POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 20943, 6 November 1931, Page 11

POLICE COURT

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) PROBATION CASE. In the case of William Nelson Hackle, charged with a broach of his probation order, an adjournment sine die was granted on condition that the defendant, who has gone to the country, remains there with his relatives. THREE MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT. Michael Burke appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing £2, the property of Thomas Francis. Detective-sergeant Nuttall said that the accused’s breach of probation had really been committed in Masterton. Ho had since been on remand. There was a further series _ of burglaries—eight in all—with which he would be faced, and ho would eventually have to go to , the North Island. The sum'of about £lO4 was involved. The accused had had four previous convictions. Jiurke was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. LICENSING BREACH. A conviction only was entered against Robert Prydo Turnbull, charged with procuring liquor while prohibited. MISSING TURNSTILE. James John Robert Jordan was charged with stealing a ■ turnstile, valued at £3, the property of the City Corporation. Sergeant Boulton said that the accused, an employee of the corporation, lived near the Ross Creek Reservoir. The turnstile had been removed from its usual place in order, to allow some carting to.ho done, and for some time it had been loft down near tho river. The accused, who lived close by, saw it and decided to take it away. He dismantled tho turnstile, and used some of tho timber for firewood. When first approached he denied all knowledge of the matter, but later made a clean breast of it to him (Sergeant Boulton). Tho accused was a hard-working married man. ~,,,, , The accused was admitted to probation for six months, restitution to tho amount of £3 to be made. , OFFENDING MOTORISTS. “It is most important that accidents where an injury is caused should bo reported at once,” stated the magistrate as he fined Leonard Alexander Alfred Mason £5 and_ costs for failing to report a motor accident. For failin" to stop at tho signal ot a constable," Walter Booth was lined 20s and costs. . Charged with being an unlicensed driver. "Alexander Leslie Campbell was fined os and costs. On a similar chaigo Herbert Irvins was fined 15s and costs, and Thomas Nicholas Mooney 25s and costs. Moonev was convicted on a charge of having an umlighted motor cycle. „ . An unligbted ear cost 1-oify Sargent 5s and eji.s.

For leaving his car on the wrong side of the street, John Hugh Gourlay was lined 5s and costs Ashton 3’age was fined court costs (10s) for being an unlicensed motor driver, and Arthur David Thomson was fined 20a and cods for permitting the car to be used. . . • Charged with riding an unlighted motor cycle, Thomas Frederick Hunt was fined 10s and costs. For passing a vehicle at an intersection, James William Smeaton was fined los and costs •* UNFAIR COMPETITION.” “ It’s unfair competition when tobacconists arc required to close at a particular hour, and other’s keep open and sell cigarettes and tobacco in competition with them,” said the Magistrate, when L. B. Duncan, charged with failing to notify tho inspector of factories that smoking requisites were sold in his shop, with failing to close his shop at 1 p.m., _ and with failing to observe tobacconists’ hours, pleaded guilty. . . The Inspector of Factories sard tnat regular tobacconists were “ out against these pirates.” On the first charge defendant was fined £7 10s and costs, and on the other charges convictions were entered, HELPING WITH THE RENT. When George Tomkins pleaded guilty to failing to inform tho inspector of factories that tobacco was sold in his shop, with failing to close his shop at I p.m , and with not observing tobacconists’ hours, the Inspector of Factories said that the defendant said he had to keep tobacco to help to pay the rent of his shop. He was only in a small way. On the first charge defendant was fined 40s and costs, and he was convicted on the other charges. UNEMPLOYMENT TAX.. Thomas Fletcher and George Henry Maxwell were each fined 20s and costs for failing to pay tho unemployment tax. CASE DISMISSED. Herbert Wilson Hears pleaded not guilty to operating a motor truck which was in such .a condition as to cause injury or damage to any person on the public road. • Detective Taylor said that on October 3 last he inspected tho motor lorry at the rear of the police station, the lorry having been in an accident on the same date. He inspected the cab, and on the right-hand side of the windscreen was an angle composed of woodwork, which constituted a “ blind spot.” This “ blind spot ” would blot out the roadway slightly to the right of the driver, and as tho'distanco increased the angle would increase with it. Outside this aperture was a rear-vision mirror which would have the effect of obscuring the roadway in front to a certain extent. Taking everything into consideration, ho thought a lorry fitted with a cab of this nature so obscured the vision of the driver that it became a menace. Sergeant Wade gave evidence on similar lines, and read the defendant’s statement. In his statement the latter said that he was driving at from five to six miles an hour at the time. When approaching the intersection lie held out bis right band to indicate that ho was turning, and also blew his horn. Ho pulled up within 3ft, and was certain that tho wheel did not pass over tlie woman, who had met with fatal injuries. Counsel for tho defendant submitted that there was no case to answer under the regulations, as there had been no alteration in construction since the lorry was licensed five years ago. The motor lorry apparently must have complied with tho conditions laid down by the regulations, or tho license would not have been issued. . Tho Magistrate said that lip had inspected tho lorry, and his opinion was that the cab was a bad one tor a driver. That point was not the one to bo considered, however. He had expressed the opinion previously that there should bo an examination ot motor vo bid os before the licenses were issued, but as the license bad been issued in the present instance bo was unable to see that there had been a breach of tho regulation. Tho information was dismissed. AFFILIATION CASE. The hearing was continued of tho case in which Allan Eliott was proceeded against on complaints for affiliation and maintenance orders, and evidence was heard for the defence. (Proceeding.)