THE COURTS.—TO-DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 12943, 5 May 1908, Page 4

THE COURTS.—TO-DAY.

CITY POIfICE COURT.

(Before H. Y. Widdowaon, Esq., S.M.) A Careless Frender was charged with driving a cab across the Kensington railway crossing on April 18 when a railway engine was approaching within half a mue of the crossing.—Andrew Riddell, signalman at Kensington crossing, said that he was on duty on Saturday, April 18. Defendant was whipping up ms horses as the fast train from Otago Central was approaching. Witness and another railway employee signalled to defendant to pull up, but defendant drove through them. He crossed the line when the tram was about 200 yards or 300 yards distant, which meant that he had only ten seconds lor fifteen seconds to spare.—Alexander Reddie, crossing-keeper at Kensington, said that he and Riddell got in front of defendant, holding their flags up, but defendant whipped up and drove right tlirough, them.—Archibald Drummond, tramway motonnan, said he saw the two crossing-keepers holding their flags up in front of defendant, who whipped his horses up and drove across. Witness had stopped his cr.r because the signal was against him. —Defendant went into the box and said h* was coming from South Dunedin. Approaching the crossing he heard no bell ring, and the saw neither the signalman nor the crossing-keeper until almost at the crossing, the posts .of the overhead bridge preventing .him.. When he got near the crossing and at length saw the signal flags he considered it safer to drive right across, as if he had then pulled up he would ha\y been on the crossing.—His Worship said it was not, long since there had been u serious accident at this crossing, when two horses were killed and the train nearly de raded,—Defendant: “ I am always very careful. It is not likely I would cross if I knew a train was coming.”—His Worship : “ -The Act provides for a very severe penalty, which, I think, is quite right. Cabmen and others will have to leam that they must not do this sort of thing. 1 don’t see that I can make any difference between you and the other young man who was oefore me on the other occasion. You will be fined £5 and costs.” The costs amounted to 18s.

French Leave.—James Evans pleaded guilty to being absent 'without leave from the s.s. Wuiwera, now at Dunedin wharf.— Captain Lowden stated that Evans, who is a fireman on the boat, put oil bis coat yesterday morning and walked ashore, in defiance of the chief engineer, staying away all day.—'Defendant stated that he had received permission to'go ashore from the second engineer, but this was denied by Chief Engineer Geech.—Sis Worship ordered defendant to forfeit 5s out of his wages and 7s expenses. Further Remanded.—William James Imrie, a bankrupt charged, on the information of Mr C. C. Graham, Official Assignee, with having unlawfully incut-red a debt with Paterson and Barr by obtaining credit to the extent of £4 7s 3d under false pretences, appeared oh a remand granted last Friday,—Mr Macassey, who appeared to prosecute, asked for a further remand for a week.—Mr Bernard, who represented accused, objected, laying that accused had been arrested two weeks ago in Gisborne, Where he had been working for the past eight rhonths. Had accused known he would hate tb answer any charge ha Would have done so without there being any need .to arrest him in the way adopted by the police. He was ready to go on with the case now.—Mr Maeassey said that accused had been going under another name in Gisborne, vvhither he had cleared out from Dunedin. I’he Crown would be ready to go on with the case in a week. There had been delay in getting their witnesses.—Hia Worship granted a further remand, bail being allowed as before (self in £SO and one surety of £SO or two of £25). Drunkenness.—Four first offenders were fined 5s each or twenty-four hours’ imprisonment, with Bs cab hire additional in one case; and another first offender, who was arrested on the railway station, was fined 10s or forty-eight hours.—Thomas M'Qetrickj who gave his age ns seventyone years, and admitted four previous convictions, pleaded guilty to drunkenness, staling that l\e could not find a hod in town last night, and went about looking for one. The Sub-inspector slated that defendant had £2O on him When arrested. He had come to town, and was just beginning to knock down his cheque. His Worship convicted accused and discharged him, advising him to place himself in the hands of Mr Cummings, who would see that he did not lose his money. Disobeying a Maintenance Order.—His Worship convicted Joseph Arthur Hcazlewood for disobedience of an order for the maintenance of his wife, and sentenced him to six weeks’ imprisonment, with hard labor, the warrant to he suspended for ten days to enable him to pay off some of his arrears, the understanding being that if defendant made a substantial payment the warrant would be further suspended. Evidence was given by defendant’s wife (for whom Mr Lemon appeared) that defendant had returned to Dunedin and visited his wife’s house last night in a very drunken condition.