POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 19840, 13 April 1928, Page 9

POLICE COURT

FRIDAY, APRIL 13. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) annoying ms wife. William Ifeenan was charged with, on February 26, March 28, and April 6, trespassing on his wile’s premises during the currency of a separation order. „ , Senior-sergeant Quartermain said that the defendant, in spite of a warning by Mr Bundle, S.M., went back to his wife’s house and annoyed her. Mr A. N. Haggitt, for the defendant, said Keenan’s trouble was drink. It was only when he was drunk that he went to the place. He had been living in a house near his wife’s place, hut had now shifted to another part of the town, and counsel did not think there would be any trouble in future. Keenan was prepared to take out a prohibition order. He was earning good money, and it ■would not be in the interests of the wife and children if he were sent to gaol. “ It is not out of consideration for you, but out of consideration for your wife and children, that I am not sending you to gaol,” said the magistrate, “if there is any further annoyance you will go to gaol for a good term.” The charges were adjourned for six months on condition that Keenan paid forthwith arrears under the maintenance order and took out a prohibition order. CHIMNEY FIRE. Hilda Marion Ross, for suffering a chimney to be on fire, was convicted and ordered to pay court costs naiouuv ing to 10s. NO ORDER MADE.

John Putae (Mr F. G. Dawson) was proceeded against on a complaint lor a maintenance order on the grounds of failure to maintain a destitute near relative. —Defendant said he had five children, and earned £4 5s a week apart from 9s a week overtime. He paid 35s a week for rent, and was unable to pay anything towards the upkeep of Ins son,* who was in the care of the State.—The magistrate refused to make an order. NEARLY AN ACCIDENT.

Allan Gordon Clark pleaded guilty ami was fined 10s, with costs (10s), for crossing the railway line in Rattray street while such line was dosed. It was stated that defendant crossed the line in his motor while a Vain was approaching, and that an accident was narrowly averted. MOTORISTS’ OFFENCES.

For failing to have lights on their cars at night Charles Norman Spain and John Clifford Ramsden were each lined 5s and costs (10s). For leaving a motor car unattended in High street longer than fifteen minutes George Findlayson Weir was fined 5s and costs (12s).

John Whiston, who did not appear, was charged with, having purchased a registered motor car, using same without having received a certificate of registration and license from the deputy-registrar. The defendant wrote that the vendor had promised to look after the matter, but had neglected to do so. A fine of os, with costs (10s), was inflicted. DANGEROUS DRIVING.

Edward Dalton pleaded not guilty to charges of dangerous driving and of failing to stop his motor car at the signal of a constable. Constable Smytlie said that on February 15 he was in Princes street south about 9.50 p.m., when he noticed two cars coming towards him. One was being driven at a very great speed, and witness stepped into the road and flashed his torch when the car was about three chains distant. Approaching nearer to witness, the driver of the car turned his lights off.

Traffic-inspector Watson stated that ho was at Manor place on the night in question. A car, of which he had obtained the number, had passed at a speed of forty miles an hour, and further on wituess noticed a constable trying to stop it. Defendant said that on the night in question he had not gone further than the Post Office in his car, and had gone homo early. Defendant was fined T2, with costs (IQs), on the first charge and 20s, with costs (10s), on the other charge.

CHARGE DISMISSED. John Alack, jun., pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to keep to the left-hand side of the road at Tomahawk when meeting a motor bus.

Mr G. Baylee appeared for the defendant. The driver of the motor bus said defendant drove past as the last passenger was getting into the bus. The back door was open, and the mudguard of Mack’s car struck the door, slamming it on to a young lady’s wrist. The door went back again and then slammed again, but fortunately the young lady’s hand was not there then" The car did not stop after the accident. The bus was standing in the middle of the road.

Evidence was also given by the young lady who was injured and by her sister.

John James Alack, lather of the defendant, gave evidence as to having examined the scene of the accident, and produced a plan which lie had drawn of the road. Defendant said he had not known at the time that a young lady had been injured. When witness was passing the bus the door of the bus swung open and the hood of witness’s car swung the door shut. He thought there was ample room to pass. The Magistrate said the bus musthave been monopolising the road, and it was a question as to which side the motor car should pass. Jf it were reasonably practicable, the car should have passed on the left. It had not been shown, however, that it were reasonably practicable for the motorist to pass on the left. There was little room to pass on either side, and defendant chose to pass on the right. The information would be dismissel. NO CORROBORATION.

Application was made for an affiliation order against a young man, for whom Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared. Senior-sergeant Qnartermain prosecuted on behalf of the complainant.— After hearing evidence His Worship said there had been no material corroboration of the girl’s story, and he dismissed the charge.—Mr Hanlon suggested that the defendant’s name should not be published. He pointed out that the case was some years old, and that it had been brought on very slender grounds.—His "Worship agreed that the allegations were slender, and said that, though the girl made some statements at the time (over three years ago), this was the first time an attempt had been made to secure an order. The evidence brought to support the girl’s story was really not corroborative at all. He thought the ■Press might well leave the name out.