MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 271, 10 August 1920, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

| . . I THEFT OP GASOLINE. Mr. J S. Evans. R.M.. was on 'th» ' l.ench at the Maclstrate's Court yesterTlie police, stated that William Reid and Olaf C. Olscn had been arrested for dninkenneßS and unfortunately for tho former they were both locked up in the Bame cell. Duriiif the night Held requested Olßcn not to make a noise, and was immediately set upon by Olsen and violently assaulted. A doetor had to bo called in to attend to Reid. For drunkenness Oleen was fined 20b., in default three davs' imprisonment, nnd for tno ns«ault he was sent lo prison for 14 davs end ordered to nay 21s. medical expenses. Reid was fined 20ft. for drunkenness. William fi. Eaton charwd with drunkenr.esß (his third offence) was convicted, and ft his own renuest was committed to the Pakatoa Inebriates Home tor a nerwd of twelve months. Richard Blackburn was fined 20s. for drunkenness. Spiros Cucltuvclis was remanded lo appear at Wairoa on on affiliation charge. He waß allowed bail in the sum of .CT. Matthew lilvinpstone. charged with carnal knowledge of a sirl under lh wniy. of age, was remanded to anpear on neilnesday week; bail was allowed in £2)0 and one surety of £250. Joseph Stott, a driver in the employ of ffamphelt and Co., carrier*, wns conrleled of Btcnlins one case of .'asnline, value 335., the property of W. M. Bannatyne and Co.. Ltd. It was shown that although Stott's load of 100 cases tallied off correctly at the wharf, ho had on the war down from the oil store Bold a cn«e under the usual price to Harry Compton, a laxl-drivcr at the Lambton •Station. Accordinc to Chief Detective Ward the accused had nnparcptly found a weak spot in the tallvinc svstcm at the store and had thus heen able to obtain an extra ca«e. Whil" the deal with Comptpn was in progress the accused asked tho taxi-driver if ho could take any, more. Compton, acting on the Instructions of tlio nnlice, agreed to take more, and asked Stott to leave the. cases at promises No. 13 Plpitea Street. Tlie cascn wcro later found at the premises, but no one could be fO*nd who would clnim them. ■Mr W G. Melllsh. who appeared for accused, objected to this for It had nut been shown in evidence .that fitott was In any wav connected with those cases. The Chief Detective Mated at tho conclusion of (he case that the police had reason to believe that certain carriers had on occasions built their loads in furti a manner Hint while a tally based on din outside appearance of the tiers would be correct, a case or cases mlsht ho missinc trom one of tho inner tiers. The Magistrate convicted and fined Stott £3, and ordered him to pa.y court cotlt and expenses.