MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 842, 14 June 1910, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Eefore Jfr. W. G. Riddell, S.lt.) CONCERNING PUBLIC .HEALTH. A breach of an important provision, of the Public Health Act was committed by Henry Jas. Meyer, who, on May 9, conveyed an invalid •' suffering from diphtheria, to the hospital in a cab, and allowed the cabman to depart without informing him that a person suffering from an infectious diseaso had been carried in the cab. Sub-Inspector Norwood stated that the information was laid under Section 24, Sub-section C of the Publio Health Act. Through defendant not having informed tho driver of the cab of the nature of the disease from which tho patient carried in the cab was suffering, tho cab was driven straight back to the cab-stand to ply for hiro again without having first been disinfected. Fortunately tho Public Health Department's inspector found out about the case, and ho immediately. had the cab disinfected. Defendant had.acted in ignorance, r.yd tbo Health Department only asked lor a nominal penalty, the charge only having been brought to let the public know their responsibility in sucli cases. His Worship, in imposing ,i fine of 10s., and costs 75., stressed the point that if a person suffering from an infectious disease was carried in a public conveyance, and that conveyance was not fumigated, other people were liable to contract the disease. It was a matter that closely touched the public health. "THESE WERE MEAN THEFTS." A middle-aged man named John Wni. Lucas pleaded guilty: (1) To stealing four scale weights, valued at ss. 6d., tho property of Kate C'nin; (2) stealing « sauce-pan, valued at 35., the property of Bertha Tuttle; and (3) stealing a bicycle lamp, valued at Bs., tho property of some person unknown. According to Sub-Inspector Norwood, accused went into Mrs. Cain's shop and took tho weights off the counter and sold them for Is. As to the saucepan or jug, a litflo boy was being sent across tho road by his mother with orders to piircliaso somo milk, and accused, seeing Ihe lad, snatched the jug out of his hand and subsequently sold it. There wero a number of previous convictions against accused, including breaking and entering " Accused lamented that all his troubles arose through drink, and that his wife and. family were the unfortunate sufferers, as a result of his lapses. In Ins time ho had, ho said, held somo responsible positions, and had had thousands of pounds' worth of goods around him, but ho was never tempted fo act dishonestly except when under Ihc inilucucr' of liquor, lie asked that a prohibition order should issue against him.

His Worship said those wcro mean thefts, more especially tho theft of tho jug from the child. Accused would bo sentenced to Uireo months' imprisonment oil the first charge, and to one months imprisonment on each of tho other charges, the sentences to be concurrent. A prohibition orcliu- was issued as nsked for. TDEFT AND RESISTANCE. Henry .Tames Wren appeared on remand oil the following charges: (1) Stealing an oilskin coat, valued at 15s.' 6d., the property uf Jacob Koscn; and (2) with having resisted Constable Doyle whilst ho was m the execution of his duty. Evidence was given that accused was seen taking tin- coat from tho dour uf Rosen's second-hand shop in Taranaki Street. Up was chased by Rosen, and dropped tho coat. Constable Doylo then took up the hunt and captured accused, who resisted violently. Accused said he had only defended himself. He did not remember- having taken the cont. On tho first chargo a sentence of two , months' imprisonment..was imposed, and on tho second charge accused wns sentenced to U days' imprisonment, the sentences to run. concurrently. VAGRANCY , . Cissy Knight pleaded guilty to a charge of importuning, and- not guilty to being an idle and disorderly, person with insufficient lawful means of support. Accused expressed her willingness to go into tho Salvation Army Home, and sho was convicted on each chargo and ordered to como up for sentence when called on, on condition that she goes into tho home and remains there for a period of six ' months. Ail old man, Matthew Edward Pickering, who had been remanded on a chargo of vagrancy to enable inquiries to bo made by tho police with a view of getting a homo for defendant, stated that ho was willing to go into the Ohiro Home. A conviction was entered and defendant wa9 ordered to come up for sentence when called on, on condition that he goes into the home and remains there for six months. MAINTENANCE. Spencer Purefoy Franklyn did not appear in answer to a charge of failing to provide for the maintenance of his illegitimate child. Defendant was ordered to pay 6s. per week towards the support of tho child, and was also ordered to pay expenses, £S Bs. Mr. Dunn appeared for complainant. John Wni. Leslie was sentenced to one month's imprisonment for disobeying an order for the maintenance of his wife and two children (arrears ,£l2). An order was made that tho warrant should be suspended so long as 10s. per week was paid off the arrears, which were reduced by the Court to £6. Frank Hodgson, who did not appear, was convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment for disobedience of an order for the maintenance nf his illegitimate child (arrears .£ll 10s.). OTHER CASES. Minnie Brown pleaded' guilty to having used obscene language, and was convicted and fined &l, with tho alternativo of 21 days' imprisonment. A prohibition order, to have twelve months' currency in tho Wellington and Hutt districts, was granted against David Robert Cowan. A similar order was mado in reference to George Thomas Smith. Neither defendant appeared. No appearanco was made by William Gaskin, charged with indecency. A conviction and lino of oCS, in default fourteen duys' imprisonment, was entered. A further adjournment to June 20 was /granted in tho case of Henry Jas. Pearman, charged ou two informations with procuring liquor Julian tho currency of a prohibition order, and with having assaulted Constable Taylor whilst he was in the execution of his duty. Sub-Inspector Norwood said defendant was still unable to attend tho court. John Gill, charged with insobriety, was convicted and fined 205., iii default seven days' imprisonment. James Bhand Kelly, charged with helpless drunkenness at Fcatherston, was convicted and ordered to pay medical expenses, etc., «E1 18s. Cd., in default seven days' imprisonment. Two first offenders were fined 10s.