MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 141, 14 June 1912, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court to-day. Eight cases of drunkenness were dealt with. Three first offenders had their bail estreated, another was fined ss, and three were convicted and discharged. Daniel Campbell was fined 10s. Rex Mansfield, who was guilty of disorderly conduct while drunk, was fined 40b. George Russell, a deserter from the Arawa, was sent to prison for one month. Edward Furhmann came up for sentence on two charges of theft of fieldglasses, clocks, etc. Accused, it appeared, etole the articles from houses m the city, and pawned them. He had never been before a Court before for dishonesty. "&n one charge ho was con. victed and ordered to come up for sentence when called on, and on the other charge he wais convicted and fined 40s. George Burnett, Albert Gooch, B. P. Greville, and TTiomas Hitchcox were each fined ss, with costs, for allowing horses and cows to wander. Mary Feeley, charged similarly, was ordered to pay Court costs, 7b. Edward Croft pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft of a bicycle. After hearing evidence, however, his Worship convicted him, and sentenced him to one month's imprisonment. Mr. Salek appeared for accused. William John Wade and Henry Kilgour were charged with theft of a bag containing wearing apparel valued at £7. Wade pleaded guilty, but Kilgour, who was represented by Mr. Salek, denied the offence. It appeared that the bag, which belonged to William P. Wallace, wa3 stolen in the city, and later stored at the Lambton Railway Station by Kilgour. Wade subsequently attempted to get it out, but was unsuccessful, owing to" being unable to identify it. Kilgour denied any knowledge of the bag, but his Worship held that the evidence was against him. Each was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. Herbert Geo. Ibett was charged with deserting from the R.M.S. Arawa. He was represented by Mr. T. M. Wilford, who made a statement to the effect that since leaving tho 6hip Ibett had led a very reputable life. He had obtained employment in the city, aud had saved enough money to bring hie wife and four children out from England. It was stated by Chief-Detective Broberg that the Shaw Savill and Albion Company had been put to expense by accused's action, a man having to be obtained to fill the vacancy at an increased wage. As accused had already forfeited his wages — tome £4 — his Worship met the case with a fine of £b. Raofaello Frandi was charged with having allowed his horse to wander. Ho defended tho case on the ground that he had no knowledge of th© offence, the animal having been left in charge of a boy. He was convicted and ordered to pay court costs & and ono witness's expenses 4s. . It was alleged against Harry Halstead, a taxi-driver, that, on the 4th of June, he dirove* his taxi-cab in Fea-theiwton-street and did not keep to his proper side. It appeared that defendant came into collision with a lad named King, who sustained some 'injuries. King was riding a bicycle at the time. De feiidant, who was represented by Mr. W. Perryj said he had done his best to avoid an accident. No matter which way he turned he would have collided with King. His Worship considered that defendant had committed an error of judgment and convicted him and ordered him to pay Courfc^costs (11s) and! two witnesses' expenses (8s). Ronald Winter, another taxi-driver, for travelling too fast round the corner of Manuel's, aud Cuba-streets, was fined 10s, with costs (7s), and witnesses' expenses (4s). He was also ordered to pay Court costs (9s) for not; keeping to the proper side of the street. Walter Hadley was mulcted in Court costs amounting to 7s for leaving a vehicle unattended, and he' was also fined 40s, with witnesses' expenses (12s), for assaulting Charles Roper. It appeared that Roper was ordered to take charge of Hadley's horses, which were found in. the street, and on Ropei- refusing to deliver them up without first consulting the police, Hadley struck him. According to Mr. T. M. Wilford, Hadley was under the impression that Roper had no right to detain the horses. At a sitting of the Petone Polico Court this morning, before Messrs. Southgate and Wakeham, Justices of the Peace, two first offenders, charged with drunkenness, were convicted and discharged. Kenneth M'Gregor waft similarly charged, and he received like treatment. A prohibition order was issued against him on the application of the police. At the Mount Cook Police Court this morning, before Mr. John Coogan, J.P., William Hedges was fined 10s, with the alternative of forty-eight hours' imprisonment, for drunkenness, and on a similar charge Thomas Witheia and Mary Anderson were each fine<! 5s ors twenty-four hours' detention. Two first offenders, who were on bail and who did nob appear, were oach fined 10s, with tho option of forty-eight hours' detention, and ono first offender was convicted and discharged.

Once again the monthly fitting of the Upper Hutt Magistrate**; Court, which should have been held this week, has. lapsed, as it was impossible- for a Magistrate to attend. The result is that several caees that are beyond the jurisdiction of the justices of the peace— such as judgment Btunmoiifees — have had to be held over. There is a strong feeling in the Upper Hutt over the manner in which the district is treated by the Justice Department, and it is complained that repeated representations have no effect. It is likely, too, that tho agitation for a new Courthoubo will be renewed, for it it, held that tho present dilapidated shed— it is little inure— is quite unsuitad to ths purpose.