CONFUSED. ,,

-:.;;:;- :; :: i ■•■; ;an,appeal; ;-.(.:.'.;?;..'.; ,'ilearing; tlie:list , .was''conchide'd.';in'thq':' Supreme •Court,-before Mr.: Justice 1 Chapman,- yes;terday.;»;:;:v, - ; y •■■■;;;i;;V';.^: : 'f -U');\^ : : .y. Stephen"Coburn,.;-manager of' "Jfew'.-Zealand ; Triitfi,"- who ''was ■;, found 'guilty on'llohday': of'having ;distributed: a ■newspaper'whose contents were "calculated ,to'.corrupt;morals, for!sentence., ;• M.: Wilford appeared- !"i. the iprijoaer.•••::•■;■:'■; :;■.;'ir- ;'i.v.'- '■'•"'' :; ;.-■;■;-... :. : '.:'.'•■•

the trial ilri-\Vilford. had raised three points,.which.ho desired'shou'd be argued before'the Court of 'Appeal. ..'Ho contendfcdr^-'^^.-:';-'---■''. ,\\v'-i'. '■'' : '}j' : "■,'■■■ ' •;'' i.:"(l) ;tTh'at 'a ' "distributor" '■:'-.wds':.' not ■ ■■ : a "seller, publisher, or ..exhibitor)'' the "' ':'.. Crimes'.'Act;'referring only ~1: 0 .:..thc50.; , .V.threo/officers..;-:.-/•.■. ;;;■.■:•;..-..;;.--.>.- : -"- ■;', :.';• ■■'• f(2) That there was no : evidence, that ~ ■ the ■prisoner .had any ■knowledge.'-'of ' I- the'improper of the article.'-" ■.:;..• (3 j'That-:th'ere-was. no proof of dis-!.: '■:• tributiqn ; by the; prisoner. .':' "•','" ~,.': V'His,Honqur. intimated .that ho did riot propose;,to!sentence the prisoner,at, sent."' . He Tiad. considered the request 'of coiinSel for "the prisoner, and. would defer sentence; .although' ho had no -substantial 'doubt-on. ;tlv|; points./: The .'matter baO struck liim.ill a.certain , manner, and he did-not see:his way-to look at.it "diffeiv: enOy. at .present..' Still, his .Honour' con-. sidpre'd that.- the. case was-'one .. '.which -should .bo" decided'..by l -thp.Court of Apt peril.'ibecniiM ; ; (he added) "the statute'. is ■cqiifufed in it& wording.'-' -Especially -as this was a enso; which would navo to be dealtiwitli by-imprisonment for some !per.ipd,'.hi'a';Honour<cli(l not.-like to act'with--out fortifying liimselffwith ; the.opinion-of the' Cour- of '■'.•■■.■■'.> •■'■■.■:,..■■,;.■ ; i ; 'K '.. .VMr/;Wilford.'sai(l that'he wished to call. witnesses' > to- speak asi.to the ;prisoner's character, and..he- would bring the:.mibv. editor'fof.the paper,to show;.that;hd:had remqnstrft'red ;.with., the 'writer , r of "i. the ;article : •'.:•, .-.>';,.. V;-;;.,; - His -Honout: ■: That -. operis- iip • a V; new; I'ficld,; and-it is. not; a matter of »char-|id.cter.,-;::i:.:.assumc.that the.,prisoner-is-,a' man : ;6f igood. fcharacter.:. .'shall,: leave ■ that ■evidence" until' , after,.thf Court. of Appeal ahd,.if the'.Court affirms"the.con: victiori, .it'may,';come up.ihen:. .Prisoner v/ill-.be- granted ,".the : :same'.bail. as : for- {•■.'.•;,■'■;.'., j£;!:;.: ; '■:'•:'•■-:; ;:.. ../■,: ;:•■■•

