POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 17956, 1 May 1922, Page 4

POLICE COURT

Moxday, May 1. (Before Mr J. It. Bartholomew, S.M.) “ME NO UNDERSTAND.'’ Young Chin Ran, accompanied, by an older Celestial, stood forward to answer a charge ot failure to apply for registration, he being an alien who- had recently landed in New Zealand. The older man began a voluble, explanation, but the quantity and quality of English words were few and pool’, so that the magistrate was moved to ask; ‘‘ls tho interpreter speaking in his own language!” Ills Worship called upon tho sub-ins pec tor to assist the interpreter, but that officer did not achieve a great deal of success, bo he .called Constable Rrntt to give evidence. The constable said that ho called upon Ran, and using the elder man now in court (who, it appears, was tlm father of tho defendant) as an interpreter, obtained a statement. This was to tho following effect: —“ When me land my father lie pay hundred pounds ; Government man lie take, finger prints, and me thinkeo all li'. Mo no understand.” Sub-inspector Kccles said that defendant bad since registered. When aliens arrived in the Dominion, he added, thsy were handed instructions which told them how to register. The Magistrate: Are the instructions in English? The Sub-inspector: I couldn't say, sir. Tho Magistrate -. I expect they would be. His Worship added that the defendant had good reason to think he was well known to the authorities, having paid £IOB and had his finger prints taken. He would bo convicted and discharged. BABY’S PRECARIOUS PLIGHT. Seeing Charles Henry Macguirc staggering about in a. drunken condition, with a, baby in Ids arms, a Salvation Army lady officer asked him for the child, but lie declined to give it to her. A young man, sizing up tho position, came along, took the baby from him, and “put him to ■sleep” (as the police described it) by striking him a, blow. Accused, who was charged with disorderly behaviour while drunk, pleaded guilty. Sub-inspector Ecclcs, in detailing the facts, said accused went into a- shop at North-east ’Valley and demanded lonfatoca, but was put out. Ho went back to town in his drunken condition and met Ids wife, from whom he took the baby. The above occurrence then took place. Accused, who was addicted to drink, was now prepared! to take out a. prohibition order against himself. , His Worship said that, as a prohibition order was to bo taken out, a smaller penalty would he imposed than would otherwise have been the case. Accused would bo fined 20s, with costs (7s), with (ho alternative, of seven days’ imprisonment. FURTHER- REMAND. Arthur Henry Douglas Macdougnll appeared on remand to answer a charge of, on Mav 31, lfi'2], stealing the sum of £SO, the property of the New Zealand Government.. Mr B. H. Irwin appeared for accused. ■ Chief-detective Bishop applied for a.further remand till Friday, when it was hoped to be ready to proceed with the case. His Worship granted a remand accordingly, bail being allowed on tho same terms as previously. OFFENCES AGAINST BY-LAWS. John M‘Curdy and William Foster were each fined ss, with costp (7s), for driving uniighted carts. —For riding an unlighled bicycle Hairy Roberts was similarly dealt with. —Robert Etheridge Hyde, for driving •a. motor car on the’wrong side of the road, was fined’ 20s, with castsi—-Arthur William Bell, who, the .sub-inspector said, drove across a. railway crossing at thirty miles an hour while a train was approaching was fined 40s, with costs (!Js), and witness’s expenses (10s).—Jessie Waugh was fined 5s and costs for allowing her chimney to catch lire.—For allowing a horse to wander George William Bain was fined 1 20s, with costs.—Daniel Lyons (Mr Irwin) pleaded not guilty to driving a motor car at a. speed dangerous to the public.—Tho police evidence was that defendant drove along Lower High street at thirty miles an hour.—Defendant denied going at anything like this speed.—Thodnformation was dismissed. DRUNKENNESS. William Henry Scott Rutherford’ pleaded guilty to drunkenness, the sub-inspector stating-that defendant was so drunk that ho injured himself in the cell. A doctor had to be sent for, and £1 Is medical 1 expenses had been incurved,' —Convicted, and ordered to pay £1 expenses, with tho alternative of seven days’ imprisonment. ARMS ACT. For having an unregistered pea rifle in his possession Patrick James, who pleaded guilty, was fined 10s, with costs (7s). His Worship ordered tho rifle to bo confiscated.