MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1284, 13 November 1911, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

■ ■ ■'' " ~ ' (Before Mr. W. G. Riddcli, S.M.) ABOUT A RAILWAY PASS. W. T.'Mills, lecturer, was charged with using n railway ticket which had been issued for press reporting purposes for other purposes; ami with travelling on the railway with intent to evade payment of the proper fare. Ho pleaded not guilty to both charges. Mr. H. H. Ostler appeared for tho Railway Deportment, and Mr. T. M. Wilford for tho defendant. Mr. Ostler said that the ticket had been issued to Mr. M. J. Reardon, tho editor of "The Weekly Herakl," on condition that it was ured solely for press reporting purposes for "The Weekly Herald." The ticket had been used by Mills, who was not a bona-fide reporter. Michael .Tohn Reardon stated in evidence that Mills's main business was lecand organising for the Trades Council. Ho was-exiMctcd, also, to contribute to "The Weekly Herald." Mills received a weekly wane, and all his expenses were paid. Mills could not have known that the ticket was to be used for press reporting purposes only. Witness felt that he was to blame for not making that clear to Mills. Mr. Wilford suggested that the prosecution should withdraw the charge of intending to evade paying the fare. Mr. Otflsr approved. "As a matter of fact," ho continued, "the person really to blame is Reardon. Unfortunately, there was no means of getting at him under the Act, and the only way to punish him is to , refuse to issue another ticket, and that they have already done." His Worship said that tho second accusation could not be sustained. This chargo was withdrawn. Mr. Wilford then said that his client would alter his plea to guilty on the remaining char"e. His Worship said that the defendant was technically guilty, but Mr. Reardon had been tho real cause of the trouble. No doubt the penalty would be made good for Mills. A fine of £3 would bo made.

• -REMANDED. Robert Reginald Brice was charged with obtaining money and Roods by means of falM pretences; and, alfo, with forgery. Hβ was remanded till November 15. WITHDRAWN. A boy under fourteen years of age was accused of stealing ono lady's bicycle, value £i 10s., tlie property of Adrian John Jlason. Tho case was withdrawn, and the boy is to be sent back to the Industrial School.