: -r^vAEMED: BOYvBUEGLAES: ' : /\ : f. rice". Edward,P.pihtpn whp',;pleaded;. guilty-;tov thirteen/.charges pr.b'reak'ing.fmd: entering .arid' theft,' from ■shops.iapdVwarehquses .in the city, were :brought.';upr;fori'soritonco. /.The ■'.■youths; armed .with.revolvers,: had been;, arrested .a^Happyiyalley^b^Detective Cassells 'aiid •.Coristablb;- Pbarce, of 'Brooklyn.!,. •

l/jMrl ■';'.• W. "H. : JX'vßoil-'represented ' the CrownV and Mr;,T;;.3:/;WiltOTd,ap]icare(l ;fdi; the .^"' : '-; :~iV^.■■'■''"■ V ■.JEviclehoßvas :to:-Haughey's-good char-; ■rioter. wa9.:giveu.,by;;\ViUiam>.H.".L.■ Foster,' 1 ■ ■headmaster, of : . the ;Petone .District , High; School,, who had knott-it ; the lad at (the Albitrit . Cpok : , : School; : ; ' The vla'd;:-; he, said;;;was. of- a temperameht. i .whiqh.;'iVa : s ■ inclined'.to Vresent..strict,;'disciplinp/':li ut' ..under.;good ■manrigcm'ojit,' ;■ he:v.'l)ehaVed !weU.-.;:■/.;vr'.;V ■'/:';;' ? .:.'\;;i^,.r:'.^v-j..-;■;,■; '.i'His 'lionbur iSaidiithat ;he: idesifed , 'i'o know,! ? ;if; possiblc^A.which'^blithe.;,hro; had , been :the. : riugleadcr.''.;]i < tpln'the-evi-dence,'. it; did.T not',:appear : v that' Pointoji,hod.;plaiiiied.;the;,.escapades/ 'yet'Haughej.: •s■as■•\theXyounßel/^foy;■^^'H ; j^^,V:■A^:.v^..^..^'^• , .'attelidi.andlgiT&'.theV histoiy, pfcHlhe ''.base/ ■seitehce.-iras L furtKer,;def6rre'dSubtil;,tliree' ;of^c^ffih:'atfern6on?;,'<-''':~"v^i."' i L^'"'' , ''

Jf^^iWADESJ^N^OTiE*CASE!;: ; :C Eenneri; 'icharged ■:' with". ato -yiSmifev .i»wii,:..was'resuined/.Mivifelrs\^r6se'c V bhi,behalf>of.-theVCrbwni ; k Ske,rrett,. K.C.i !; with;' Jfiim ■Mγ. -W:. jlCraV'iiTh'e, *fpr/' the' prbsecutibn' was to;'the'effect- that -.the 'house^-a::four-insured' for in the : .Coaimercial.'-Piiion; Office. -A .'next-'. ; dppr'!.neighbour':.' testified '.'to. .'having.-ob-' served" the; -accused;'. dragging , - a, burning chair ; towards vthe;-house I ,' .'Part-'of tho {case -'.for; ;,the'.- prosecution';- was' that conitradictoryVstatements/hadlbeen I made by the..accused 'in -regard -to ,the: ;i five; :.-One ,pf ~;the .witnesses ■'■ Dxpressed p. the ; : opinion' ■that, a .similar .h'ousa.- could. ; boVbdut- for' "ifiSOO. ■;■ - ■•■'■ Th« - - - witnesses V.werd:—Herbert Wlter :Llewellyn;Hawke' (accountant for the;. Conim'erciplv.P.nion' ;'Assurance/ Cobi;' piinyJ/^Henry/Edward' Manning '(valuer),' Detective;-Hammond,-: and -Constable Muj.--lpoly.-.-.",;'- ■-:■.')!.■,>;,/■■>.*■;, '.rV^^-v-.•■:•--. . .-:

