POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 20981, 21 December 1931, Page 1

POLICE COURT

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.). - DRUNKENNESS. A first offender was convicted and discharged REHEARING GRANTED. A rehearing was granted in the case in which John Sims was charged with cowing a motor cycle without having the assigned number plates. Defendant said he had the cycle for only half an hour, and was trying it one for a friend. He was convicted without penalty. OBSCENE LANGUAGE. William Henry Lancaster pleaded guilty to a charge of using obscene language within hearing of persons in a public place. Senior Sergeant Cameron said that at 11.30 on Saturday night Constable Ogilvie was called to a house in Hanover street, where the defendant was in a room adjacent to the street. Obscene expressions were being used by the defendant, whose wife called the constable. The defendant was a porter, and when he got drunk he made a nuisance of himself. There were quite a number of people passing along Hanover street on their way home. The defendant said the trouble was caused by the boys coming home late. When he remonstrated with one of them, his wife and the two boys assaulted him with brooms. His Worship said he had some hesitation in not sending the defendant to prison for the language used. However, he would adopt the course of convicting him and ordering him to come up for sentence if called on within twelve months. “ I WAS TOO FOND OF PLEASURE.” “ She is going down the hill fast,” said Senior Sergeant Cameron ofi a young girl charged with being idle and disorderly in that she had insufficient lawful means of support. She was twenty years of age. For the past three weeks she had been sleeping in the lupins. Some time ago it had been suggested that the girl should enter the Salvation Army Home, but she refused.

The'Magistrate: Why didn’t you go? The Accused. I was too fond of pleasure,. and wouldn’t have got it there. Senior-sergeant Cameron said that she now agreed to enter the home. A solicitor in court mentioned that tho girl was concerned in a breach of promise action that had not been heard. The Magistrate said that be did not wish- to enter a conviction. The case would be adjourned for twelve months conditional upon the girl entering the home. ’ •, - V ■

Heh name was suppressed. ,v TWELVE MONTHS’ PROBATION. u You are not much of an asset to the country,”- said the magistrate to Leslie Thomas Reeves, who pleaded guilty to charges of the theft of two singlets and a shirt valued at 18s 6d, the property of Thomas Edward MHnnes, and 7s in money, the property of Rhoda Sophia June. Detective-sergeant Nuttall told the court that Reeves came out from England as a farm boy some five years ago, and bad been employed in the Otago district. After these thefts in Dunedin he was traced to Middlemarch. Ho apparently needed the money to pay his fare there. Asked by the magistrate why he left one man’s employment, the accused replied: “I got the sack there lor not getting up early enough.” Reeves was admitted to probation for a period of twelve months. His wages and employment to be under the supervision ,of the probation officer. He was also ordered to return the goods and make restitution of the money. ■ THREE CHARGES. Leonard Cecil Thompson pleaded guilty to charges of driving a motor cycle without having a license to do so; with using obscene language: and with being intoxicated while in charge of a motor cycle. Senior-sergeant Cameron said that at five minutes to 6 on October 5 the defendant was seen by a man to be in difficulties with a motor .cycle at the Caversbam tram terminus. The man saw that the defendant was intoxicated, and offered to drive him home. The defendant became abusive, and used obscene language to the man, , who told him that'if he attempted to ride the cycle he would inform the police. However, the defendant got on to the machine, and rode to the Waterloo Hotel, where lie had borrowed it from a man. The defendant had, until recently, been working at the hydro works at Waitaki. Counsel for the defendant said his client was twenty-seven years of age. He had taken out a license regularly till last year, when he disposed of his own motor cycle. He was going back to Waitaki on the following day, and unfortunately had a few drinks. He came from very respectable people, who were anxious that he should take out a prohibition order. He had now lost his employment. . . The defendant took out a prohibition order, nad on tho charge of using obscene language he was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence at any time if called on within twelve months; on the charge of being intoxicated while in charge of the vehicle he was fined £lO and costs, and was prohibited from driving for twelve months; on the other charge he was convicted. MAINTENANCE. John Morrison Clark asked for a reduction of the maintenance order against him in favour of his wife. After hearing tho evidence the magistrate reduced the order to 10s per week, the arrears over £5 being remitted. Andrew John M'Cutcheon was proceeded against by his wife, who sought maintenance for herself and child. After the complainant’s evidence had been heard an or#er was made fixing maintenance £2 a week with past maintenance £3. . .

James M'Kerrow sought a variation in a maintenance order in respect to his wife. After the applicant had given evidence as to his earnings the magistrate said that in a case where there were three. young children he would not vary the order, which must stand, but the arrears to date would be remitted. Waiter Neilson was proceeded against by his wife, who sought separation, maintenance and guardianship orders

on the ground of wilful failure tol maintain. _ Complainant gave evidence as to periods of separation from her; husband, who had paid nothing towards her maintenance or that of. the child! of the marriage. To counsel for the defendant complainant admitted thati she had had two illegitimate children, but her friendship tor men was not' the cause of breaking up the Defendant, in evidence, said he hadi a home to which the child could go.He had been out of work for some months, but recently had secured tern-' porary work at £2 a week. His Worship said that in the meantime tbs' case would be formally adjourned l till? January 25 to enable a report to be received from the Child Welfare Department as to the conditions under, which the child was living. The defendant agreed to pay 12s 6d a week! till then. The application for separation was withdrawn.