MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 58, 6 September 1920, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Mr. J. S. Evans, 5.M.,, dealt with police and maintenance cases at the Magistrate's Court to-day. A young man named James S. Masterton pleaded guilty to charges of drunkenness and having committed a. grossly indecent act in Willis-street. The circumstances of the latter offence were very bad. He was fined 10s for drunkenness, and 40s for the second offence.

John de Lacey Crowley was convicted on charges of drunkenness and breaking his prohibition order, and was ordered to pay fines amounting to 30s by Saturday. Claude William Fowler; who- was arrested by Detective Black yesterday upon a charge of having stolen £7 10s from George H. Woodharr. at New Plymouth, was remanded to appear at New Plymouth on 10th inst.

Peroival Breen maintained that he was unable to pay anything in reduction of the sum of £151'2s 6d in arrear in respect of the maintenance of four children in the Nelson Industrial School. He said that he wanted some at least of the children at home, but the Magistrate said that he uould see nothing to support that proposal if the defendant and his wife could no more than maintain themselves at present. Breen was formally convicted, and the case.was adjourned for three months, during which time the defendant was advised to make some effort to pay off the arrears.

Charles Guiote, who had failed to make payments towards the support of his wife for a poriod. of some four years and !had allowed tho payments to fall into arrear to the extent of £150, was convicted, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour, to be released on his paying a. sum. of £25. Norman W. Loveridge was ordered to pay £2 per week towards the maintenance of his wife and two children. (Proceeding.)

At a sitting of the Mount Cook Police Court to-day, Mr. R. D. Hanlon, J.P., on the Bench, four cases of drunkenness were dealt with. Johr Flanagan (third offence) was fined 40s. in default of payment to undergo seven days' imprisonment. A firat offender, was convicted and discharged. Another who was liberated on bail and did not reappear was ordered to pay 10s or go to g-aol for forty-eight hours, and a person found drunk on Sunday was fined 20s, the alternative being fixed at forty-eight hours' imprisonment. A first offnndor for drunkenness was convicted and fined 10s by Mr. J. H. Burn, J.P., at the Petone Court this