MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2673, 20 January 1916, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

ALLEGED ASSAULT A CHRISTMAS INCIDENT Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., presided at yesterday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court. The oases for hearing included one in which a waterside worker liamod James Cook was charged with assaulting Henry Wilkinson and the latter's two sons (Henry and William) so as to cause them actual bodily harm. The charges arose out of an occurrence 111 Jew's boardingbouse, in the early morning of December 25 (Christmas Day), the accused being arrested soon afterwards by Sergeant Wade. The prosecution was conducted yesterday by Sub-Inspector Mackinnon, tha accused being represented! by Mr H. F. O'Leary. ■The- police called evidence to prove that the elder Wilkinson had remonstrated with Cook for tempting one of the younger Wilkinsons to drink, and had ordered Cook' out of the room. The latter subsequently attacked all three Wilkinsons with a leather belt, on which was a heavy buckle, and when the police arrived the Wilkinsons were bleeding profusely from head - wounds. Dr. Henry had to be called in to attend to them. On being formally charged, the accused reserved his defence and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. INFORMATION DISMISSED. Denis Gerondis, a Greek restaurantkeeper, was charged with assaulting Osdildo Chiarop, an Italian, so as to cause him actual bodily harm. The evidence showed that Chiarop, wlio was in the habit of having his meals at the accused's restaurant, went there about 1 o'clock on Christmas Day and found the establishment closed. He returned for his ovening meal, and an argument with Gerondis was followed by blows. It appeared that Chiarop had been the aggressor, and",the Magistrate was satisfied that no julry Would convict Gerondis. The information was therefore dismissed. Mr. P. ,W. Jackson appeared for Gerondis. OTHER CASES. A young man named William Norman was remanded for a week on several charges of theft from, shops in Cuba Street. • A married woman named Alice O'Brien, who has been an inmate of the Wellington Hospital since September last,, pleaded, guilty to a charge of attempted suicide. She was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Albert Henry Palmer was reported by the police, to be too ill to appear in conrt. He was remanded for a week on a charge of helpless drunkenness, in. o'rder that curative treatment might be administered in gaol. For drunkenness, William Brewe and Thomas Withers were fined 40s. each, the ■ alternative being seven days' imprisonment. Florence Stewart, for drunkenness, Tvas fined 10s., with the option of 48 hours' imprisonment. Four first offending inebriates were also dealt with.