CITY POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 17226, 16 December 1919, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT

Monday, Decembee 15. (Before J. R. Bartholomew, Esq., S.M.) An Infant's Death.—Ethel Victoria Andrews was charged; with committing manslaughter an that she did kill her female child.. There vas a second charge j of concealment of birth. Mr B. S. Irwin : defended.—Chief-detective Bishop said it was proposed to put in the evidence taken ' at the inquest. The facts were that accrued was employed as a domestic servant at a residence at Musselburgh, and pave birth to a fully-developed child, whose body was afterwards found in a cupboard in the- young woman's bedroom. The body was removed to the morgue, and accused to a maternity hospital.—Mr Irwin said that there was no evidence to support the major charge of manslaughter. There was no doubt that the child was dead when the mother wrapped it up and put It in the cupboard.—His AVorship agreed that there was not sufficient evidence to send accused for trial on tho charge of man> slaughter. There- was no evidence of positive negligence after birth. That charge would be dismissed. Accused then pleaded guilty to the other chargo, and was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence. Drunkenness.—A first offender was fined 10s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. Theift.—William George Edwards was brought up for sentence on a charge of ■theft at Wa'ipahi of a pair of trousers, valued at 30s, the property of Alexander Brown.—Sub-inspector Mathieson said that inquiries ehowedi that accused had a good character, and wag a returned soldier.— His Worship admitted him to probation for a term of 12 months. William Francis Miller (Mr F. B. Adams) was charged with stealing a biovcle, valued at £lO, the property of Maxwell H. Lawson.—The chief-detective, in asking for a remand, said that other charges were pending. Accused attempted to obliterate the number of the bicycle, and then offered it for sale. He also sold another I machine, which was at present being inquired into.—-Accused was remanded for a week, bail being allowed in his own recognisance of £SO, and one suretv of a like amount. " I By-law Cases.—William Thomas Waldren, charged with driving a motor car on the wrong side whilst- turning a earner J was fined 5s and costs (7s). For drivin.r * '""tor car at an excessive speed, Albert Brodie Hall was mulcted in the sum of 40s and costs (7s). Trevor De Clivc Jxwe was charged with carrying two passengers on a motor cycle other than by a side car, and also with ridiiur o-t greater than a reasonable speed.— Fvirfemw was given that defendant passed a movin« tram car at St. Clair at a speed of front £5 to 40 miles an hour-. This was denied by the defendant, who wns fined "lOs and costs (7s) on the first charge, and £5 and' costs sos) on the second. Carrying a Revolver.—George pi,ii ip Perry was charged with carrying a revolver contrary to War Regulations, and witn entering the Royal Albert Hotel during the currency of a prohibition order Accused pleaded guilty to both charges Sub-inspector Mathieson said accused went into he bar of the Royal Albert Hot»l but the barman, who knew he was prohibited, refused to serve him. When th e barman warned him that a constable mi*ht be about, accused put his hand in his po:ia>t and drew out a revolver. The barman reported the incident to a .■onstable who arrested the man—Accused said there was no ammunition in the re-volye,r-.770n the «harge of breach of the prohibition order accused was fined 20s with costs (15s), with the alternative of one weeks imprisonment. On the other charge he was ordered to come up for sentence any time within 12 months Disturbance en a Tramcar.-Columba Kogan was charged with, on the 6th inst breaking two panes of glass of a tramcar' with assaulting James Richardson (conductor), and with using obscene language -Accusea pleaded guilty to all charges!-! File Sub-inspector said accused travelled on the 11.7 p.m. car to Caversham on the date mentioned, and was under the influence of drink. Accused caused a disturbance m the car, and, when remonstrated with by the conductor, he struck out and broke the windows and used the language complained of. Drink was the cause of the trouble. Accused was a respectable young man. and nothing was previously known against him.—Mr C J L. \\hite, an behalf of accused, said his client remembered nothing about the occurrence, and was exceedingly sorry for it,—His Worship ordered accused to pav the cost of the damage (9s 6d), with the alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment. On the charge of assault a fine of 20s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, was imposed; and on the charge of using obscene anguage accused was fined £3, with costs (A)s), in default 14 days' imprisonment. Two Charges.—Robert Eccles was charged with breaking three panes of glass, valued at 10s, in the house of Louiaa Mary Crihan, of Bow lane, and with usinoobscene languege.—Accused pleaded notguilty to both charges.—Louisa Gillan stated that at about half-post 2 on the morning of Sunday, the 7th inst., accused came to her house. He used obscene language, and then, with a bottle, broke three panes of glaes in the back window. —Similar evidence was given by Victoria Flynn.—Accused contended that it was a case of mistaken identity, and that at the time_ of the alleged offence he was in bed.—His Worship adjourned the case till Friday to give accused an opportuniiy 6f bringing witnesses to prove an alibi. After Hours.—William David Wilson, charged with heing found on the licensed premises of the Captain Cock Hotel after closing time, pleaded guilty, and was fined £2 and costs.