:$ 01 , •#? -'lefenco,•-.evidence' was given bj : Charlcs j . .Harman' - (builder), , ■ ■William' agent),'Wil-' /Uam (painter), Ernest ,Odhn.,,:-.(bnilder),;.. and William ■ lUmgworth,: (contractor): -'.It' , was .'stated ,by,.pne :witness; thst;;his;.tender;fbr; the: '.ereetipn , ,"of-ctlfe"Jhquse'-Kad iheea-' M&0, i^d'^e^ff i"' the': wprk>: ; of ;,oroctisig ■' "• ■Accus.ed,, iii 'evidence,--saidithatl "h"e^ ; was ■•a};cabinet-malc€iy.aud i ,had..lived'in Wel-.hnston?all-Ws^life.':::Eatterly -ho•■ had •found ,-employment;; :M<[ a ; :■■ carpenter. -.Jloi. purchased ■>,tlie.'::a>ctioh: at Wades l town" eighteen'- Tmbnths'.- ago ■'•'for .•*.lßo;;apart-.froin , -<eisi-.'lirhich accused iiW tue.purchase. money"-'.was found' , 'by-his , ,iather..'Hegardirig the;occurrences of l the .■■ n ;^.V-°^■- t^ i^^^..( D >J«n\her.'2B). i ':accused : stated that ho went to'.the .Jiouse to.re•pair" a;lock, : and : tq'.p'ut up "some: wall.par.er. v..After;. cutting, out some .01 wall-paper=he gathered tlip scraps'and set .fire ,to,them,;in the kitchen. ; range He 'Jised a match to examine' the asH-pah ; of tho-,grate,-and could not say where he ' threw, .the', match 'down'..' He i'had'brought ;'in an: old.'chair;.thinking-that , rain: was coming. .: He "went; put,-.and on-his return, lie found .tho ohaii' ■ ''ablazei'' - suggesting •'■ that the : ludtcli' had landed• there. 'He 1 en-• .deavoured to.put ont-the flanies; but was rendereduncpnscious by.tho smoke.- •'»'■ ■ K VoMr: Myers: Ho bought:tho land 1 for ,tho ;purpos"o of;.buildjn(s*o: house on' it, :as ■he v/as -about,to : he' liiarried.'-'His: brother and he:.did; most of. the work'of buildihK, and-' ! therefore- erected Kit' more- 'cheaply' than' if -it' had- 1 been ilorie," by ■■"■'■ contract. •Thechouse.was -finished Sbetore lie was ready : to ,use-it,, and- he .desired-to lot .it;He ■ had ■ .bought »tno'; :iand ;-"at ■' and the'house'.cost JtiSO/Oie. total being ,£613, yet. as soon as; it;-was'finished he put it into'.the.; agents', handf for. sale at ,£550. lle'.had no, accounts to'sliow how, the .&130 was made up, having destroyed everything .woujafter the. house -was; utiilt. :He re-. rccoived'l3s. : .pcr:week;as' rent/ and: had to pay ■ about :£s ..per annum, for'-,rates 'arid insurance;; receiving'.about '55 ; per :'cent. on Ms"ni'DMy.-,:The p'roperty was.; mbrt--Raged , to .his', father. :..110 .donidj: ■: baying taken a burning chair, into , , the house. ■■'■:'■'■ , Evidence was also given":b'y \l6hn G. W.: ■Aitk'en.. (merchant) -and •'.. Albert. August Eelinei"(joiner,"a brother ;of the accused). ..The addresses of counsel occupied an hour;and -.. α-half,'his/Honour, summed; up, and the: jury.retired.at G. 45. p.tn..VT l>; ." ; .•rhb.;. i iury'deliberated.' for,' 'four; hour's: At the .on(\, of, that ,time.':they:filcd,.iritb: couvt,; and tho foreman, intimated that they: had failed 'to agree' , upon : a '■ vordiot'.-His-Honour, ordered that, a now.,.trial should'be/held'at'the: nbxt v criminal sessions,. and ;.again 'admitted .the accused to bail. -The court adjourned at.10.50 p.m.'

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

'.- : . ;:- .THE,PIANO".CASES. ■ -,v ! '• FALKINEK-SENT ■ UB ' FOK . TRIAL. ■ (Ikforo .. Further evidence \yas, henrdon.tho case of. Edward John . Falkiu'er,-' charged on ■ie'.-inloruiiitions with ; ,tho ' alleged . theft of a -number .of :'piarios, tile property of Win; 'Henry..Webb'e, of Auckland. Included in the charges Avece. seven ■ allegations of theft-of pianos of nnnggregatQ value of -.eXSi. It: was further alleged on six informations that accused received (i,su.ni of SW:'.'on terms requiring '.him to :account for t>.;. sume.to Win. Henry Webbe which, it.whs alleged,: ho franduloritly. oiriiKod to\'lo,. thereby" committing ' thjnft. ; ." Altiisml was also charged, on five .spjiu'rhtc : iiiiorinations with forging the names, of ; David Mason, Henry Buddie, . • .'• '' ' ' - : .':■'■■ ■ ' '- : ~

