MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 38, 8 November 1919, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

A COSTLY "SHOUT." Two young men, named Louis Dauo and Eric Ellison, were charged with treating in the Western Park Hotel. Mr. 11. F. O'Leary, who appeared for the defendants, stated that his clients entered the hotel and one tendered 2s. 6d. for two whiskies. The drinks were supplied, and Is. change deposited on the counter. The money remained untouched when the licensee asked them for another Gd., as the whiskies cost 9il. each. The defendants were surprised and staled that they had paid for the drinks, and the Is. was their change. A dispute followed, and the police were called in. The matter was settled, and as a result of the accused's own statements they were each summoned for treating. Sub-lnsucetor Emerson stated Hint the facts were correct with (lie exception of the amount tendered for tho drink. The' proprietor of the hotel claimed that only is. was tendered. A fine of £l and costs was imposed in each case. ' TUBES OR "LARGE TiABBITS"? Action was taken by (he Acclimatisation Society against Townsend and Paul, auctioneers, who were charged with sellin!,' game without a license, and of sellins game out of season. The game in fiucstion consisted of hares which were invoiced as "large rabbits." Mr. G. G. Watson, who prosecuted, slated that the firm in question obtained the hares from country where they were not protected, and were offered for sale in Wellington,, whore they were considered ns gome and protected by the law. Mr. II F. O'Leary, who appeared for Ihe defendants, said that. Ihe management had not been aware of the action of its auctioneer in describing the hares ; as "large rabbits" till after action was . taken by the society. I His Worship was not satisfied with the explanation and ordered defendants to ]>av fines amounting to oClo, and costs .£5 Is. A TROUBLESOME INDIVIDUAL. A seaman named .Tohn Shine, from the liner Hororatn appeared to answer charges of drunkenness and of using oblanguage. Siili-Tnspoot'or Emerson slated that tho accused had caused file police considerable trouble. Tie first came under notice when he reported lo tlic police thai: his arm had been broken as a result, of being assaulted by Samuel Agass. After a lapse of some weeks the ehnrw was heard and dismissed. Later Shine got into further trouble and alleged that [•be was again assaulted The polio" ini"v»=tigated the case, and aTter consider- | able trouble were ready to proceed, but I *n ihe day set aside for Ihe trial Shine i foiled to appear. I His Worship fined accused ss. for j drunkenness and fined, him ,M for nsin" j obscene •Innorunge, in default 11 days' imprisonment, ! THEFT OF OVERCOATS. | A charge of theft of an overcoat valued | at .£5 155., the property of Hopo Bros., I was preferred against George Dickson. Sub-Inspector Emerson stated that tho defendant was seen to take the overcoat from outside the shop of Messrs. Hope Bros., in Cuba Street Constable Scott was informed, and'ho apprehended the accused along Ghuznco Street. On ! the wav to the station Ihe accused gave I a practical demonstration of the art of breaking away bv throwing off his coat— lor slipping it. The constable gave chase I and soon apprehended him again. Noj tiling was previously known regarding I tho accused, who was a unlive of Fiji, j The accused stated that he had no inI tention of stealing the overcoat, and ho I did not know tvhy he committed the act. Iff. had been to the war, and he asked I His not to record a convie. l" ,v is he pleaded that it would affect jnsion and gratuity. i accused was remanded for sentenco \ x . lis morning. f n ' \,.-'-' COMPANIES' LICENSES. ii'or facing to take out tho annua! license as required by the Stamp Duties Act, of 1908, the Minerals Prospecting Company, Ltd., was fined ,£lO, and costs .£1 Bs.. 'the Knmo Brick, Tile, and Pottery Company, Ltd., was fined M, and costsi .£1 Bs., Stapley and Smith (Colonial), Ltd., were fined £i, and costs £1 Bs, the Unworn Paint Company ond the British Paint. Company were each fined £>. and costs M Bs. Mr. J. P. Premieville. of the Crown Law Office, prosecuted. OTHER PROSECUTIONS. A fine of X's was imposed on a trimmer named Joseph Carstens, who was charged with damaging a pane of glass valued at £2 10s., tho property of Alice Hordman, of the Dominion Hotel. Police ev'dence was to the effect that the accused had de'iberately put his boot through the window. The accused was also ordered to pay the cost of the damage done. A fine of ,£l, and costs, was imposed on James Keith, who was charged with being on the premises of the National Hotel without lawful excuse. A remand til! November 12 was granted in tho cn.se of Gertrude Martin, who was charged with conspiring with Avah'Alley to procuro the 'miscarriage of a third person. A remand for a week was granted in the ease of Mark Benjamin, who was charged with giving an unstamped receipt. James Henry M'Caun was remanded till this morning on a charge of theft of. a blanket valued at .£i, the property of the New Zealand Government. The accused is a seaman on the '.iner Renniorn, and his statement of the case was that a soldier had given him the blanket. Clyde M'Phail was fined 10s. for displaying dazzling headlights on his motorear. Thomas Vincent Gardiner, who was represented by Mr. J. J. M'fimth, was fined .£2, and costs, for disorderly behaviour in the Clarendon Hotel.