MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 996, 10 December 1910, Page 14

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W. G. Biddell, S.M.); TROUBLE ON A TRAM. CONDUCTOR RATHER TO BLAME. - John Forest Perry pleaded not guiltj (1) to misconducting himself on a tramcar, -and (2) to having used impropci language. 1 After hearing evidence> a 1 considerable length, his AVorship, referring to the first, charge, said it was clcai that the.'.conductor; was; somewhat t( blame: for,.defendant's ; conduct. Till weight of evidenceiwaS'in favour of th< fact that-tho.conductor used language that' lie should not have \ised in the car, but- at tho' same time defendant should 'have reported tho conductor, instead of acting as he had done._ There was no necessity; for •' the defendant attempting to striko tlie ..conductor. Defendant had had some provocation, and the Court did not think a heavy penalty should bo imposed. - He would bo convicted, and. ordered to pay Court costs, 15s. On the second charge, defendant was convicted and fined 405., and:costs £1 l?s. Mr. O'Lcary appeared for defendant. ; FURIOUS RIDERS. A chargo of furiously riding a borso on the'Lyall Bay beach was preferred against Daniel M'Carthy. Defendant pleaded not guilty, and urged that ho was taking a friend's horso into tho surf when someone wived a biithing costume -at the -horse, 'and njano it bolt. A fine, of 20s.jarid' costs 155., was entered. , Mr. Fitizgibbon appeared for defendant.;' "• ' ' •'

Leonard Keen pleaded not guilty to a charge of furious riding at Island Bay, and was fined 55., and costs 7s. Mk Beero appeared for defendant. GROSS CARELESSNESS. A second-hand dealer named John Parry pleaded guilty to having failed to enter a certain purchase ho had mado in his licensed shop. • Chief-Detective Brobcrg said ho did not impute dishonesty to the defendant, but Parry had been guilty df gross carelessness. A fine of 20s. and , costs (s. was imposed. A DEAL IN BIRDS. . Thomas Augustus Thomson, described as a draper's assistant, was brought forward for sentence on a charge of having received tho sum of £15 on terms requiring him to account for the same to Wm. Grei, and having failed to do so. ■ Chief-Detectivo Broberg explained that the trouble arose, as a result of a business deal in which Grei, a bird dealer, gave accused birds valued at about £40, with instructions that he was to take them to Dannevirke, whero he was to open a sEop, and send the proceeds of the sale of the birds to Grei. The money mentioned in the charge had not been refunded. Accused said he could get work again and would refund the money if the Court gave him a chance. . His Worship entered a conviction and' order to come up for sentence when called on, on- condition that accused repaid the money by sums of not less than £1 a week.' . ■ ALLEGED THEFT FROM THE WHARF. A wharf labourer named Robert Wilson appeared in answer to a charge of having on December 8, at Wellington, stolen a case of currants valued at 205., the property of tho Wellington Harbour Board. On defendant's own application, a remand was granted until Monday, to enable him to obtain the services of a solicitor. ' Bail was allowed in tho sum of £5 and , one surety of £5. ■'■.'■ "AFTER HOURS." Robert Kilpatrick, grocer, _ pleaded not guilty to two charges (arising, out of the same case) of having committed a breach of the Shops:and Offices Act, by employing two assistants after hours on a certain 'Wednesday.. , -. Defendant urged that ho had.not employed tho assistants over tho usual hours. Tho man and a boy had' gone ;out on the delivery cart and had • forgotten, som&r thing at Hataitai, and had, on their own initiative, gone back. . ■ His Worship-said he had no option but' to enter -a conviction, and ; order defendant to pay the costs, 75., in each case.

SURGERY ON A HORSE. Mr. Seed, Inspector for the S.P.C.A., proceeded against Charles Smith for' cruelly ill-treating a horse. Evidence was. given to the effect that defendant had performed a surgical operation upon the animal in a very unskilful manner, and subsequently it had- to bo destroyed. A fine of 10s. was imposed, together with . three witnesses' expenses £1 Is. .each, solicitor's fee £l'ls., and Court costs 13s. The default was fixed at seven days' imprisonment. A further charge of cruelly, ill-treat-ing; a foal'was'dismissed, Mr. Dix appeared for defendant and Mr,-. Meredith for the society. "'" ""' . '" .. BY-LAW GASES. : A fine of 10s. and costs 9s. was entered against J. Curtain for boarding a train whilst it was in motion. Mr. Dix appeared.for defendant. , Ernest Duiicau was fined 20s. and costs 15s. for driving a motor-car around the corner of Willis and Manners Streets .at other than a walking pace. On a second charge of not having sounded his horn on the abovo occasion, defendant was ordered to pay costs, 9s. Thos. Driscoll was fined 20s. and costs 75 , . for leaving a dray standing in Featherston Street without somo competent person being in charge. Bobt. Galbrath was fined 10s. and costs 7s. for driving a vehicle around a corner at other than a walking pace. Wm. Stevens was fined ss. and'costs. 7s. 'for leaving an express standing unattended iu private street. Mr. M'Grath'appeare'd'.'for defendants,; 'MISCELLANEOUS. '■'_ Geo. Hendrick admitted having" wilfully obstructed Sergeant Stewart whilst tho latter was in the.execution of his duty, and was convicted and fined £3,.in default 21 days' imprisonment. Thos. Munt was fined £4 and costs £2: 11s. for allowing, a horse to, be worked when.it was , in an unfit con-: dition. ■ , , , Violet Paton, alias Frazer, pleaded guilty to a : charge 'of 'insobriety, and expressed her willingness to go into 'the-Army Home. It was stated by tho police that accused had 22 previous convictions against her. She was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called on, on condition that.slip went into the Salvation Army Home and' remained there for six months. ' . Kate Wilson, alias Bethune, also charged with insobriety, was fined 205., in default < seven- days' imprisonment. Walter Anscombe, similarly charged, was fined 10s., with tho alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment. Three first offenders were each fined 55., in .default 24 hours':, imprisonment. A middle-aged woman Alice Hill pleaded guilty to' a charge of disorderly conduct in Jcrvois Quay whilstdrunk. Mr. Herdman explained to the Court that accused had :been a respectable,'- hardworking woman ■> until • recently, and asked that she be given a chance. His Worship said that under the circumstances ho would treat accused as a first offender for drunkenness... She would be fiued 55., in default 24 hours', imprisonment. A young woman, Bryda Sheohan, pleaded guilty.to a charge of insobriety, and not guilty to a charge of being an idlo and disorderly person within ' tho meaning, of the olico Offences Act, in that she has insufficient lawful means of support. During the hearing of the evidence of the first witness, accused collapsed in the dock, and. had to bo carried out of Court. On returning to the Court later, accused altered her plea to one of guilty, and expressed her willingness to go into the Salvation Army Home. An order was made accordingly, defendant to remain in the home,for six months. A prohibition order, to have twelve , months' currency in the Wellington and Hutt districts, was issued against Wm. Jas. Lawton.