. Jas. . .Henderson",'. Louisa ' Robertson, - and 1 C."Vincent to documents purporting, to be agreements-between Wni. H. Webbe and 'tho-.parties nnmedY-for the hire of. pianos, with' intent' that they 'be ' acted , upon-as'genuine''lt .had been agreed at tho; previous , hearing to deal with' the seven; charges, ,0!' .thoft,- first, and., take them collectively.'■'.■Hγ; Dunn appeared tor the defence. ■■• ■ ;■••.- ■■■ .:■;■■■ '■'■■■ ■ On resuming Mr. Dunn continued his cross-examination of the witness, .'. John Wm: Itendo, at someleng'th. y ;: \ . .: Detective Lewis deposed that he arrested accused on January 13 and chargod him with tho theft of the pianos.■ -In reply accused said: "I- never., stole the pianos. It :is a -bit of spleen:-'I have .£10,000: in" property and equities' and. I told him ..I Would/pay him back'iiir : all his pianos. He was . very foolish; to , do this. I could havo.paid him all .the. money. On searching , accused at-the. watch-house he (accused)': called "atteit ■tibn to; an unopened letter in his pos : session;and said.to witness: "I want you to .note particularly, that I Had this let- , ter unopened.. . It contains money in'-pay-ment for a piano and. I wish to show that I. had no intention' of spending .his money. . On June 21 witness was present when, accused was- served with sum-, mouses in connection- with the cases tobe hcard.'ogainsfhim. .Accused said:'"lf. lhad not made that 1 statement--to Kende you wpulu , have had a , bigger ..job. to trace sonie "of the pianos," ' Accused had not; assisted tho police iri" any way to trace any of the pianos-although witness .had.. supplied ■ him . with a list of'the pianos' that .'could- not be' traced. by ' the entries'in .the ledger.: ' . ; ■jEvidencq was". by' Jns. I 'C- V. Jvirkwoodi electrical-engineer, ■ who .'de-tailed.a-.certaindeal-ho had with accused over mi -piano., •■■After- the piano' paid for witness received 1 an account- for balance due on the piano from 'the London and ; Berlin Iliaiio Companv, Auckland;- .: J . ! .;-C.- ; :■:?::~::,_ ..,',- .■':■.■.■':.•■■.'•;■■■,

:-Mr.iDunnsubmittGd.tliat.the.poiicohad not, discharged the onus' thrown' on thenv in ■•regard;;fc> the' charges of theft;, and that • thn. informations should be dismissed.■.:■.„ '■-■ ■':•■' • ■.■'■.': .-:.- ,-■:■: ';. ;; •■•■-- ,

.'. ;His . Worship ;', that' 'ii • prion fade case had.been.made out in <pach'.information, except.one, which 'concerned a piano alleged .to.havo.bcen purchased from accused by. Mr,' -Swan;' This information would .bo, dismissed, i' '■■• . . -.;■;■■■■ ■'

■Accused pleaded .not:guilty to each of tho /.other' charges,' arid ■ was .committed' to the Supremo .Court.-.for trial. . .'

;v; : ;;j OTHERHANO.CHARGES.:';: .--■ J. respect.to theJQtlier- chargoSi ..wliibiv wero' all tajken'-together.■-.Mγ! l-jnii agreed that'the evidence tendered in-,tho first charges'should be;; admitted: iiu other with such additions as were necessary, subject to^uiS- right to,further cross-examine anv witnesses.as:to the-further charges. '. ; ;;.W|in.'. H.' Wcbbe explained ■'.■■in ■■■ detnil various 'transactions' he: had looked'..into. Hfl'..had. : isont;put .notices to Ivarions persons, whoni. accused; alleged' he .had "'■ sold pianos/: to, and in several instances >he noticesi:came;.;back.: marked ,', f qnito .cor--rect, ,;and -bearing , what, alleged--to be .the signatiire iot the. purchaser.-. -, Wheif' wit-ness.-..'.went ,out..:to. 'try and : find ; . the ■purchasers, they ■wore-hot to bo' {olind. Witness.:'wention to-give .details: of ; certain salosand-exchanges :for whidi he had not beoin;paid.>\;;' ; .,'v : ; :. \-: ; ; : .-,■.■;■.;.■.,:....-,,;v- : ,'.v" ■"■| Several'i other also gave evidbnce^:.; -r'.',-.'■;■ -._ ;-.=■.-.:.-V-"i" : -.';V:;-■" .•■/ ;: ! .;- : r.Accused;.,pleadodv not-guilty to each ; of ■the and was- committed to tho;S.upremo:, Court.for 'trial. -Bail'was- allowed in .the sum .of- £200'. and'., two sure-;tios"of-'-.£loo:each.--:' ■.■;' :.' -. : '"•'; •■'..■"

