COURT CASES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 51, 2 March 1909, Page 2

COURT CASES.

A sitting of the Lower Hutt Magistrate's Court was held yesterday, before Messrs. Wilkin, Eliott, Chapman, and Cudby, Justices of the Peace. WANDERING STOCK. Mr. Cracroft Wilson appeared for John Young, John Nankeville, and l George Peck, all charged with being the - owners of stray stock, whicn had been ■ impounded by the ranger. Mr. Wilson submitted that the cases should be dismised, seeing that defendants had already paid poundage fees and various i other expenses connected with the pound. Besides, in several instances, the horses had strayed through no fault - of the owners. It seemed rather like "rubbing it in" twice for the same offence to bring the defendants before ' the court. "If they were not fined, it would pay I them to run their horses on the road/ remarked a member of the Bench. The defendants were each fined 5s and costs 7s. For allowing stock to wander .about the streets, fines were imposed on the , following persons, as follow : — H. Harley, 20s and 7s costs; Wm. Harding, 10s and 7s costs ; Thomas Burt, 10s and 7s costs; W. Jones, 10s and 7s costs; C. O'Connell, 5s and 7s costs; E. Skin- ' ncr, 10s and 7s costs; P. Gosso, 103 and 7s costs. OBSCENE LANGUAGE. A young man— Harold Cates — pleaded guilty to a charge of using obscene language in a public street. Mr. Cracroft Wilson, who appeared for accused, asked for leniency, in consideration of the fact that it was. defendant's first offence, and further, that Cates had previously borne a very good character. His employer also attended court, and testified to accused's previous good conduct, and also offered to retain him in his employment. 111 consideration of the foregoing facts, the Bench merely fined accused 40s, with 13s costs, with the option of seven days' imprisonment. Alexander Matheson, a middle-aged man, already undergoing a sentence of one month's imprisonment for disorderly conduct, appeared in answer to a , charge of using obscene language. Pris- ; oner denied having any knowledge whatever of the offence, alleging that at the time in question he was in Wellinton. A sentence of two months' imprisonment was imposed, to take effect at the expiration of the present sentence. CIVIL JURISDICTION. In the following nndefended civil cases judgment was given for plaintiff ? — Jabez Woolridge v. James Turner, £2 8s 6d, 7s costs ; J. W. Davidson v. P. Greeks, £1 3s sd, costs ss ; J. W. Davidson v. Mrs. M'Mahon, £11 12s 3d, costs 15s. Thomas Burt, for whom Mr. Ayson appeared, sued Charles Mortinson (represented by Mr. H. D. Bell, junr.) for £14 Is lid, for goods supplied. Judgment was given for the full amount, and leave to appeal was given. , ' Judgment was given for E-. Anstia and

F. L. Simpson (for whom Mr. Wilson appeared), who claimed £6 5s from H. Watson, for hire of a horse. William G. August claimed £10 from Matilda Turner for injury to himself and damage to a machine rake. Mr Ayson appeared for plaintiff and Mr. O. Beere for defendant. Certain legal points are to be argued in an appeal, but the court gave judgment for plaintiff as follows : — £2 10s injuries to person, £1 damage to rake, £1 8s witnesses' expenses, £1 6s solicitor's fee, 14s court costs, 10s 6d medical expenses ; total, £7 8s 6d.