Netting Trout,—Walter Taine. Arthur Barnard Taine, and Albert William Murphy were charged with taking two trout from the Waikouaiti River bv means of a net. Mr Hay prosecuted. Mr Finch represented the defendants, who pleaded guilty.—Counsel explained that two small bTOut sot into the not while his clients ■were fishing near the mouth of the river. —Each defendant was fined the minimum amount —40a and costs. A Railway Case—Philip Sidney Hill was charged with refusing to produce ft railway ticket when requested to dn so by the guard on the Dunedin-Port Chalmers train. Mr W. C. MaeOregor. K.C., prosecuted, and Mr E. J. Smith appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty.— Mr MacGregor said defendant was the holder of a season ticket, and when approached by the guard on the day in question he said he had left it at his office. The guard said he would have to pay the fare, but defendant refused to do so." He gave his name to the guard, and it was I not suggested the refusal was fraudulent j or that_ there was any attempt to evade.— ' Mr Smith said defendant had been travelling on the Port line for the past seven ; or eight months, and there was no sug- ; gestion that he was acting in a defiant ! attitude. Defendant's -contenion was i that he did not refuse. At the time he I did not have the ticket to refuse, as he had left it at his office.—His Worship | said he would alter the charge from " reI fusing " to " neglecting,■'—Mr Smith then said that defendant would plead guilty to a technical breach.—His WoTship inflicted a_ fine of 20s, with court costs (7s) and solicitor's fee (£2 2s), and said defondant was not entitled to any Sympathy for his attitude in the matter, as he had been given several opportunities to pay the Is 3d owing. _ The regulation might seem harsh to individuals, but they were necessary, and had to be strictlv complied with. The Defence Act.—For failing to attend drill Harold Turner was fined 5s and costs (7s). Maistenance.—Arthur Joseph Preston, charged with disobeying an order, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended for 14 days to give him an opportunity of paying the amount due. A Disorderly House.—Alexander Lees and Euphemia Lees were charged with keeping a disorderly house in Glasgow street, South Dunedin, contrary to the War Regulations. Mr Irwin appeared for the _ accused, who pleaded guilty. The sub-inspector handed iii the police'reports dealing with the facts of the case.—-Mr Irwin said there was no gainsaying the fact that it was a very bad case looking at it from the point of view of the eight children. They wore quite respectable up to two and a-half years ago. The husband got ill, and had to go to the Hospital. The

wife was thon led astray by another ' woman, and was going from bad to worse wgen the police stepped in.—His Worship said he would not send ths 'accused to gaol on account of the children. They would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on within two vear<= (Before H. Y. Widdowson, Esq,., f-LM.T A Charge Dismissed.—Frank Charles Johnson was charged with, on December 2, stealing an overcoat valued at £5, the property of gpberfc Frew Watson. Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared for defendant, and entered a plea of not guilty.—After heajv ing evidence the Magistrate said he considered defendant had given a satisfactory account of how he came to have the coat. Defendant had lost his own coat, and" naturally had taken the only other one hanging in tho University lobby. Defendant had taken tho coat'three "days after complainant missed it, so it was probable that someone else had had it in the meantime, and had committed the damage done to the coat—i.e., cutting off the name. He saw no reason to disbelieve defendant, and the charge would be dismissed.