J'f ; i I yHEATRE'POCKIOT-i'ICKING. ; ; 4 . ;-Aicliargi)' oi'pqbfeet-p'ioidng at tho Theatre Royal was:further when Peter; jMlJlasters;-.. alias. -Hall, '.alias' ■M'Mahoni:: appeared,,' on .remand,'• on .a chargej'of;-;stealing; ; l2s.::fld: from:. GeorgeilQpopta ■B&=;i'Dbrua.r;v.:,4. , Evidence."'.was' «al'efl' ..informant!; I ;.was amoiißst',tne'. ;to get , '.' 'into ■ !tpe ; l , tt»tip''E^4'W#e-4iß!itr|n , -'flne»i' .tion,- aud;*hen He.:.was Vapproaching ' the ticket, ofßco ho 'felt' a hand /being ;iiv his;-hip: pockot,.. yhich :cbntaiiied'.-- 12s. M-:. his hand. i«6t <ma'.^Ta!spcd'.ithe- , handi'-whiplv.''ivai'l)e>' ifflg ;(fcbffh'- 6'tttibf;'Ms-pricket. . As he'did', mi K 6d.-fell mto :his hand. The lian'd" :he\ grasped;was that .of .the . 'licc'ilsod.' Jl'Masters said' Copper had made, a mistake' .wheii Cooper? doeused'jliim;- but , later, ho asked what the'loss -was) and when'ho wns; told 10s.;' : prdfTered half: a-spveveicri, which Cooper: refused to .'take,' In tho meantime .Mr! i: Be'n::■■ Puller,,-.one.;of fthe' proprietors ;of tho theatre, .came. along and'drew both: Cooper; and accused'but of the:main; entrance... , .. When .accused and Cooper were; away : from r the rest'of tho' crowd ;Mr..Fuller.-.felt : 6pnie' money being dropped. .immediately sent.for the police, and 'on arrival of tho cqnstab'le turned; put -his which was found to contain : -10s. ■• ,'■'■; ;. j

■:■■:. Accused -pleaded , 'guilty and -'.was , ;', committed';., to thb- Supreme : Court' '-for' sentence. Bail was anowed'in .accused's own recognisance, of <£Go;.' ■.Uγ. : O'ltegan .appeared for the. defence,- and, Sab-Inspector' Norwood prosecute!. ■' -';':': ','.. '\ ■,;:':'::'■ ■'..,

■.'■•|.,-.?;he .ngahauranga.raid. :,';:;'. ■'-.One of the men, ,Wm.; Anderson, said to •have been concerned- in tho .alleged. , sly grog-selling: at.rf'Ngah'auranga'- on .Sundnj lost,. appeared on.-.a charge of. haying unlawfully Bold beer'in, a!.No ; -liccnse' district to oho.Wrai Scoles;Griggs.■ Mr. , Jackson, who appeared for':defendant,; asked for ; ; a . remand. -' This .was - : granted nntil'.; Friday next,' bail bbinß 'allowed in, the sum "of. £20 and one surety;of S ;.'..;/■ f|,

;■ - ; . .■:■'-.- ALUEGEiI ■/-:. •; ■ -A' young'•'. man - named' Wm./ Patrick. ■ITOernjbtt,'. alias'. Arthur.:. Threlfo, , .ap : peared in' answer to a charge'of. havingi on December 11, 1909, forged- the. name 'of iH. , J. Baker to a promissory*.note for £2 10s.,vVndi of having .uttered-.tho, same to Wm. M f Lean,' secretary; of the Empire Loan arid. Discount Company. ...'' -.; ~ Chief-Detective Broberc. asked, for ■Jα. ro"marid, to 'February . IG,; arid; stated . that other charges.'were. .being. ■ investigated. Bail .was' allowed' in tho sum of .£4O ana two, sureties, of ;d£2o«ach.f;,' i'fv .-•■; :' :; ■

