COURT NEWS.

Grey River Argus, 28 November 1927, Page 7

COURT NEWS.

RADIO OPERATOR’S OFFENCE. WELLINGTON, November 25. A wireless operator on the Norfolk was fined the minimum penalty oi £25, for failing- to declare a number of radio sets on the search list for the Customs Department, when the vessel arrived at Auckland. SALESMAN CHARGED WITH THEFT. WELLINGTON, November 25. Failure to account to Niinmo and Sons for £7 13s 6d, and three charges of theft involving £4, were admitted by Norman. Pringle Davidson, salesman, 23, who further admitted possession of an automatic pistol. He got two years’ reformative detention, the Magistrate deciding that, in face of his past history, lie needed a period of discipline. William J. Candy was fined £4 for selling bacon containing boric acid. CHARGE AGAINST COOK. PALMERSTON N., Nov. 23. Charged at the Police Court with indecently assaulting a boy, aged 7, Charles Wilmot Palmer, employed as a cook at a Feilding hotel, pleaded not guilty, and was committed, for trial. ' PATIENT’S CLAIM FOB INJURED FOOT. DUNEDIN, November 23. In the Supreme Court, Joan Catherine O’Connell sued Dr William Arthur Anderson and Elizabeth Thomson for £750 damages for alleged negligence in burning plaintiff’s foot with a hotwater bottle while she was under an anaesthetic in a private hospital at Queenstown. The action was against the doctor, who was the surgeon conducting the operation, and against the owner of the maternity hospital at which it was performed. Mr Justice Sim said it was clear that the hot-water bag when brought in must have been dangerously hot, but it was not brought in for immediate use. It was brought in case it should be required, and was placed in what appeared to be a place of safety on tre bed, at some distance from the patient, and under a sheet. He eould not say that the nurse ought to have anticipated when she put the bag there that the patient would move down the bed and that her fret would tome in contact with the battle. Judgment was given for defendants.

NEGLIGENT DRIVING. HAMILTON, Nov. 24. In the Supreme Court to-day, John Blair. 18, who was charged with negligently driving a ear and thereby causing the death of Walter Thornton Revnolds, and John Ward, was found guilty by ~the Jury. After a three hours’ retirement, the Jury made a recommendation for leniency on account of prisoner’s age, and sentence was postponed until Wednesday next. Mr Justice Herdman making no objection to accused’s release from custody till Wednesday on a bond of £lOO. CHARGED WITH ARSON. ASHBURTON, November 25. At Methven to-day, Hastings Irela ml, married, and Alexander' Thomson, single, both labourers, were jointly charged with breaking and entering W. C. Batterson’s premises on Friday, November 11th. Ireland was further charged with setting fire to the premises. Accused pleaded guilty, and were committed for sentence. Bail was not asked for. DR THACKER FINED. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov 24. Dr Thacker, a former Mayor of Christchurch, and ex-member of Parliament was to-day fined £1 and costs in the Magistrate’s Court, for causing obstruction to a tram. His car was' drawn up outside a hotel in Manchester Street, waiting for ladies to board it. A race tram earns along and there, was . not enough clearance if any at all, for the ear to pass. A policeman asked the chauffeur and Dr Thacker to move the ear, but the car was not moved. The constable’s evidence was that when he spoke to the chaufeur, Dr Thacker said : “Take your orders from me n.t from him.’’ The chaffeur did not. move the ear, and the constable said he believed Dr Thacker was trying to make a fool of him. The. obstruction was stated as 41 to 5J minutes. THEFT FROM MAIL BAG. HAMILTON, November 24. The missing mail bag case in which Harold Melville Taylor was charged with receiving two cheques known to have been amongst the contents of a mail bag, stolen from Frankton Railway Station on September 3, was continued at the Hamilton Supreme Court to-day. Taylor followed the evidence with keenest interest No evidence was called by the defence, and the Crown Counsel did not give a final address to the jury. His Honour’s summing up was against the prisoner. The jury, after an hour’s deliberation, brought in a verdict of guilty on both counts. Sentence was postponed till tb-morrow. PRISONERS SENTENCED. WELLINGTON, November 21. j Donald McLeod Wilson, 34, who pleaded guilty to the theft of £537 from Kirkcaldio am! Stains, came before Chief Justiet. Skerrett, at the Supreme Court, for s ntence. His Honour considered that prisoner had wantonly abused the consideration shown when he had taken money on J, a previous occasion, and been rein—- ! stated. His Honour impos’d four j years’ reformative detention.

Harrp Stephen Livcrsagc, who pleaded guilty, to the theft of £4804 from Joseph Nathan and Co, also came up for sentence. His Honour said that for seven years prisoner had been guil - ty of constant defalcations. The thefts wore systematic. He remarked that these offences were becoming far too common. Ho frankly told the prisoner that he did not believe his statement he began the speculations

to conceal the loss of certain sums. He sentenced him to prison and ordered him to be subject to i(‘formative treatment for a period not ■exceeding four years. Frederick Henry Bowlcy, -13, for breaking, entering ami theft, was or dered two years’ hard labour. Thomas Douglas Forsyth, 20, for a similar oil nee, three years at Borstal. EXPIRED IN GARDEN. GISBORNE, November 24. At the adjourned inquest on Airs Alary Jane Cameron, who expired suddenly in the garden of a friend’s house on the night of October 31, the analyst reported on the contents of the stomach, showing negative results. Tin coroner returned a verdict of death from natural causes, in accordance with the medical testimony. DRUNKEN DRIVER FINED. AUCKLAND, November 23. Raymond Emaneul, charged with being intoxicated while in charge of a motor car, was fined £5O by Air McKean, S.M., and his driver’s license .was suspended for 12 moiFhs.