MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 78, 26 December 1917, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

CHRISTMAS EVE SITTING.

Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., was on the bench at tlie Magistrate's Court on Monday and dealt with the following cases:—

For insobriety' liino first offenders wero charged and eight of them were treated in tho usual lenient manner. Tho ninth, a woman, had not appeared iu court for tho past six months, and was therefor , © treated as a first offender. Prior to that sho had been at Pakatoa for a year. Tho Magistrate remarked that her sojourn at Pakatoa had evidently done her no good. Sho was spending her husband's money in drink and ought to bo ashamed of herself. A lino of 20s. was imposed and she was further ordered to pay 17s. Gd. medical expenses, as she had been a> week under treatment.

Catherine Mary Smith, charged with drunkenness, had a long list of previous convictions, and had also been at Pakatoa. Tho Magistrate remarked that sho evidently could not keep away from the drink, and as a very little liquor affected her she ought to keep away from it altogether. _ She was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. A soldier named Charles M'Robert, charged with, drunkenness, was ordered to be handed over to tho military authorities.

John Dobson was charged with being drunk, also with refusing to leave licensed premises when called upon. Od the first charge ho was convicted and discharged, and for refusing to leave licensed premises he was fined 405., in default fourteen days' imprisonment. Denis Delaney was convicted and discharged for eommiting a breach of the peace in Vivian Street. Someone insulted Delaney and he resented this in a forceful manner. Tho Magistrate informed him that fighting in the street could not be permitted, as it often led to rioting. One month's imprisonment was imposed on James Gannon for using obscene language in Willis Street. Gannon, being a member of the crew of an oversea vessel, was ordered to be handed over to the captain on request. A remand for a week was granted in the case against William Briscoe, who was charged with giving misleading information with respect to his enrolment under tho Military Service Act. Inspector Marsack said tho man gave three or four different names and as many different explanations. The police i believed that tho man was a deserter.