IN THE COURTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 December 1938, Page 2

IN THE COURTS

FATHER’S CRUELTY

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

HASTINGS, December 13

“There is no question that this is a hrulal way of treating a child of tender years. Even if she were disobedient, that is no excuse tor such brutal treatment,’’ said Mr. J. Miller, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court this morning, after hearing evidence in a case in which a Samoan, Ben Scott, described as a labourer, was charged with ill-treating his six-year-old daughter. The defendant was convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment.

The Magistrate also recommended that steps be taken to see that the child was taken away from her parents.

“I have prosecuted in cases where the punishment of a horse has not been any more severe than it was to this child,” commented Senior-Sergeant Sivyer, who conducted the case for the police. INTOXICATED DRIVER. PALMERSTON NORTH, December 13. Lewis Eric Colville, aged 23, was sentenced to 10 days’ imprisonment by Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., for being intoxicated in charge of a. car and his license was cancelled till May, 1940. Inspector Cummings said the accused's car mounted a footpath at 11.45 p.m. and travelled a distance of 40 feet, going through a strong fence and across a garden into a washhouse. It demolished one side of the washhouse and knocked the copper from the brickwork. The impact occurred four feet from a sleeping man, who received a great fright. The Magistrate commented that he did not. usually impose gaol for 'a first offence, but this case was different. The car’s course showed the extent of the accused’s intoxication. BOOKMAKERS FINED. 1 WELLINGTON, December 13. For carrying on business as bookmakers, Harry Powis, a fruiterei, aged 50, and Albert Edward Harris, aged 41’ at present of no occupation, were each fined £25 by Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court to-day. The police said Powis admitted being a bookmaker’s agent. PRISON ESCAPEE. WELLINGTON, December 14. Allan Roy Duff, 20, labourer, an escapee from Witako Prison, Trentham, appeared to-day, charged with the offence. The police were granted a remand till to-morrow, when, it was stated, a charge of breaking and entering and theft, in addition to one ot the unlawful conversion of a. car, would also be preferred. DUAL VOTING. NAPIER, December 14. Edward William Wellman, watersider, charged with dual voting at the last general elections, pleaded guilty in Court, this morning, and was committed to the next session of the Supreme Court at Napier, for sentence. Bail was allowed in £lOO self, and a surety of a similar amount. The police evidence showed that accused was intoxicated when he voted in the morning, and, when a car called at his house in the afternon, he went to another polling booth, with his wife, and voted. In a statement made to the police, accused denied knowledge of dual voting, saying that he had consumed a considerable amount of liquor, in the morning. BREAKING AND THEFT CHARGES WELLINGTON, December 14. Colin Douglas Mackenzie, 24, labourer, pleaded not guilty, in the Magistrate’s Court’s to two charges of breaking and entering and theft. Janet Binny, married, described how she returned home to find that the door had been forced open with a small axe or jemmy. About £lO in money was taken, and jewellery valued at £lB 12/6. The money and jewellery not recovered amounted to £2O 7/6. Connie Lannie, a boarder with Mrs. William Charles Crane, described how she returned home to find that the house had been entered.

Keith Crane gave similar evidence. About £94 10/6 worth, of jewellery, £3 16/- in money, a five-chambered revolver. and five rounds of ammunition, were stated by W. C. Crane, retired commercial traveller, to be missing. The value of the property not recovered was £59.

The evidence of various witnesses, including a pawnbroker, related to jewellery shown by or disposed of by accused, and the police also submitted the results of a search of accused, s room at an hotel, in his presence. Accused was committed for trial.