MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 275, 14 August 1920, Page 5

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

PUSHED OFF A TRAM-CAR

LIMBLESS SOLDIER'S COMPLAINT Messrs. J.' W Ellison and M. 0. O'Connell, J.l.s, presided over a, sitting of tlto Jlacistrute's Court, held yestoruay 'morning. A tram conductor named William Scoble, for whom llr. J. O'Douovan appeared, was charged with assaulting n iiniuleßS returned soldier named ilurold'E. Varnham, for whom Sir. W. Perry appeared. •It was stated in evidence that at 7.46 a.m. on May 28 tho complainant boarded * wwn-bouud Brooklyn car. at the corner oi Wordsworth Street, and Hood on tho back of tho car. The conductor came along, and, pointing to the Informant, said he must get ott' the car. Varnham, who has it wooden leg, said: "You cannot PUL me off. lam a •liminy.'" With that tho conductor causht him by the collar and pushed him off tho car. Varnham tell on the road, and had to pick himself up. On Juno 6 Varnham went to Trentham Hospital with an abscess on tho stump .of his leg, but ho could not that h was duo to hie being pushed off the traincar. Varnham had a free pass en the trams, and eouteuded that onco ho got on the car lie could Lot be put off. When ha fell on the. ground the conductor, seeing that he was a limbless man, ' remarked: "I did not know you were a. 'limmy.'" For tho defenco it was ttatcd that Scoble asked Varnham to leave the car n3 it was crowded, and Varnham refused to leavo. Tho conductor then iput him off the car, and did not we moro force than there was neces3ary. At the back of tho car there was a tin lox and a tag, and it was an instruction that no one should be allowed on the rear platform.When the car stopped at Wordsworth Street, the conductor alleged, he varned those waiting that tho ear was full, and that no moro could bo taken aboard. .Varnham got on at tho back of the car, and tho conductor went .ip to him and asked him to get off, Varnham said he was not going to leavo the car, and he told tho conductor that'he could not put him off. There was no mention of his being limbless, and when he was deposited on the road the conductor stated that ho helped him to get up. When the conductor noticed that Varnham ' was a cripple, he apologised to him. The Court held that it was a regrettable case, but the conductor was in charge of the car, and if Varnham had complied with the conductor's request, as he should havo done, nothing would have happened. The information was dismissed. BEMANDED. Leonard S. Griffiths and Leslie.!, "nlentine, two youths, wore charged with being idle* and disorderly persona in that they were found by night without lawful excuse on premises at 48 Willis Street. SubInspector Emerson, in asking for a, remand until Wednesday, stated that there were other matters into which tho police wished to. make inquiries. OBSTRUCTING A CUSTOMS ■ OFFICER.' Stanton Harlow was charged with obstructing Harry B. l'cers, a Customs officer, in the execution of his duty. The facts were that on tho arrival of tho Jlarama from San Trancisco on August 5, Harlow went on board, and on coming off was Been carrying a bag. Ho was stopped by the Customs officer, and asked what he had in the bag.. It was found that the hag contained silk blouses, valued at £50, and Harlow said that they wero his own property, and that he had been hawking. Tho Customs officer said that he must detain the bag. Harlow snatched it, and refused to let tho officer havo it. At the Taranaki Strcst Police Station the defendant gave a. hill statement as to where lie got tho goods from, *nd it was subsequently found that tho statement was correct. After hearing the evidence the Court , Yield that UieTe was obstruction, \>ut that it was of a very trifling character, and therefor dismissed the information. JOY-KIDE ON A MOTOR CYCLE. William E. Norman, a youth aged 17, pleaded guilty to unlawfully converting to his own use a- motor cycle. . The defendant took the motor cycle from a house in ■Kilbirnic, and rode ' the ' machine into ' town. Ho later rode it back to Kilbirnie, and when the owner found it the machine wbb damaged to the extent of £7 10s. A' fine of £2 was inflicted. FINED FOR- ASSAULT. John T. Weeks, a taxi-driver, waß convicted of assaulting another taxi-driver named 0. 0. James, and v.ns fined 405., in default 14 days' imprisonment. The quarrel' between the parties arose over a question of fares. BUYING BRASS AND COPPER. Montagu G. Garnhara, a, licensed secondhand dealer, and his partner William Taylor, trading as Halley and Co., metal merchants, were charged -with purchasing or recoiving 101b. of brass and 51b. of copper from a, lad under 16 years of age. Mr. W. Perry appeared for tho defendants. The purchase took place on January 5, nud according to the defence, the lads father telephoned to the firm that he was sending liis hoy down with brass and copper for sale. Tho money was placed in an envelope, and given to the lad. The firm acted bona fide in the matter. Purchases had been previously made from the same lad in a Bimilar way, under telehone instructions from tho father. The latter confirmed the statements made' by the defendants. Tho .chief detective 6aid that he only asked for a conviction and did not wish for a penalty, K because the firm was'of good repute. The Court dismissed tho information.