MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 August 1936, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

TO-DAY’S GREYMOUTH CASES

Mr H. Morgan, S.M., presided ovet to-day’s sitting of the Magistrate s Court at Greymouth. Senior-Sergea E. Quayle represented the Three statutory first ,offen^rsfound on licensed premises after hours, were each fined £l. with 10/C °lohn Charles Kennedy was charged that on or about March 15, at Hohonn, on a reserve under the Sceneiy servation Act, 1908, he did cut and remove timber without the written consent of the Minister. Defendant pleaded guilty. A similar information was laid against Mervyn James Parish, who also pleaded guilty. The Senior-Sergeant said _ that complaints were received, and it was found that half an acre of bush had been interfered with over a period of 18 months. Parish, who was a stranger to the district, said that he was assisting Kennedy. Defendants admitted cutting only one tree, and denied responsibility for interfering with the other bush on the half-acre. The S.M. said that it was a serious offence, and that kind of thing would have to be stopped. Each defendant would be fined £3, with 10/- costs. For driving a car on July 11 without a driver’s license, Frederick Finn was fined 10/-, with 10/- costs.

GAOL FOR ASSAULT. Thomas Kerry, 42, coal miner, who appeared on remand, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Scott, his father-in-law, at Cobden, on August 7. He also pleaded guilty to trespassing in the house occupied by his wife, Mary Elizabeth Kerry, during the currency of a separation order, but pleaded not guilty to assaulting his wife. The Senidr-Sergeant stated that Mrs Kerry obtained a separation order, on May 18, but her husband persisted in visting the house where she was living with her father, John Scott. Kerry had been warned by the police, to keep away from his wife. He went to the house on Friday night, and assaulted his wife and father-in-law. A boarder, Frank William Price, interefered, and there was a fight.

Mrs Kerry gave evidence, but accused said that she was telling a lot of lies. Evidence was also given by Scott.

Accused admitted that he had threatened to murder his wife, nut said the threat was made in a fit of temper. The S.M. said he was satisfied that all the charges had been proved. Under the circumstances, it seemed to be a case for severe punishment, and accused could not be let off with a fine. He' would be sentenced to the maximum term of two months’ imprisonment, -with hard labour, on the charge of assaulting his wife; fined £l, in default seven days’ imprisonment, for assaulting Scott; and convicted and discharged for trespass. MOTORIST FINED. Harold Prescott pleaded not guilty to a charge of cutting the corner at the intersection of Mackay and Tainui Streets, while driving a car on July 29.

Constable MacDonald stated that, at 10.30 p.m., he saw defendant cut the corner. Prescott, w'hom witness knew by sight, was driving the car, which was numbered 7817. The car was travelling slowly, and the num-ber-plate was quite visible. Witness had' no doubt that defendant was the driver.

Constable Cogswell said that, some days later, he interviewed Prescott, who stated that he had been at the pictures. He admitted driving the car No. 7817, hut said that he turned into Albert Street, not Tainui Street. Defendant stated that he thought there had been a mistake in taking the number of the car. He was not at the Mackay-Tainui Street intersection at the time stated. He was in the pictures at 10.30 p.m., and could not have been at the intersection at the same time.

The S.M. said he was satisfied that the offence was committed. Defendant would be fined 15/-, with 10/- costs. Such offences would have to be stopped, and motorists must learn to take corners correctly.