POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 18255, 20 April 1923, Page 5

POLICE COURT

Fbxday, Apeil 20, (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) A LONG TALK. John E-rskon, Gustave Johnstone, Alfred Brodie Hall, and Cyril George Scales pleaded guilty to being on licensed premises during closed hours. Sub-inspector Eecles said that the defendant Hall had an appointment with a man who was lodging at the City Hotel, and he, together with the three others mentioned, went in to sec him shortly after 11 p.m. They got talking, and remained till 4 a.m.,' when they were seen by the police coming out of (he hotel. They were sober, and admitted the longer had “shouted” several times. Mr Invin, who appeared’ for the defendants, said that the four men went to the hotel late and got talking. Halls car was outside the hotel all the time. Scales was fined 10s and costs, and the other throe 20s and costs. WRONG TRAINING TRACK. William Brandon did not appear to answer a charge of driving a motor car at a speed dangerous to the public.—•lnspector M'Nicol said that he saw defendant driving his car along King street at 4.10 p.m. on March 22. He was travelling at a furious rate, and had admitted going at twenty-five miles an hour, explaining that he was getting his car into trim for hill climbing.—The Magistrate remarked that the country was _lho place for this kind of training, and fined defendant £2 and costs (7s). CHARGE’ DISMISSED.

Thomas Walter King (Mr Callan) pleaded not guilty to a charge of negligently driving a motor ear in George street on February 22. James Henry Johnson, aged thirteen, said he was near the Royal Albert Hotel a little after 6 o’clock. He was wheeling a bicycle, and as ho passed a lady a tramcar came along. He did not know whether it stopped or not, but a motor car also came along and knocked him and his bicycle over. The car stopped for a minute or two and then went on.

To Mr Call an : Ho was carrying a cast of fruit on the seat of the bicycle, and was not standing talking to a boy when the accident occurred. Robert Owen Griffiths, tram motormin, said he saw the defendant’s car swerve in towards the car, leaving no room for passengers to alight. The driver hacked, straightened up, and went on. On ic king back witness saw a boy picking up some fruit. The boy’s bicycle wheel was buckled. Witness did not see the boy knocked over John Stewart said he saw the motor oar come along at a smart pace, with the result that the crowd waiting for the car swayed out of the way. The motor ran over a bicycle held by a boy, who was stationary.

Mark Silverstone, who was sitting on the front scat of the tramcar, also gave evidence. The motor, he said, seemed to bo travelling more quickly than it should. Defendant said the boy was standing at the corner talking to someone. When defendant blew his horn the hoy drew the bicycle in to allow room to pass. While witness slowed up the tram came along, and he stopped. Ho, knew of no impact with the bicycle at tbo time, but was told by his passenger immediately afterwards. Henry’ Huugorford, the passenger in the motor, said that it appeared to him that the boy lost control of the bicycle as the car passed him, and allowed it to swerve back. The car at the time was going at about a walking pace. Ample warning was given by the sounding of the horn. His Worship indicated that no further evidence was necessary. After reviewing the facts as disclosed by the evidence bo said that he could not find that the charge of negligent driving had been substantiated. the case would bo dismissed. BY-LAWS TRANSGRESSED. William Gemincll, for leaving a motor car at night without lights, was fined 6s, with costs (7s). DRUNKENNESS. James M'Grath was fined 10s, in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment, for dnmkcn ness. .MAINTENANCE. An application by Elizabeth Graydon (Mr Irwin) for variation of an order in respect to four children was granted, the order being altered to 4s a week. -John Hussey (Mr Irwin) was charged with disobedience of two orders in to the maintenance of his children. —Defendant was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on each charge, the warrants to be suspended so long as he paid 15s and 5s 6d a week respectively. CRUELTY TO HORSE. James Hogg was charged with permitting a horse to bo worked while it was suffering from a sore leg. _ Henry Dent was also charged with working the horse, thus causing it unnecessary suffering. Subinspector Eecles prosecuted, and air Anderson appeared for defendants. The Sub-inspcctor said that the defendant Hogg was charged as being master, he being manager of the firm owning the horse. Detective Palmer said that at 10 a.m. on March 10 he was passing along Dunbar street with Sergeant Boulton, when tie saw a horse attached to a cart. It appeared to be in agony, and could not hold its off-side hind deg to the ground for more than thirty seconds at a time. Dent had told witness that ho was employed by M'Lcod Bros., to whom the horse belonged. He also said that lie was aware of the horse’s condition, and had advised the firm to that effect. It had suffered from “weed” tor five years. Witness went to M'Lcod's, ami saw the manager (tho defendant Hogg), who said he bad seen it practically every day, and was aware that it had a bad leg. The horse was old and very thin. On tin Sunday witness accompanied Mr Snowball, veterinary surgeon, William D. Snowball, qualified veterinary surgeon, said be saw the horse on tho Sunday, and found it suffering from a very much enlarged leg, from a complaint commonly known n.s “ weed.” The horse was not fit to work. To Mr Anderson: It was a common tiling to work a horse in dfltain degrees of “ weed,” but in this case the swelling was great and old, and the joints were hard.

James Hogg said that Dent had in January drawn his attention to the horse having “weed,” and had said that it was a common thing. Witness had left the matter to Dent as being an expert. He had told him to turn the horse out if necessary, and not to spare any expense. Not long afterwards an expressman named Conn had offered to buy the horse for working on a farm, he being aware it had “ weed.” Witness came to the conclusion that if the horse was lit enough for Conn it was fit enough for him, and so did not sell. Henry John Dent, carter, said he had' been with horses over forty years, twenty with M'Leod’s. Ho considered the horse fit for work, although suffering from “ weed,” and had told his manager so. Tho (Magistrate dismissed the case against Hogg, holding that there was not sufficient evidence to pic o he was the maHis Worship on to say that the proper .step to have taken was to have called in a veterinary, surgeon. Dent showed absolute stupidity’ if he considered - »■■••••• (if Ho would l he convicted and fined £9, with £1 Is witness’s expenses, atia h court costs.