MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1097, 8 April 1911, Page 14

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W. G. Biddell, S.M.) FALSE PRETENCES ALLEGED. William James Geddys Hughes, appearing on remand, was charged with obtaining from Elizabeth Blako and John Baptist Blako the sum of £52 10s. by means of false pretences. The money was alleged to have been obtained on dates between Juno 28 and November 11, 1910. On tho application of Detective Cassells accused was further remanded until April 12. ' Mr. H. F. O'Leary, on behalf of accused, asked for bail, which was fixed at £80 and two sureties of £40 each.

DEFENCE NOT CALLED. John Millanta, hawker, was charged on summons with stealing a pair of oars and .a pair of rowlocks, the property of tho Union Steam Ship Company. The offence was alleged to have taken place on March 17. Air. H. F. O'Leary appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. After counsel had finished his crossexamination of the last of four witnesses for the prosecution tho magistrate considered that the cvideiico was so weak that he would dismiss the information without calling on tho defence. "

ASSAULTED HIS OFFICER. Edward Smith admitted having unlawfully assaulted Thos. Hood, an officer of the Wanaka. The offence took place on Thursday night just before tho departure of the Wanaka to sea. Accused was fined £3, in default seven days' imprisonment.

WANDERING CATTLE. No appearance was made by Patrick Cavanagh, who was convicted on four charges of allowing sheep and ■ cows to wander on public roads and unfenced land in the borough of Onslow. Mr. P. W. Jackson,! who appeared on behalf of the Onslow Borough Council, stated that accused was a well-known offender against the by-laws. Fines were imposed on all four charges, and, with costs and solicitor's fee, tho amount totalled £7 10s. The default in one case was fixed at seven days' imprisonment, and iiv each of the other cases at 48 hours' imprisonment.

HE KNOWS NOW. James Frederick Nixon, who was charged with driving a motor cycle on a cyclo track, stated that lie did not know that it was a breach of the bylaw: "Well, I presume you know now,'" remarked the magistrate with a smile. A fine of 55., with costs 75., was imposed. .;•••: ' Wil ham Joseph Smith, for a similar offence, was penalised in like manner.

DISDAINED THE CYCLE TRACK. Although there is a beautiful asphalt cycling track on Clyde Quay, it'appears that a number of cyclists havo been in. the habit of cycling on the footpath in that locality. On a recent date Constable M'Kclvio was on Watch for the offenders, and a number af persons, whoso names wero taken, appeared at the Magistrate's Court yesterday charged with cycling on tho footpath in contravention of tho by-law. Two lads, named James Dutton and Horaco Turner, were fined Ss. each, without costs. T. H. Coltman was. convicted and ordered to pay court costs-7s. A fine of 55., and costs 75., was imposed oil the following defendants, who did not appear:—Stan Cooper, John Fanning, F. E. Petherick, and Leonard Tattle.

OTHER CASES. Daisy Simmelhag pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness, .but not guilty to a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, with insufficient lawful means of support After evidence had been heard, accused was convicted, and a sentence of three months' imprisonment was imposed.- Oil'the charge of drunkenness, accused was convicted and discharged. * For using obscene languago in Taranaki Street, John William Leslie wjs fined £3, with costs lis., and witnesses' expenses 65., in default 21 days' imprisonment. , Oil charges of drunkenness, John Hayes and Jean Dalziel were each fined 205., with tho option of seven days' imprisonment. For similar offences. Ellen Johnson and Frederick Nicholson wero fined 10s. each, the alternative being 48 hours' imprisonment. One firstoffending inebriate was convicted and discharged