MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1914, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

To-day's sitting of the Magistrate's Court was presided over by Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M. For drunkenness, William Black, a prohibited person with four previous convictions, was fined £1, with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment. A number of first offenders wer© also convicted. Abraham Turner pleaded guilty to having been found sleeping in a house in Dixon-street, which was recently partially destroyed by fire, but denied being a rogue and a vagabond. It appeared that the accused had been drinking heavily, and had gone to the place to sleep. On the suggestion of Inspector Hendrey, he was remanded till Monday, in order to give him an opportunity of getting the drink out of his system. William Thompson, aged 20 years, who arrived from Scotland three years ago, admitted the theft of a piece of leather valued at 7s 6d, the property of I the New Zealand Government. ChiefDetective Broberg explained that the accused was employed in the goods yard at Thorndon Station. The accused cut a piece off a bale of leather and placed it under his coat. Noticing that he had something under his jacket the goods' foreman asked him what he was concealing. He denied that he was hiding anything, but to his consternation the tell-tale piece of leather dropped to the ground. His Worship, in stating that he did not wish, to send such a young man — a first offender — to gaol, convicted him and ordered him to come up for sentence -when called upon. John Moseley, who had driven a vehicle at night without a light, was fined Ss, with costs (7s). Michael M'Hughwas convicted and ordered . to pay 7s costs for driving a motor-van without a registration mark. Fines of ss, with costs ! (7s), were imposed on William Smith for leaving a horse and cab unattended, and' on John Trotman for leaving a horse and cart in the street longer than was necessary. Reginald Welsby, who had been pre- I vteusiy convicted for a similar offence, was fined £3, with costs (£1 8s), for allowing stock to wander in Kelburne extension. Charies Bethell, similarly charged, was convicted, and ordered to pay 7s Court costs. A -fine of £1, with £1 8s costs, \vas inflicted on Arthur Batcfeelor for farring j to keep a drain in good order. For exposing for sale stock slaughtered at a place other than the municipal abattoirs or a licensed meat export slaughterhouse, Gadsby Bros, were fined £2, with costs. The defendants stated that this was an isolated offence, as the bulk of their meat was procured from the Gear Company's works. Annoyed by some mischievous person knocking at his door and then running away, Donald Larnach, of Broadwayterrace, rushed out of his door late one night and assaulted tiie first person he came across in the street. This -*as Leonard Bruce Quinton, who subsequently laid an information against Larnach for assault. Quinton' s story was that he was peacefully proceeding home, when he was assauttcd. without provocation. Larnach's contention was that it must have been Quinton who had knocked at the door, as tfwre was, to all appearances, no one«)se about. He denied having apologised to the complainant subsequently for having made a mistake in hitting the wrong man. A conviction was entered, and the accused was fined £1 and costs, with the option of a week's imprisonment. George Grey Mace, for failing in driving a motor-car to keep near the left side of the road, was fined Is, with costs 7s. A similar penalty was imposed on Fred Brown for driving a dray at other than a walking pace when negotiating a corner, and on Horace Croucher for leaving a horse and cart unattended. Charged with failing to have a registration mark attached to his motor-cycle, Charles John Duffy was fined ss, with ■costs 7s. Henry George Johns was fined 10s, with costs, for larling to attend Territorial drill.

Mesßrs. Thomson and Brown will hold a saile of WIO lot* of furniture on behalf of Mr. Sinclair, at their rooms, to-morrow afternoon at 2 o'clock sharp ; ilbo balance of a bankrupt etock of blankets, Bheets, etc. Tenders are invited for the construction of a dredgß slip alongside the "Waihou river, new Paerp».