POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 20321, 1 November 1929, Page 11

POLICE COURT

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1. ''Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) MOTORISTS IN TROUBLE. “It was a race day, sir,” said Submspeccor Cummings, “ and Constable Cooper was on duty at Green Island near the junction. He saw the defendant pass several cars at a speed of # over thirty miles an hour.” These remarks referred to Reginald Paterson. who was lined 40s and costs for negligent driving. Richard Horne Templeton, who was accosted in the same neighbourhood, was similarly dealt with. Robert Leslie Proctor pleaded not guilty to a charge of negligently driving a motor car, Constable Cooper stating that on a race day the defendant had come out of a line of traffic which was travelling at a speed of twenty-five miles an hour. Defendant was travelling thirty miles an hour.—Defendant said he had misunderstood the constable’s signal. The car was not going too well that day. and he did not think it capable of doing thirty miles an hour,—Defendant was fined £2 and costs (10s). Being in charge of an unlighted motor cycle Donald Ivan George Reid was fined 20s and costs (10s). Reginald Keith Parry was fined 10s and costs for having an unlighted motor car. Charles Gustus Silver, who pleaded guilty to leaving a motor car unattended for longer than fifteen minutes, explained that he was a newcomer to the city, and did not know that there was a parking place near to where he had left bis car.—Ho was convicted and discharged. Leshe John Roberts was charged with having an unregistered motor cycle He was also charged with failing to insure the machine.—Sub-inspec-tor Cummings said that the machine was registered, but the driver had no license for the current year. The question of no insurance was involved in the other. On the charge of not insuring the motor cycle the defendant was fined £3 and costs. On the other charge he was convicted. Patrick Charles '“/ebb was fined 5s and costs for leaving a car unattended for longer than fifteen minutes. Charged with the dangerous driving of a motor car, Robert Johnston was fined 30s and costs (10s). NO SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY. Charged with failing, to close on Saturday half-holiday, John Glau was c ' n ed 40s and costs. INFORM*.TTON DISMISSED. The de'ondant very foolishly,” aid the Magistrate, when Wilfred Mbertson was charged with converting a bicycle to his own use on October 13. The defendant and complainant were both employed _ in a manufacturing house in ■ the city, and according to Chief-detective Cameron defendant had missed the last train to Port Chalmers and took the machine from the busi-

ness house, riding it to Port Chalmers. Ho did not return it until October 22, and then left it at the railway luggage office. When he went to get the machine he was intercepted by the police. Ho had given complainant no iniormation about having taken the machine. Mr W. L. Moore, who appeared for the defendant, said that the bicycle was used by quite a number in the factory,, and quite a number of hands used it. Had defendant told the owner i he had taken it there would have been no trouble. As the complainant had mentioned the loss, the defendant was afraid ho would get into trouble if he admitted using the machine, and he “dilly-dallied’* about returning it until he could do so without trouble. The Magistrate said defendant should have returned the machine in a. straight-forward manner. He would not enter a conviction, however, the information being dismissed on payment of court costs. KILLING IMPORTED GAME. Alexander M'Meeking pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing imported game—a Mallard drake—the Chief Detective stating that Detective Hart had been fishing at the Tomahawk Lagoon when he saw the defendant come along with a pea rifle and shoot a Mallard drake. Although the lagoon was not a sanctuary, shooting was not permitted there. The defendant had used a pea rifle, which was not permitted, and lie had obtained it from his brother, this being a breach of the Arms Act. Pointing out that had defendant been older a heavier fine would have been imposed, the Magistrate fined defendant £3 and costs (10s). LIQUOR WHILE PROHIBITED. William Henry, Ashby was charged with procuring liquor while prohibited. —Police evidence was to the effect that the defendant, who was found under the “influence,” said he had procured the liquor at the Wingatui racecoun e.—A hi i of 30s and costs wan imposed, in default three days’ imprisonment. Charged with assisting a prohibited person (the previous defendant) to procure liquor William Pearce said the defendant was in his house, tut he had had no liquoi there.—His Worship disbelieved this statement, and, remarking thi.t the offence was a serious one, fined the defendant £3, in default seven days’ imprisonment. Procuring liquor while prohibited resulted in John Francis Magneil being; fined 10s and costs. MILITARY OFFENDERS. Charged with failure to attend drill, William Richard Taylor was fined 20a and 12s costs. Charged with failing to return to the Defence Department military equipment delivered to his son, Walter Thomas Heller was ordered to pay the value (£1 3s 8d), costs 10s. BREAKING AND ENTERING. John Francis O’Keefe, alias Georg® Miller, alias John Kelly, was charged! with breaking and entering by day the house of Henry Young Blair on October 28 and stealing a torch, brooch, and other articles, of a total value of £2. Henry Young Blair said that on Saturday last his flat had been locked up, after which witness and his wife left for Invercargill. When he returned on October 29 he discovered a window pane broken, the house ransacked, and the goods (produced) had been stolen. Acting-detective . Jenvey said that when he arrived at complainant’s house h© found a window pare broken, andon stepnirg inside the kitchen he saw the aevsed i" the p-ssa' r e The ;'trer was arreted. and handed o-.er the articles (prod’- edl. He made a statement to the eff-'et that he was unemployed and had arrived from Auckland on October 26. On the mornirg of the offence ho was muddled through drink ard resorted to his old habits. The accused pleaded guilty and wa« committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.