MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2758, 29 April 1916, Page 13

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

LICENSING LAWS BROKEN A HEAVY FINE ' ' ' Among the cases for hearing at yesterday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court were several connected with a police_ raid on the Dardanelles' Fish Shop in Taranaki Street. Mr. W.' G. Hiddell. S.M., was on the Bench. The principal case was that against a coloured man, named James Grant, who was charged with selling liquor on Sunday last without a license: Inspector Hendroy prosecuted, while Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for the defendant, who plewled not guilty. • The police evidence showed that a sale of whisky was proved by b marked postal note, which a soldier had given n> Grant, and which was subsequently found by the police in the possession of Grant. Sergeant Scott, of the Mount Cook Police Station, searched the promises with a party of constables, and seized a quantity of liquor. The placo had been under observation, and about one hundred people had visited it on Sunday morning. The Magistrate,: in recording a conviction, said that Grant must have been fully aware of the risks he was taking and prepared for a substantial penalty. A penalty (fine and costs) of £25 12s. was imposed, <; and _ Grant _ was given until 10 o'clock this morning to find the money. . Grant was further fined 20s. for an assault upon John Hayes on Thursday. Albert Edward Robinson was charged with being the occupier of the. raided premises, but the information against him was dismissed; For being found on the premises at the time of the raid, the following persons wero convicted and penalised as indicated: John Robert Halcrow, fined 205., with costs 75.; Michael Berry, fined 205., with costs 75.; Louis Sipon, fined 10s., with costs 75.; John Shannon, fined 10s., with costs ,75.; and Dominick Donelly, fined 10s., with costs 7s. ■ THEFT. A wharf labourer, named Harry Amas, appeared on remand on a charge of stealing a bottle of schnapps from the. steamer .Putiki on April 18. Mr. P. J. O'Regan appeared for Amas, who pleaded' guilty on" condition that the charge should be reduced to one of common theft. The Magistrate agreed that the charge should be reduced, and imposed a fine of £3, the defendant being ordered to pay an additional sum of •■os, for the-expenses of a witness. Default was fixed at fourteen days' imprisonment,; but Amas' was allowed a week in which to find the money. ; Ernest Elliott Stevens, who was said by the police to be suffering from the effects of alcohol, was fined 40s. for theft of a couple of paint brushes. He was also ordered "to pay witnesses' expanses. Default was fixed, at seven days' imprisonment. <.'-.'■ WANTED TO JOIN THE ARMY.

A young man, naihed Philip Lewis Hockey, who left the sailing vessel Celtic Glen to enlist'in the New Zealand Reinforcements, had not completed his contract with.the master, of the ship, and in oonsequence of this the Defence authorities would not allow him to carry out his intention" of serving with the Forces. On Thursday he failed to carry out his duties on the Celtic Glen, and yesterday 'he was brought before the Magistrate on charges of being absent without, leave, V.and.disobeying orders. ■ He'was^corivicted^'of' both offences, but Mr.' M. Myers, who appeared for the ■ owners or. the 6hip, stated that heavy penalties wero not asked for. The Magistrate pointed out to the accused that it was not necessary for-him to be actually at the front-to render help in the present crisis. Fines and costs totalling £2 Iss. wore imposed, the alternative being seven days' imprisonment.

CHARGES OF VAGRANCY.

James Nolan, who was found sleeping' on Levin arid Co.'s section in Ballance Street, about midnight on Thursday, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. The Magistrate said that accused would bo liable to arrest unless ie. left the city' by yesterday's Main Trunk express. William Denis ' Quill pleaded not guilty to a charge of being a rogue and ■ a vagabond, the allegation being that he had .been found without lawful excuse on the grounds of St' Patrick's College on % Thursday night. He was remanded until Monday. ; A Temand until Monday was also granted in the case against Francps Miller, who, it wbb alleged, was without sufficient lawful means of support. SOLICITOR'S OMISSION. . William Tosswill, who had. been in business in Pahiatua as a solicitor, was charged with failing to comply with the regulations requiring trust accounts to be audited by a given date. Mr. V. R. Meredith, of the Crown Law' Office, appeared for the Crown while Mr, D. M. Findlay appeared lor the i defendant, and entered a plea of guilty, pointing out that the delay had occurred in consequence of the fact that the defendant had gone out of business. A line of £5 was imposed, with costs 75., and solicitor's fee £1 Is. ' BY-LAWS, ETC, For breaches of the city by-laws relating to tho control of vehicular traffic, lighting, etc., the following were penalised-.—William Jardine, fined 205., with costs 75.; Albert Green, fined 10s., with costs 75.; Arthur Emerson Mabin, fined 10s., with costs 7r.; George Thomas Smith, fined 10s., with costs 75.; Frederick George Street, fined 10s., with costs 75.; George Peachy, fined os., with costs 75.; Roy Widdington, fined 55., with costs 75.; and James Buntloy ordered to pay 7s. Court costs. I Three.defendants, who were convicted of hawking without the necessary license, were fined 205., and ordered to pay Court costs amounting to 7s. in overy case. They were Frank. Hanson, Harry Hume, and John Millanta/ H. E. Edmunds was ordered to rcl move a motor-car shelter from Karori Road before May 12, on which date his caso will be mentioned again. ■ Alfred James Canning, who admitted lighting a fire in tho Eastbourne Borough without first obtaining tho necessary permit, was lined 10s., and ordered to pay. 7s. Court costs.

As the owner of a horse found wandering on Tavistock Road, John James Boyd was fined 55., in addition to which he was called upon to pay costs and witness's expenses totalling 13s. OTHER CASES. Doris Payne pleaded guilty to a charge of keeping a house of ill-fame in contravention of the. city by'-laws. She was fined £10, and ordered to pay Court costs 75., in default to undergo twenty-one days' imprisonment. Harry Ross pleaded guilty, to a charge of using bad language, and was fined £3, with costs 75.-, the alternative being fourteen days' imprisonment: He consented to a prohibition order being issued against him, and was given time in which to pay'his fine. Convictions for insobriety wore re--corded_ against the following:—William Whitside, fined 405., with the option of going to gaol for seven dnys; Archibald M'lntyro' fined 205., or three dnys' imprisonment; Mary Barcln.v, fined os., or twenty-four hours' imprisonment. Two Senior Cadets, Frederick Charles West and Bert Janson, did not appear to answer charges of fail-

ing to attend drill. Each was fined os., with Court costs 7s.

On a charge of Sunday trading, Elizabeth Kidmam was fined 10s., • and ordered to pay.Court costs 7s. The Magistrate dismissed an information against Gee Wong, charging the latter with selling cigarettes to a boy under the age of fifteen years. AT. Black aiid Co. pleaded guilty by letter to a charge of selling boots at an hour when bootsellers' sliops in the district wero closed. A fine of 10s., with costs 75., was imposed.