MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 68, 13 December 1919, Page 12

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

1 —. — MISLEADING DESIGNATION TITLE OF DOCTOR NOT . CORRECT At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, ■ before Mr. W. G. Eidoell, S.M., John Edward Claxton pleaded not guilty to a charge of practising a branch of medicine. viz.. tlie treatment of rheumatism,. nasal catarrh, hay fever, bronchitis and chest complaints, under a prescription that'ho was qualified to practise suck branch of medicine, not being registered under tho Medical Practitioners' Act. ' , Detective-Sergeant Rawlo prosecuted, ano' Mr. D. M. Findlay defended. . Detective-Sergeant Andrews stated that in consequent of an advertisement which appeared in a local paper ho interviewed the defendant, who atfmitted that he was not registered under the Act. Defendant claimed that lie was not really practising as a doctor', but that ho possessed a diploma for mechano-tlierapy which lie had gained bv a courso of correspondence, tho - study of which occupied five years.' Ho . aili not give any medical or surgical ad- • vice, and he only practised massage, deep breathing, and physical culture. This was all tlio evidence for the prosecution. and the defendant then gavo evidence. He said that ho had been a chcm- ; ist's assistant for 601110 years, and had taken' ud tho study ,of mechano-tlierapy ana' eventually qualified for the diploma. He had also studied physical culturo-and massage. and his form of treatment was .- ■ based on theso studies. ' Counsel for tho defendant submitted that his client had not committed an offenco under tho Act, as he dio! not practise in medicine or surgery. His Worship; in 'summing -up), remarked, that the use of the term doctor _of niccliano-therapy seemed to be the point which brought defendant under the section of the-Act. ■ He was not prepared to convict tho defendant, bpt at tho same time lie' considered that the use of tho word' doctor by ths defendant should lie discontinued in tho future. He to use some other term to cover .tho' branch of work ho was carrying on, and tho public would not then lie misled. There were a number of physical culturists and others who were practising similar work, but did not use the title of doctor. 'The information would lio dis-' missed. •. • . s THEFT CHANGES. ltobert Kiilg, ii seaman belonging to tho steamer. Manuka, was charged with the theft of a portmanteau and contents, valucn' at '£7 10s„ the property of Leslie Marcovitch, and with tlie theft of , n quantity 'of clothing, valued at £1, the nronertv. of Kenneth Dawson. On tho first charge accused was fined JMO, and ordered to make good the property not recovered, and on the second count was fined 205.. with a similar direction. Tho default wm fixeo: at twenty-one days' imnrisonment. A plea of guilty was tendered by , Laurie Davis when arraigned on charges of theft of a quantity of-tools, valued, nt £7 8s„ tho property of E. W. Milla and Co.. and of the theft of ono galvonmeter. valued at .£1 35., the property of Smith and'.Wa-ite A third chat go of theft at Wanganui was withdrawn,] as tho accused had already been oealt with., The Magistrate (Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M.) sentenced accused to one month.a imurisonment on each charge. OTHER .CASES. , , A young man named Clifford Leslie 'Malcolm'was remanded to appear at flhrfctchurch on December 19 .on, a charge of failing to provide his illegitimato child with maintenance.' Dctec-tive-Sergeant<Rawlo intimated to Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., that the accused wuj arrested on the stoamer Manuka, just prior to .her acparturo for Sydney. Bail was refused. ; , On the information of tho Inspector of Factories (Mr. E, T Bailey), Daisy Rowden. who was defended by Mr. P. \\. •f.ickson. was charged with. failing.- : to close hor shop at Kaiwarra on the day of the'statutory half-holiday. Defendant was lined ss. and costs. 7s. ■ The two informations preferred against .ft-ssie jaekson,'charging her with acting as a barmaid, without a license were dismissed without .prejudice to other proceedings, on the ground that tho section of the Act ulider which the defendant ivas. charged did not provide for'tho offence alleged against tho defendant. .Mr. I>. AT. Jackson appeared for the defeno> ■V plea of guilty was tendered by John Charles Jlarvcy, who. was charged be-fore-Mr. D,; G. A. Cooper, 5.M.,-with having received 4 cwt. of coal, ilio property of-the Electric Light Company, well knowin" the same to have been dishonj estlv obtained. On the application- of rjetefctive-Sergeant Bawlo tho prisoner was remanded till Friday next, bail boinj. allowed in the sum of £°J> and one surety; Jeremiah O'Connor was remanded till this morning on. a charge of. tho. theft, of. six glasses,' valued at 75., the property of Charlotte Durrani, of> tho New Commercial Hotel. For failing to attend drill John Lov-. att was fined ss. and costs 7s. . • David Fisher was made the subject or a nroliibit.ion order on tho application or his children. ' For drunkenness Michael Martin was fined 205.. one first offender-was fineo'.lOs., and another was convicted and discharged. A fine of -10s. was imposed on Grorgo Oonrov for. a broach of liis prohibition, order, and ho was convicted and discharged for orunkenness.