MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 121, 8 February 1918, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

POLICE BUSINESS. Mr. S. E. M'Cartliy, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, and dealt with the police cases. Mary Evans, aged 53 years, was convicted of loitering in the Nairn Street Reserve for immoral purposes, and was sentenced to 12 months i imprisonment. For insobriety William C«nriok was fined 205., with the alternative of serving seven days in gaol. Five first offenders were each fined 10s., in default 24 hours' imprisonment, and a sixth, j who failed to appear, had his. bail of 20s. estreated.

A seaman named William Booth was convicted of being drunk in Post Office Square, and also with having committed a grossly indecent act in tho same locality. On the latter charge he was fined 405., with the option of 14 days| imprisonment, and on the charge of being found drunk he was convicted and discharged. Halver Andrew Anderson, for whom, Mr. E. C. Levvey appeared, pleaded guilty to tho theft of three bicycles. It was explained that the lad was 18 vears of ago and had been in Burnham. ke stole tho bicycles, sold thorn to 1 second-hand dealers, and used the proceeds for paying certain of Ihb debts. It was stated that his father was willing to make good any deficiency, and was desirous that the boy should be sent to Wereroa Farm. The Magistrate, after hearing evidence, decided to accede to the request that the lad should be sent to Wereroa. Robert Howard Watson, for whom Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared, was charged with the theft of a pair of boots, tho property of the Patea Farmers' Freezing Company, and with the theft of two bottles of whisky, valued at 18s., also the property of the Patea Farmers' Freezing Company. The articles were alleged to have been stolen from the hold of tho s.s. Waverley on January 28, when accused and several other watcrsiders were working cargo. The chief officer of the Waverley, George B.' Brown, gave evidence as to the abstraction of a pair of boots and two bottles of whisky. Watson, who is 21 years of ago, stated that the ' case of _ boots was broken, and one boot was sticking out. He took the pair of boots out, intending to replace them, but another man took them. He knew nothing about the whisky except that he was offered a drink, and took it. The Magistrate said that the breaking of cases when stowing cargo was for the purpose of pillage. Watson took the pair of boots out of the case and allowed Collins to steal them, slid must accept responsibility. With respect to the whisky, the evidence was not sufficient to justify a conviction. Watson was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, and was ordered to report to the probation officer once a fortnight for 12 months.

CIVIL CASES. Mr. W. 6. Riddell, S.M., dealt with the civil cases. • Judgment was given for plaintiffs by default in the following cases:—R. Latham v. W. Wakefield, 35., costs Bs.; George M'Adam (per Pt'blic trustee) v. F. Herring, £3 155., costs 10s.; W. P. Sommerville v. W. M'Gavin, £9 10s.. costs £1. 3s. 6d.; Cndbury Bros., Ltd., v. Mrs. it. Anther, 95., costs only: Te Aro Furnishing Co. v. Thomas Donaldson. £4 17s. od°, costs 10s.; Headland and Robertson v. Norman Johnston.. £31 6s. 6d., costs £2 145.; Hutt County Council v. Collins and M'Gibtan, 14s. 2d,,., costs 17s. 6d.-i Commercial Agency, Ltd., v. Hunt Bros., £20 ISs. 4d., costs £2 14s. 11l a judgment summons case W. J. Donaldson was ordered to pay B. Smith £2 15s. lOd. .by February 21, in default 48 hours''imprisonment. In the defended casa of Temple Perkins v. Hank Portere. an action to iccover £2 17s. 6d., judgment .was given for plaintiff for tho full amount claimed, with costs £1 7s. ■