THE COURTS-TO-DAY

Evening Star, Issue 15537, 6 July 1914, Page 4

THE COURTS -TO-DAY

CITY POLICE COURT.

(Before J. R. Bartholomew. Esq.. S.M.j

Drunkenness.—William John Willis and a first offender were each fined 10s or 48 hours, and James Percival Connor and another first offender 12s or 48 hours. — Samuel George Hobcroft was convicted and discharged, and a prohibition order was issued against him.—John M'Dougall was fined 5s or 24 hours.

Assault.—Charles Gould was charged with drunkenness, and also with assaulting James Alfred Boreham. Accused pleaded guilty on the first charge, and not guilty to the second.—The Sub-inspector said that the young man went into Sweetings' fish shop on Saturday night. He was under the influence, and made trouble. Mr Boreham tried to put him out, with the result that accused struck him a severe blow. —The complainant, on being called, said he would like to withdraw the case.— His Worship: The matter has been reported to the police, and it is now a public prosecution.—Witness said that accused struck him en the ear. Witness then caught him and nearly choked him.-—Ac-cused said that he went into the shop to see a young lady. Another man in the shop caught hold of him roughly, and tried to put him out. Ho was going out when Mr Boreham took hold of him. He did not strike him to his knowledge.—His Worship fined accused 10s or 48 hours on the first charge, and 20s or three days on the second.

Cruelty.—John Reid was charged with cruelly ill-treating a horse by working it with open sores. He pleaded guilty.— The Sub-inspector said that the defendant was a bottle-gatherer. Ho was found by Constable M'Whitty .and Inspector Craig driving an old horse in very poor condition. It had two sores, one under the collar (an inch and a-half by an inch in diameter) and another under the saddle (three inches in diameter). The horse should really be destroyed. The defendant was an old man in poor circumstances.—His Worship said that he would take the defendant's circumstances into consideration. Mr Craig would see that there w%- no further cruelty to the animal. The defendant would be fined ss, without costs.

The Defence Act—William J. Glidden ■ applied for exemption from military service.—Mr Bedford, for the applicant, said t that the young man was a commercial tra- , veller, and was away a month and a fort- | night at u time. Ho returned, as a rule, on Saturday, and left again on Monday. He had' served faithfully under the Act for two years. He was also charged with failing to attend camp. At that time he ! was airav on the Wcifc Coast, and did not |-receive the notice to attend until he carao back to Dunedin. Counsel believed that after this year commercial travellers were to be exempted from drills, at any rate.— i Captain Fraser said that from what he j knew of the young man in the past he beI lieved that he did not receive notice to attend camp until his return to town. The i department recognised that there was some ' hardship in the cases of commercial travellers, and it had been decided to give them special consideration next year. He understood that they would be required to attend camp for four extra days next year, but would be excused from attending drill during the year. He was willing that the present .charge for failing to attend camp be withdrawn.—This charge was then withdrawn.—Mr Bedford said that nearly ail commercial travellers wore over the age.—His Worship said that if he exempted I tlie applicant he would have to exempt all commercial travellers. He could under- | stand them being exempted from parades, I but when it came to a matter of the annual camp, he could not see how the applicant was in a different position to any other man. He could not exempt him from attending the camp, but there would be exemption from parades. Robert N l . White applied for exemption.-—He said he was a commercial traveller, and that his ! duties carried him from Ghristchurch to Invercargill. He could not attend to his duties and be present at drills. He might be able to get to the annual camp.—Captain Fraser said that the applicant was always a good at tender until he went on the road. —His Worship said that this case ; was similar to the last one. He would give the same exemption as in the last ! case, all parades other than the annual | camp. Francis H. Eninham asked for exemption.—He said he was a conductor on the City Corporation tramways, and I save the .hours he had to work.—Captain Fraser said that the hours as given were correct, and they had no units drilling that would fit in all the hours when the anplicant could drill. -The man would be 25 next year, when he wedd be exempt from training. He did not think it would be worth while equippinc; him for four months' drill.—His Worship granted exemption under the circumstances. ■ Alexander M'Dotmld asked for exemption. —Captain Sandle said he did not oppose the application. The applicant had been training for two years, and prior to that was a volunteer for eight months. His wife had met with a very severe accident, and required taking care of. The man was working in the tramways department, and had to do a certain amount of night duty.—Exemption was granted for one year. John S. Nugent made a similar application. Twelve months ago lie was granted partial exemption to study for an examination, and he wanted to pursue his studies,—Exemption was granted from attending evening drills for 12 months. A number of charges of failing to render persona! service were then tn.ken. J. Fitzpatriek and Colin A. Fairbairn were each fined £3 and costs, Joseph Colder and Richard Fogartv 20s and costs, Victor Craigio .and Henry R. Hancock 10s and costs, Hugh E. Harvey, William J. T)e Bazion, Dennis Mahoney. William- E. Reid, and Stanley J. Ryan 5a and costs. John D. Barclay was fined 30s and costs. John Langley, Ernest H. Bezett, and Herbert E. Hoff were convicted and discharged. Charges against John Jury, J. J. Dick, and John C. Passmore were dismissed. Cases against Thomas A. Dalziel, David Miller, William Campbell, Frederick Mackay, John A. Mackay, and James Leggett were adjourned to enable them to attend the casual camp in August. Other informations against Joseph Golder, Henry R. Hancock, and Richard Fogarty were also adjourned to give them a chance of attending the August camp.—The Court then adjourned for lunch. On resuming. Alfred E, Wilson was fined £3 and costs, William H. Tohill £2 and costs, Frederick E. Oekwell, Stanley Simpson. and Robert Ferguson 20s each and costs. For failing to register Alexander Marhsall was fined £3 and costs. At 5 o'clock there were a number of other cases still to be heard.