MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Grey River Argus, 11 August 1931, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

j YESTERDAY’S CASES. ■ I (■ The weekly sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held yesterday, Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., presiding. Senior Sergeant C. E. Roach prosecuted. AFTER HOURS. Five statutory fii’st offenders found in licensed premises after hours were each convicted and ordered to pay 1 costs. Two second offenders were conj victed and fined £1 with costs. The licensee of the Recreation Hotel. I Mrs Charlotte Lewis (Mr M. B. James) was charged with exposing and selling | liquor after hours on July 24th. De- ! fendant pleaded guilty to the selling charge and the charge of exposing wag withdrawn. I The Senior Sergeant said .that Con- | stable Hay visited the hotel at 7.45 I p.m. on July 24th and found three I men in the hotel bar in possession of drinks. A fine .of £2 with costs 10/was entered. CYCLING WITHOUT LIGHTS. . • z 1 W. Braithwaite and C. Heaphy for , cycling without a light in Herbert St. I on the night of July 24th were each convicted and fined 5/- with costs . 11/3. WANDERING STOCK. 1 For allowing a cow to wander in El- ' don Lane, P. M. O ’Donnell was convicted and fined 10/- with costs £l/0/0. 1 W. Duffy for allowing a heifer to wan- • der at Marsden Road was similarly ! fined. Tinomas Smithers, allowing 3 cows to wander at Taylorville was-con- ; victed and fined 10/- with costs £1 ' 0/6. GUILTY OF INSULTING AND | ASSAULTING. Adam Pirie (Mr A. H. Paterson) 1 pleaded not guilty to charges of usi ing insulting words in a public place, ' main road, Blackball on August 3 and with a assaulting James Forshaw.

Inspector Fitzpatrick, who conduct ed the prosecution, said that the complainant was an employee of the Blackball Coal Coy., and defendant was a member of the Blackball Miners’ Union. It was not necessary to tell His Worship that a dispute existed at Blackball between the Miners’ Union and the Coal Coy. The facts of the case were very simple. Complainant! wa§ a night watchman at the Blackball mine. He left for his home at 11 o’clock, and when nearing home was accosted by defendant who it was alleged used the language to complainant and at the same grasped him by the shoulder and said “A. man should, hang for' a b like you.” He regretted that these cases should be coming before the Court repeatedly. One would think a better sense would appeal to the Blackball people to discontinue these practices. James Forshaw, night watchman for the Blackball Coal Company, said he met Adam Pirie on August 3, and Pirie said ‘‘You dirty greasy scabby b .” Pirie repeated this many times, until they got to the police station. Defendant then put his hand ou his shoulder and put himself in a fighting attitude, and said, “You dirty greasy scabby b—* —. A man ought to hang for you.” Witness told defendant to take his hand off fiis shoulder, and that he would tell the Sergeant next morning. Witness was a n undischarged patient of the Greymouth and Christchurch Hospitals. To Mr Paterson: It was about 11 o ’clock when he met Pirie. It was a very rough night. Pirie got as close as possible to witness and shouted out the words at him to make sure he would hear it. There was nobody on the street on the qight of August 3. He did not cry out for assistance. He did not think there was much use. Pirie was very aggressive. Witness had only told Pirie to take his hand off his shoulder.

Sergeant John Smyth said he interviewed Pirie on the day following. He procured a statement from defendant as to his movementg o n the previous night. Defendant said he regarded Forshaw. a s black as he still worked for the Blackball Coal Company. He denied the allegations and stated that he could not understand them being made against him. Witness said Pirie had looked for trouble at Blackball.

The Inspector said that under the section of the Act credible evidence given was sufficient to convict. That concluded the case for the prosecution.

Defendant in evidence said he was at the billiard room on the night of August 3. He saw a man ahead of him as he was coming home. Witness said goodnight and the other man replied “Goodnight,” and when witness saw who it was he said, “I am sorry I spoke to you.” He was amazed when the police spoke to him about the complaint which had been laid. To the Inspector: Complainant was a neighbour of witness and he was sorry for it as he had brought this unfounded charge against him. “Under the candle power light, you say you didn’t know’ Forsham.” asked the Inspector. Defendant: Yes.

“You were convicted for assaulting Levings in 1929 and also convicted for besetting Levings’ house'?” —Yes.

“You must know these acts won’t • rg the trouble to an end any soon-

“I stood up for my rights,” said defendant.

“You stand up to your rights and break laws.” Defendant: No. I don’t break laws, j I stand up as a good unionist. i The Magistrate said that the com1 plainant had given a very clear acj count of what "had happened on his ! 'return home from work on August 3- ; He was followed by the defendant and repeatedly addressed with insulting 1 words which he had mentioned. Pirie ! denies using these, words. Pirie admitted to the Sergeant that he re- ' garded Forshaw as black and a scab, I but denies using these words when in ! the street. The question was, whom was he to believe. Defendant’s reputation i dpi not recommend him any. The as-