THE COURTS—TO-DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 8506, 4 May 1891, Page 2

THE COURTS—TO-DAY.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. (Before E. H. Carew, Esq., R.M.) In the following nndefended cases judgment was given for plaintiffs, with costs : W. Gregg and Co. v. John A. Booth (Wellington), claim, Ll4 9s, on a dishonored promissory note; James Wallace v. Helen Fraser, L2 4a 6d, for meat supplied (Mr Bannatyns for the plaintiff). Frankton Beach Company v. George Edwin Dunoan.—Claim, Ll7 8s lid, on a judgment summons. Mr Joel appeared for the plaintiff company; there was no appearance of the defendant personally, or on his behalf.—lt appeared that this case had been recently before the Court when two justices presided, and having heard the evidence they decided that they would not be warranted in making an order. The case was accordingly adjourned until to-day, with a view of an arrangement being come to between the parties.—Hia Worship said that he could not dispose of a case which had been partly heard. An adjournment would be made till Thursday, the 14th inst., for the attendance of the justices who presided on the previous occasion. Mark Sinclair v.' Henry Box. - Claim, L 3 12s, on a judgment summonß. Mr A. S. Adams appeared for the plaintiff. There was no appearance on behalf of the defendant, and an order was made for payment of the amount by June 4, in default Beven days' imprisonment in Dunedia Gaol. Annie Murcott v. James Murray.—Claim, Lll lis 9d, on a judgment summons. Mr North appeared for the plaintiff.—The defendant said that he was a bootmaker, earning about L2 10s per week. He had advertised that he was prepared to teach dancing, but had got no pupils. An offer of his, made a year ago, to pay off the debt by weekly instalments of 5s each had not been accepted by the plaintiff.—His Worship said be was satisfied that defendant had been in a position to comply with the judgment. An order would be made for the liquidation of the debt by weekly instalments of ss, in default fifteen days' imprisonment.

CITY POLICE COURT. (Before Messrs P. G. Pryde and H. North, Justices.) Drunkenness,— Timothy Byrne, against whom thirty-eight previous convictions were recorded, extending over a period of thirteen years, was fined 10s, in default fortyeight hours' imprisonment; and Moritz Mankeim (three previous convictions, the laßt in 1889) 59, in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment. The last-named accused, who pleaded that he took a drop, which proved too much for him, as a remedy for influenza, was allowed two days' grace. Stealing Jam.— William Henderson, a boy, was charged with stealing a bottle of jam, value lOd, the property of Alex. Leckie, of Kensington. Mr Hanlon, appearing for accused, pleaded guilty.—The circumstances were that on Saturday Henderson was in company with other boys, one of whom bought a loaf of bread, and accused was then prompted by one of the others to take the jam from the doorway of a shop, so that they could have a feed of bread and jam. That being done, a lad seventeen years of age, named Peats, took the balance of the jam and smeared it across a letterbox. No doubt this big chap was the one who had instigated the theft, and he had besides run a serious risk by smearing the jam over the letter-box, as if any of the letters had been damaged he would have been liable to a long term of imprisonment. —lnspector Hickson said that he would not have brought up Henderson on bo trivial a charge but for the after act. Fortunately no letters were damaged, or the boy Peats would have been the subject of a serious charge. At present there was no charge against him, but he had been subporaaed as a witness.—Being put into the box, Archibald Peats said that he was only fifteen years of age. It was not him who smeared the jam on the letter box, though he had had a hand in it.—Mr North : Had any of ; that jam gone into the letter box you would have been liable to imprisonment for ten years. Let that be a caution to you in the future.—Mr Pryde said that the Bench had decided to dismiss the case. They thought that under the circumstances Henderson had simply been made a tool of, and that the other boy should be in his position. If Henderson's guardian would' promise to look after him the enda of juritioe would be met j but the boy should beware of bad oompany for shp future. j