-;'f''.I:'A.; ; LABOUR;: UNIONS; FUNDS; 1 . AVm. Williams,-wiio'stpod on rerinnd on ii.i charge of .having; between December; 1and February ],•stolen , tho , sum of ; J6GO," the; properly of the Wellington 1 Jrbn.and Brass Moulders' "Union, was also charged as foliows:-(l) May 20,;thoft.of .£ls; (2) oiv or' about 'Juno 1 2C,;theft of ■•■£& 10s.; (3)'-on.:or-aboutV. July-lir-'theft.of -JC29; , .- (4) on: or about, August 30, theft of (5), December 3,: ; theft of ~3s.\ Od.;:, (0) December 3, having received' the sum; , of J3lO on- terms" requiring him' to :account for/the saino'to: A.?H.- Phillip,, he did ■fraudulently'."convert-the same to his own use; thereby .committing theft.. .7 :■, ■ On the; application ot Mr. Wilford, for the (lofenco, a' remand till.: Saturday, morning was granted.' Counsel; Vstdto'd' that '-'hid client,- who had. beeii' secretary of the : union: coucerhod in "the 'first charges, intended.to.plead guilty,.and.the case would: .consequently ■ not; last .long. :' 'Bail was granted in. the sum ...of and ..two sureties of S4O each; ■■' ■

■ ;'-.■/.. t ; ~;;:;.;:;■.;: ■ Victor Bjark, ', charged with/insobriety, was , convicted mid fined ,Hls;, .'with--the alternative of 48 .hours'■■'■ imprisonment. One first offender .'who', failed to. appear was convicted. imU fined 105.,. in' default 24 hours'- iinpris'onmeht: Another 'first: offender was convicted. and discharged. ," . -■'"■ TO BE J3TKCHED. Two juvenile offenders, aged 13 yenrs, pleaded guilty to a charge of having, on January 20, : stolen the sum of JEV the' property "of Aitehoson.-. It was stilted that the hoys stole the money' from a. boy who-hail been soiling', race-' cords and went, out to the Trenthom races with it. Both boys were .discharged but were ordered to received' five, strokes of the birch, and the father of each lad was ordered'to refund 10s.

: . ;v CIVIL BUSINESS. ' MOTORIST AND PEDESTRIAN. . ' .(Before Mr. W. R.'llnselden, S.M.) : ' A: collision between a" motor-cyclist'and a. pedestrian in Manners Street .on De-cember-29 resulted in John S. L'. Ryan (Mr.- M'Gvath). claiming X2O Is. from Ilowdrd Murdoch, clerk (Mr. Browii). Plaintiff urged that tho collision' was caused throiiKh defendant's negligent and unskilful managiugs.lof- 'his motor on a public highway. He claimed i'lO damages by reasou of, shock ami

injury, to his constitution,";medical' .cop Senses £2. 25., lvalue oi-a. suit, of'clothes amaged £5 55., and value of .a bag and contents 14s. . After .hearing evidence his Worship. gave judgment' for.'defendant. The question;of-costs was reserved until to-day..'".;! . ':."■■•■■.■;■' r,'":~.'■'■'.:ii;J>v- , ;•:.:.;,, Louis, Daroux,', photographer, claimed ..£sl 2s. from Chas. Harper,-commission agent. The statement'.of claim 6et out that on ;;March-.ip,v130!),, defendant, was authorised' by one 'Edwd/'Geft.' IPointbn',of; Pdl'one,-..contractor; ■ to .pay' plaintiff MS. out of' moneys .receivett-by.':defend-ant from -.mortgage'' moneys advanced on the security-xf ; a-house at the' Lower Hutt. Defendnnt accepted tho order and duly received .the -mortgage'.moneys," but it; was ■ alleged, had:"dec.liried to" pay the amount 'of• the.; order.'■ Defendant also '.claimed; ',£2 2s. '.special"damages. '■ His Worship reserved:his decisionhmtil Tuesday next. .Mi-..Dix"appeared'for-plaintiff and Mr. : Young for, defendant. . , •