MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2986, 25 January 1917, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

1 ■ A, "KNIGHT ERRANT." Mr. L. G. Reidy S.M., presided over a sitting of tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. .' • ' • A chargo against John Ohlsson of causing actual bodily harm to Axel Aberg -was reduced to one of common assault, and a plea of guilty was entered. It appeared that Ohlsson had, with others, heen invited to Aberg's house, and.there, seeing Aberg striko. a'womau, had broken tho former's jaw. A fine of 10s., with costs, was inflicted. THEFTS OF GOVERNMENTPROPERTY. Three charges of theft were pyjofcrred'againsfc David Matthew Bromley, for -whom Mr. H. F. O'leary appeared. One information alleged that accused had stolen' a five-gallon drum of oil and three tins of torobi.ne driers, the •property of some porson unknown, while the other two wore in respect of a number of tools stated to bo the property of tho Now Zealand Government. At the outset of tho case the polico proposed to prove that tho property mentioned in the first information was also that of tho Government, but after hearing a number of witnesses His Worship decided that there

was no evidence to show that the tins or the; oil- had been stolen. The charge relating •to them was dismissed without-prejudice. In regard to the\ 'other charges, it was hold' that; some'-of .the took at least-had. ,been_stolen, and convictions wore recorded in each case. One fine only, viz., £5, was-imposed, the alternative being fixed at twenty-one days' imprisonment. OTHER CASES. For insobriety, Norah ■ Nugent,' an old offcnderj-was fined 10s., with tho alternative of 48 hours in-gaol._ '• Stanley Findlay and John- Paino were each fined os. on a charge of breaking, thepeace. ''■'_. For : committing an indecent act m the street, Colin Cameron was fined £3, the alternative' being fixed at 14 days' imprisonment. ...... A lad of 18, named James S. Leckie, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a tin of coffee and a tin of jam from his employer.' The explanation of the matter given by the lad to the police was that he had been spending more money than he could afford to at.billiards and pool,- and had been tempted to acquire funds by unlawful means. His "Worship imposed a fine'of £1, and advised the boy to ■ keep away' from such in- ■ fiuences. ' • ' On 11 charges of theft, Percy Ericksbn, who appeared little more than a lad, was remanded to Wednesday next. '"*'■','. Five charges . against Victor Edgar Segal of applying false trade descriptions to goods-were adjourned'to January 31. Alfred Raynor, an elderly, man, pleaded guilty to a charge of insobriety,, and not guilty to one of possessing insufficient lawful means of support. Convictions were recorded ine'achcas'e: 'A' fine of 10s., with the alternative of seven days in gaol, was inflicted on tho ; first -charge, and a term of 14 days' imprisonment imposed, .upon the.second. •'•■