CITY POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 17921, 17 March 1922, Page 5

CITY POLICE COURT

Friday, March 17,

(Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.)

WANTON SHOOTING,

James Graham, who had previously pleaded not guilty, changed his plea, to guilty to a cluvgc of, on February 2, wantonly shooting with a pea ride at Wicklifto Bay and causing unnecossa 'v suffering to i heifer belonging to Arthur Wm. Dick. Dir J. S. Sinclair appeared for defendant.

Chief-detective Bishop said the defendant and complain, t had paddocks alongside each other. Complainant’s heifer, about twelve months old,, got into a small oat paddock belonging to defendant. Defendant got his pea ‘rifle out, and altogether fired seven shots at the animal, not for the purpose of hitting it, but to frighten it away. An examination made tome time after showed that the animal had been hit in the leg. Mr Sinclair said defendant did not know Jbc heifer belonged to complainant. Ho thought it was one of I.in own. His Worship said he was quite satisfied defendant was annoyed when lie saw the heifer, and was not much concerned with what he did to it. He may not hive intended to cause suffering to the animal, but he certainly did so. A tine of £3, with costs (9s), would be imposed. A MORNINGTON CASE! John Higgins was charged with assaulting John Hugban at Morn.ington on February 26. ■ Defendant, for whom Mr Allan appeared, pleaded guilty. Sub-inspector Eccles said defendant was married to complainant's daughter. His wife went to her father’s place for protection, and defendant, came to the house after her. Ho tried to force his way in, but was refused, and later, when the father came cut, he struck him several blows on the face. The trouble was that defendant was addicted to drink.

In answer to His Worship, defendant paid ho was prepared to take out a prohibition order against himself. ' Later, applb.itim was made by his wife for a separation order against Higgins on the ground of failure to maintain.—-His Worship granted the application, and fixed maintenance at the rate of 30s a week for the wife and three children, with solicitor’s fee (£2 2s). Accused having taken out a prohibition order, His Worship convicted, and ordered him to pay the costs of witnesses (30s). His Worship pointed out to accused that the assault was a blackguardly one, but that any penalty would react on his wife and family. ' " MAINTENANCE, Ronald Thomas Rackley wak charged with disobedience of an order for ttie support of his child, the arrears to January 6 amounting to £.19 10s. Dir A. C. Hanlon appeared for complainant—Defendant was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, his release to be obtained on payment of arrears and solicitir’s f cc (£1 Is). Francis Alexander Dfcnlin was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment for disobedience of an order in respect to the support of his wife.—-The warrant was ordered to be suspended if defendant paid off arrears at the rate of £5 per week. The arrears up till January 18 amounted to £l4. Dlatthew Alexander Clydesdale was charged with disobedience of an order for the support of his wife, the arrears to January 20 being £27 3e.—The Rev. V. G. B. King, who appeared for the wife,

said Clydesdale had given up his job volun- ., tardy on the Public* Works when his wife had an order made on ids wages.—His Worship sentenced defendant to one month’s imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended if he paid £6 tfif-hwith and the balance by March 31. Athol Fraser M'Loan was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment for failing to comply with the terms of an order. The arrears in this case wore £ll up till •Tannery 27. BY-LAWS TRANSGRESSED. For driving a motor car without lights Stanley Jefferson was fined 10s, with costs (7s), and for leaving his motor car standing without lights Allan Ward Scott was fined ss, with coats (7e). William James Davidson was charged under the by-laws of the borough of St. Kilda with building an addition to a dwelling without obtaining a permit.—Mr J. B. Callan, who appeared for the council, said there had been a considerable amount of looseness in connection witli the observance of this by-law, and the council desired to bring a case before the court in order to bring it prominently before the public. —Evidence was given by Inspector Shepherd.—Defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs (7s) and solicitor’s fee (£1 Is). John Herbert Findlay was also charged

under the borough by-laws with being concerned in the erection of a wall not in ■brick, stone, or concrete.—Defendant pleaded not guilty.—Mr J. B. Gall,-in prosecuted and 1 Mr T. O’Shea appeared for the defendant. —His Worship, after hearing the evidence, said it appeared that defendant had obtained a permit from the previous town clerk of St. Kilda, and dismissed the information. The shed which

•was the subject of the charge was put up as a motor cycle shed, and he advised defendant to have a concrete floor put in and'to have some protection on the wall iiear his neighbor’s place. ARMS REGISTRATION.

Albert James Crimp was charged on two informations with failing to register two rifles which he ‘had purchased from the Defence Department. —Defendant pleaded not guilty.— Evidence was given by Sergeant Boulton.—On one charge defendant was fined 10s, with costs (7s), and on the ether charge was convicted, with costs #*)•