IN THE COURTS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11955, 27 May 1933, Page 7

IN THE COURTS

FALL IN THEATRE

WOMAN M ADE MISTAKE IN DOOR CLAIM FOR DAMAGES (Press Association) WE LLINGTON, A Lay 26. Claims totalling £823 Its were made by Samuel Thomas Jones, a furniture maker, and his wife, against Kemball Theatres Ltd., proprietors of the De Luxe Theatre, arising from an accident that occurred m that theatre on June 9 last year, when the woman through mistaking a door stepped into a darkened room where the flooi was 2-ft. 6in. below the passage level. Falling, she suffered concussion and scalp injuries. Air ' Justice MacGregor, in the Supreme Court yesterday, found that there had been no negligence on the part of tlie theatre proprietors or its servants. The woman, he said, had, unfortunately, gone beyond the door to which she was directed.

•GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR BIGAMY

ONE YEAR’S REFORMATIVE DETENTION

(Press Association) DUNEDIN, May 26

At the Supreme Court, Air Justice Kennedy sentenced Charles LeonardFisher, 34. to one year’s reformative detention for bigamy. Fisher served from the age of 15 in the British army in France, suffering wound and shellshock. During a nervous attack, he went to the local police, who were not suspicious, admitting bigamy.

SHOCKING STORY

MAN LIVED ON GIRL’S IMMORALITY

ASSOCIATION 'Villi CHINESE THREE -MONTHS’ GAOL Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 20. A case was heard yesterday in which Roy William Spencer, 34, was charged with permitting premises in th© city to be usod : for an undesirable purpose, and.also with being an idle and disorderly person hi that ho habitually consorted with) reputed prostitutes.

The court was cleared, but an application for the suppression of the witnesses’ names was rejected. After the evidence had been given, tho magistrate said lie would give a written judgment, and he delivered this to-day, finding tile accused guilty on both charges. The evidence showed, he said, that for a period of about- a month, tho acliused lived with a girl of 19, and dui-i ng that period habitually promoted her indiscriminate prostitution, chiefly with- Chinese, and lived on the earnings of her immorality. After leaving her, he got a younger sister to go and livo with him for some two months up to the time of his arrest. This girl, when called as a witness, proved hostile, and repudiated a lengthy and detailed statement she had made regarding her doings while under, the defendant’s control. The evidence of Chinese had been heard, however, and he,bad no doubt that she also was carrying on prostitution.

He sentenced the accused to three months’ gaol on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent.

THREE MONTHS FOR GAR CON- ’ VERSION = MAN LEAVES HOSPITAL FOR > GAOL ; Press Association! WELLINGTON, May ,26, , Samuel Henry Coley, . 18, a com- ; panion of Wilson in the car which was wrecked on the way to Palmerston , North, Wilson having been dealt with [ the other day was to-day .sentenced to three months for conversion of a- car belonging to A deD. Brandon. , Hie accused was discharged from hospital yesterday.

[ ALLEGED EOOKMAJUNG / ' f ANOTHER JURY DISAGREE AND NEW TRIAL ORDERED (Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, May 26. Anolhier disagreement ou a book-. 1 making charge way announced iu the Supreme Court 'in 'a series of charges resulting' from recent [police raids throughout Taranaki. Thu defendant was Doininik Sisadieh, rostaunmtenr, olf Stratford. Mr Justice Reed ordered a new trial. REFUSED TO GI VE YOUTH CIGARETTE GIRL KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS ASSAILANT REMANDED FOR SENTENCE (Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, May 26. A story of how she avas sitting in a park when she was accosted by a man and knocked unconscious, after her refusal to give Itf.m a cigarette, was told by .Thelma Storring, 17, m the. Supreme Court- to-day, when M illiam James Newman was charged with robbery with violence at Kanvaroa Park on the afternoon of February d, and also on alternative charges of stealing a handbag and its contents, valued at :C2, and assault. After tl:c incident, the girl said, she was unable to pick out from the police identification parade the mart who struck her, but the man in the dock was the one. Evidence was given that the aroused was seen in the locality at the piine of the alleged l assault. Accused, was (found guilty and remanded for sentence.