MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 70, 15 December 1917, Page 14

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

MISCELLANEOUS CASES

Mr. S. E. M'Carthy. S.M., prcsiderl over most of tlic criminal business of tho Court yesterday, and Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., over the by-law cases. William Lemon was sentenced to thrco months' impnsonment*for committing an indecent act.. Qe was also convicted of drunkenness and discharged. Robert Dixon Warden was remanded to December 21 on a charge of stealing a gold watch valued at £8. Patrick Ruddey was fined £5 for helpless drunkenness, and was ordered to pay medical expenses amounting to 17s. fid. The alternative to payment was fixed at three weeks' imprisonment. Annie Barmim and .loseph Barnum wero each charged with using obscene language. Tho man was convicted and lined £10, and given the alternative of serving a month's hard The woman was convicted and ordered j to come up for sentence when called upon.' For Sunday trading W. Collins was fined £1 and' costs 12s. H. Wall, a youth who pleaded ;',nilty to a charge of obstructing a military parade, was fined £1. L. H. C. Purdy, for failing to attend drill, was fined £1, and ">V.. C. Sunnex £3. Carl Axel Carlson and Allen Anderson, two seamen, charged with being absent without leave, and with landiag without a passport, wevesentenced,_on the first charge, to fourteen days' imprisonment, and on the second to one month's imprisonment. A MILK CASE. The Wellington City Milk Supply, Ltd., was charged with selling milk that was dirty. Mr. Prendeville, of the Crown Land Office, prosecuted, aud Mr. M. Myers defended. The inspector under tho Foods and Drugs Act stated that a sample of milk taken from the defendants irns found to contain 150 parts per million of dirt. The Government .Analyst stated that forty parts of dirt per million rendered milk "dirty." Mr. Myers submitted that the Act I required the standard of milk to bo prescribed by Governor's regulation. The standard for such cases as the present had not been so prescribed, and the matter could not bo left to the decision of an analyst. Otherwise different standards would be observed ill different parts of New Zealand. His Worship reserved judgment. SLY GROG-SELLING. Samuel Crossley, who kopt the Union Cafe, pleaded not guilty to charges of sly grog-selling. His Worship heard a considerable amount of evidence. In giving judgment he said that the police evidence was very simple. On two eveningsa man accompanied by a constable visited tho defendant's place and bought liniior tliore. The defendant denied the sales, saying that on the first occasion the beer was stolen by tho man with whom tho constable was. His Worship was quite convinced upon tho evidence that sales of liquor did take place. Crossley would be sentenced to a month's imprisonment on each charge. The defendant asked His Worship to impose a fine. Ho was a single man, and who was to look after his business ? His Worship refused to vary tho sentence..

ALLEGED BREACH OF LICENSING ACT. F. M. Poulson, licensee of the Carlton Hotel, and T. llist, barman, were charged with breaking tho Licensing Act by serving a minor with liqour. Mr. Gill appeared for the defendants, and pleaded tho probability of a mistake by the barman as to the age of tho lad (named Seatch), who was supplied with drink. His Worship postponed his decision until he could have n look at Keatch. The police evidence about the hotel in general was that it was ono of tho best-conducted in the city. ILL-TREATING A HORSE. Thomas Ridgeway was proceeded against by the S.P.C.A. on a charge of ill-treating a horse by working it while it suffered from sores. .Defendant was convicted and fined £2 with costs. BY-LAW CASES. Fines for offences against oy-laws were imposed upon the following defendants:—William Higgs, 205.: Holland Andrews, 405.; U. P. Colemnu, 205.; George Cole, 405.; David Caddie, 1 10s.; Mrs. Cameron, 10s.; James Elford, 405.; J. G._Fiudlay, 10s.; H. Gastein, 10s.; Albert Hughes, £4; Horace Jeyes, 10s.; Henry Jeyes, os.; Eric Johnston, 405.; Eric Mabin, 405.; J. R. Moncrieff, 10s.; L. R. Partridge, 405.; Rae Preston, 405.; William Boss, 40s • Ivor Watkins, 40s. j- Arthur AVallinK,'2os.; R. Welsby, 10s.; C. S. Wmny, 405.; J. W. Walsh, 405.; William Ross, 405.; .T. H. Hickling, <Sss. Ail tho defendants above-mentioned wcro ordered to pay costs