COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1928, Page 5

COURT NEWS

[ HABEAS CORPUS WRIT Granted to Chinese MIGRANTS SHU-ELD To WRONG . COUNTRY. Al the Supreme Court tins axternuon, Mr Justice Blair issued a writ oi habeas corpus in favour of three China' men, who alleged illegal uenniiuu on' the s.s. loseric, bex tiled al Auckland, i was the subject oi the application fur, such. The writ a.kged that the three- ! Cninamen were illegally detained on the ship, and that they had gone aboard at Shanghai, having m part paid for a passage to America. They had not signed any articles, out one had been pul to work as a fireman, and the others as deck-hands, and the,* had not been taken to America. They desired therefore to be immediately released and allowed to land at Auckland with a view lu returning to China.

His Honur said that if the t-hr< -* Chinese had signed on, it seemed they would have been bound to the articles by the mere fact that they were persuaded to accept employment. The Cvi deuce was confined to that of the Captain, who said they were signe < on, and the Chief Officer would be able to identfy the crew as he was handling them, and would have some idea as to whether the three Chinese wer e substituted. If the Captain or I First Officer had been able to say there had been any changes in the crew, | coupled with the fact that the crew ■ had been on the vesel, His Honour ' would have been justified in disregarding the evidence of the Chinese. The men were going to a lot of trouble to avoid being members of the crew. There was a possibility that there was truth in the story told by the Chinese, that they were induced by some nefarious means to join the vessel. The Captain and officers had dealt with the matter in a fair and judicial way. . No order was made for costs agams. the Master, as he had rightfully de fended the case for the ship. . The effect of the judgment is that a writ of habeas corpus will issue.

STOWAWAYS FINED £8-

SYDNEY, March 20. Seven stowaways were discovered on Board the Maunganui shortly after she left Auckland. Each was fined £B. military trainee charged WITH THEFT. AUCKLAND, March 20. When artillerymen were in eamp at Ngaruawahia, one of the .trainees was found to he missing from parade so a warrant was issued for his arrest. Two hours later the absent one was arrested bv military police on a charge of stealing forty-nine .303 calibre cartridges, two blankets, and a puggaree belonging to the Defence Department. Harold John Brown was the trainee’s name, and being handed over to the civil police, he appeared on a summons at the Police Court this morning, on the charge. Brown stated that he was supplied with ammunition while on picket duty and that he found the blankets in his tent and took charge of them. He had not tried to take them away. However, the sergeant-major pointed out that it was an artillery camp and that no hall cartridge was issued to anyone. Accused had been found with the gear in his kit bag. A fine of £2 was imposed.

GAOL AS A SANCTUARY. GISBORNE, March 20. Abdoolnabee Sultan Kn, who, because of .threats of Lascar shipmates on the Argyllshire, was brought ashore at Gisborne on March 10 for his own protection, was again before the Court this morning on the charge of assaulting Toherilla Annis Mahmad. The police intimated that they would offer no evidence. Abdool was then charged with landing in New Zealand without a permit, being an alien. Counsel explained that the man was brought ashore for his own safety. The other charge could not be proceeded with, as Abdool had been guilty of no offence, but was not entitled to be released, and the only thing was to keep him .there till the departure of the boat to Sydney, thence he could be sent to Rangoon. Although he had done no wrong, he would have to be kept in custody.

Accused was remanded for a month on the understanding that the charge would be withdrawn when the boat was available to convey him away. MILLINER ROBBED. WELLINGTON, March 20. Patrick Joseph O’Connor, alias Ryan, alias Murphy, labourer, 32, pleaded guilty before Mr Page at the Magis trate’s Court to-day to receiving ladies' coats and hats valued at £2l 10s, knowing them to be dishonestly obtained. The charge arose out of a burglary at a local milliner in February, 1927. Accused, who had a long list of previous convictions, was sentenced to 12 months ’ imprisonment. CAR THIEVES SENTENCED. AUCKLAND, March 20. Two young men, Frank Andrew Morgan and Henry Ernest Bond, to-day admitted converting to their own use five motor ears valued at £440. The police gave evidence that they were living together for six months, doing little work, but drinking and taking ears. Morgan was sentenced to three months, the maximum on each of five charges, concurrent, and Bond to one month. Morgan is already serving a term for a similar offence. SERIES OF THEFTS.

PALMERSTON NORTH, March 20. The Police Court this morning re-

sembled a jumble sale. Leonard George Colev, labourer. 31. Henry Coley cheesemaker. 27, were joimly parged furrier" Prdmerst on North and steal therefrom fur cents valued at £235; also breaking and entering the store of William George Benning at Ohau and stealing goods to the va ne of £25- also breaking and entering .the Ashhurst. Railway Station and stealing £1 Accused pleaded guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for

sentence. , , It is Stated that accused removed a car from a parking place in Palmerston North which they used in connection with the robberies. To the charge of breaking and entering the premises of Arthur Thomas Sommar at Hamilton, Leonard Geo. Coley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, eaneurrent with the one already being served.