POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 20089, 1 February 1929, Page 7

POLICE COURT

FI! I DAY, FEBRUARY 1. (Before Mr 11. W. Bundle, S.M.) AT LARGE. Allred James Boyes, charged with allowing a cow and heifer to wander at large, was lined 10& and costs. MOTORING OFFENCES. William John Masked was charged with driving a motor car without a license, witn being in charge ol a motor car without the proscribed lights, and with cutting a corner. On each of the first two charges he was lined 5s and costs, and on the charge ot cutting a corner he was convicted and fined court costs (10s). Betty Oram was charged with cutting a corner, and was fined 10s and costs. For being in charge of a motor car at night without the proscribed lights. Edwin Peat tie was convicted and discharged. BREACH OF PROBATION. “ He lias not been very satislactory. He has broken out at times, and has done considerable drinking,” said the probation officer (Mr J. Garbntt) in reference to Daniel John M'Jntyre, charged with being on licensed premises whilst prohibited, and also with committing a breach of Ids probation order. The defendant pleaded guilty to both charges. On the first charge he was convicted and discharged, and on the second no was admitted to probation for a further six months on condition that, he was prohibited, and did not associate with any persons not approved by the probation officer. SALE OF POISON'. Benjamin Smith Scofield was charged with selling poison in a vessel not labelled poison. Mr W. D. laylor prosecuted, and Mr Calvert appeared lor the defendant. Mr Taylor described the pills which had been sold, and said they were really compound tablets. He stated that the practice of selling these pills in tins fashion had been going on tor some years, and there was no suggestion that there was auv particular blame attached to Mr Scofield. The proceedings bad been brought on as a warning to chemists. 'The Magistrate stated that extreme care should be taken in branding any tablets containing poison, but there was no suggestion that the delcndaut had varied from the regular practice. MV Calvert, quoting, a medical opinion, stated that practically all prescriptions wore poisonous, but it they were marked poison they would not be taken. Remarking on the lact that the proceedings had been taken as a warning, the magistrate convicted the defendant, and fined him court costs (10s) and Crown solicitor's fee (£3 3s). Mr Taylor said that the Health Department would take the matter up according to His Worship s decision. THEFT OF MONEY. Norman Nesbit appeared on remand in answer to the charges ol stealing £2 in inunov, the property of W. B. Ponhcy, and with wilfully causing to be delivered to a public office tor the purpose ol being transmitted as. a telegraphic message a telegram which purported to be signed by W. B. Peuhov, and which was signed without the authority of Penhoy. ( Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared lor Inc accused, who pleaded guilty to both chjir (f os. Detect! vo-.sergeaut Nuttall said that on October ‘JI last a registered letter was posted to a man'named Peiihcy at tho Commercial Travellers’ Club. Accused, who was employed at Hie club, took delivery of the letter and signed for it. He took Die letter to Hie chib and extruded £‘J d the L'l. Later he sent a telegram to Hie sender that the money had been received? There was nothing previously known of tho accused. Mr Hanlon said the accused was about twenty years of age, and realised that in committing those offences bo had done wrong. Untortuimtely lie bad not had a great chance in life,' as lie came to New Zealand from South Africa, after his parents Imd died. He was taken care ol by a lady who found out his circumstances, and she spoke highly of him. While in her care lie had been a good bo>, and bad always behaved himself. He was not very strong mentally. Some eighteen months ago lie had had to undergo :i serious opcrulion, us lie luul contracted abscesses in the car, and they had to be removed through bis skull Since then he had never been the same. The lady was still willing to look after him, and his present employer was prepared to take him back. On tho first charge the accused was convicted and ordered to come up lor sentence if called upon within six months, and on the second he was admitted to probation for twelve months.

COLLISION ON SOUTHERN ROAD. Charged with negligently driving a motor car, John Frederick Nelson Rosenbrock pleaded not guilty, and "was defended by Mr A. C. Hanlon. Janies Cordon MJntosli, jnotor driver, staled that at about U-45 p.m. on December 'li he was driving a car from Brighton to Dunedin. At the bridge near Bush’s store, Burnside, he was driving on his correct side ot the road, when another car collided with him, striking his car on the righthand side. Witness’s lights were not dazzling, and there was a properlyformed road, with room for a corporation bus to go between the two cars. Thomas Dickson said he was standing at Rush’s store,_ when he heard a crash, and on going to the scene ol the smash lie saw the two cars interlocked. , , . Constable Hamilton said that when he arrived he saw M'lntosh’s car standin.r near the left footpath, and its tracks showed that it had been travelling the same distance from the kerhing. The other car was about 10yds a wav on the opposite side of the road on the north. The defendant' reluscd to make a statement, and witness was in doubt ns to whether ho should not lock him up for being drunk. He was under the influence of liquor. Later, on being advised to do so by another motorist, defendant made a statement. Defendant, in evidence, denied that he was under the influence of liquor. His wife’s sister and husband were with him, and the lady was in a delicate state of health. He was therefore takin" nil possible care in driving her. He had just passed a car_ in front of MTntosh’s. Ho was practically on his correct side of the road, though his rmht wheel may have been on the crown of the road. M'lntosh’s car was about 30ft behind the first car. All c;irs had their lights full on. M intosh was on his correct side, but ;was near the crown of the road. His car was struck on the right side, hut' no part of the front of his car was damaged. He received injuries to the face which bled freely. To Senior-sergeant Q.uartermain. witness said he had only three drinks before 6 o’clock. He refused to make a statement at first, because he did not think the man, who was not in uniform, was a,constable. William Fraser Mills, who was with the defendant, his brother-in-law, on

the night of the accident, said that as far as he knew defendant was not under the influence of liquor. He corroboiatccl defendant’s evidence regarding tne circumstances of the accident. senior sergeant witness said be did not smell any liquor on defendant. As Mr Hanlon wished to call another witness who was not in Dunedin, the case was adjourned till February o.