GREY MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Grey River Argus, 20 October 1915, Page 3

GREY MAGISTRATE'S COURT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9th, 1915. '

(Before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M.) MAINTENANCE CASES. M. Phillips, secretary of the Grey Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, sued Robert Thompson for failing to contribute towards the support of his daughter, Mrs Isabella Schwass. %. Mr J. Hannan, for the plaintiff, stated that the defendant had brought his daughter from Nelson to Greymouth to keep house for him, but soon afterwards turned her out of his home and she became a recipient of £2 per month outdoor relief from the Board. The daughter, in giving evidence, said her husband was in gaol and she had three children to support. The defendant turned her out after she had stayed with him for three weeks. • To Mr Kitcliingham : She had worked five weeks during the last three months, earning 15s per week. Her eldest daughter was 17 years of age and earned 7s per week, having breakfast and tea at home. To Mr Hannan: She paid 9s per week rent. To His Worship : Her husband had been sentenced to a term of ten years. When in her trouble her father sent for her. He was the worse of drink when he turned her out. j Mr Kitohinghnm said the defendant-got a position for the eldest daughter in town, but she had "inflated notions" and would not stay there. Robert Thompson, defendant, employed in the Railway Workshops, Greymouth, said his daughter asked to be brouglit from Nelson and stated, if he (defendant) paid the expenses, she would keep house for him.. He got a place for the eldest daughter at domestic service at 9s per week, but she refused to stay there. Witness went home on the Saturday and asked for his dinner, but no dinner was ready and he was told to "go and get your dinner where you have been for the "last hour." Witness told her she could go if she pleased. He was quite willing to take her back. His Worship : I hope you will take he>back. The information is dismissed. Alexander Ma gee, of Kaitangata, on the information of the police, was charged with being £222 11s 7d in arrears in regard to an order for the maintenance of his six children. Sergeant Egan put in a statement of defendant's earnings. The defendant, who did not appear, sent a letter in September, enclosing £2, and saying the mine was not working — being shut down. He had been travelling up and down the country and could not pay. He asserted he was doing his best to pay off the arrears. Sergeant Egan said the children were committed from Greymouth to the Christchurch Industrial School. The defendant spent his earnings in drink and gambling. Convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment, warrant for arrest to be suspended as long as defendant pays 10s per week. The police applied for an order against Charles Hiley for the maintenance of his brother in "hospital at Auckland.—Adjourned for a week for further evidence. UNDEFENDED DEBT CASES. Judgment by default was given in favour of plaintiff for the amount claimed together with costs in each of the following undefended debt cases :— Wm. McKay and Son v. Thomas Lamberton, claim Ijs 2d, costs ss; Grey County Council v. \rthur Dunn, claim £8 9s 2d, costs £1 3s 6d • Grey County Council v. George Hahn, claim £6 7s Id, costs £1 3s 6dj Grey County Council v. Wm. A. Lindop, claim £13 16s Bd, costs £2 10s 6d; Grey County Council v. James Lawrence, claim £3 3s lid ,costs 10s; James Brown v. Stanley Dando. claim £2 Us Id, costs 10s; Church and Pethig v. Fred. Hobson, claim £38 \nVGMENT SUMMONSES. Applications for orders on judgment summonses were dealt with as follows:— F. W. Boyland (Mr Sargent) v. Hen-y Jones, iudgment debt £1 16s 9d. There was no "appearance of defendant, a single man, whose average earnings were stated .to be £3 3s per week.— Ordered to pay the amount of judgment debt withm one week, in default four days' imprisonment, order for imprisonment suspended so long Us debtor pays £1 per week. Greymouth Co-operative Society (Air Kitcliingham) v. Oswald Jackson. Air J. Hannan, for defendant, said the debtor held a receipt for £5 more than credited for. Defendant said his average earnings since the date of iudgment were £2 0s 4d per week. He had been disabled for six months with a broken leg, for which he o-ot £2 per week compensation. He was a nwried man with four children.— No order made. L. W. Balkind (Mr Sar?ent\ v. Thomas p one _ air ,ouQt of judgment debt £5 18s lOd, obtained 18 months ago.— Defendant stated his average earn in ss had not exceeded £2 8s per week since the date of iudgment. — No order made. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. A claim for £50 damages, arising out of a motor car collision yesterday morn ing was commenced, the plaintiff being William Blacktop, of Greymouth, wharf labourer (Mr. F. Kitchingham) and the defendants A. White and Kennedy iJros. driver and owners of the car in question,. Mr. J. Hannan appearing on behalf of the defendants. The date of the accident was last Easter," and the place Kumara Junction. The plaintiff stated he left a race train on the day in question and crossed to the Junction Hotel where he and his mate had a drink each. On returning to the train from the hotel the defendant said lie was struck by one of the lamps on the car which caught him in the "small of the back" and pushed him along a distance of about a car's, length the car going over him. He was taken to Kumara Hospital in .the car and was six weeks off work as a result of the collision. The case lasted till 5 p.m., and a deal of evidence was taken both for the plaintiff and tbe defence, when it was adjourned till Saturday next, owing to the Magistrate having to leave for Hokitika.