S.M. Court, Hastings.

Hastings Standard, Issue 93, 13 August 1896, Page 2

S.M. Court, Hastings.

At the S.M. Court this morning, bebore Messrs FitzKoy andßeilby, J'sP., the following cases were disposed of: — Edward Hill was charged with leaving his cart unchained and unattended in the public street. Defendent pleaded guilty and was fined 5s and 7s costs. John Whitehead was charged with boarding the train in motion at the Hastings railway station. Sergeant Mitchell presented a letter from defendent, in which he pleaded guilty, but stated that he had urgent business to leave the train and on his return he found the carriages in motion. Sergeant Mitchell believed this to be a truthful statement of the case. Fined 5s and costs 7s. Thomas Hoy was charged with, on the 6th of August, obstructing the thoroughfare by leaving his horse and cart unattended in Eastbourne street, Defendent pleaded guilty and was fined 5s and costs 7s. The same defendant was charged with, on the 6th August, driving a vehicle without lights after sundown. He pleaded guilty, and as this was an outcome of the previous case, the Bench decided to take a more lenient view of it than they otherwise would. Fined ss, and costs 7s. Frederick List was charged with being the owner of an unregistered dog. Sergeant Mitchell stated he had been told by defendant that the dog was destroyed yesterday. He pressed for the full penalty, as the animal had been a public nuisance and had bitten several persons. Fined 10s, and costs 7s. Charles Holes, charged with leaving his cart unattended unchained in East-bourne-street, pleaded guilty and was fined ss, and costs 7s. Tangata Hapoku was charged with assault on the person of Henry J. Gorman on July 24th. Mr Sheath, on behalf of defendant, applied for a fortnight's adjournment to allow him to communicate with some important Maori witnesses who lived at a distance. The assault was alleged to have been committed on July 24th, yet no action was taken in the matter until the 6th August. Mr Lewis, appearing for Mr Gorman, opposed the applicatian. He said there were several witnesses who could be brought into Court at a very short notice. The assault was committed on July 24th, but complainant did not intend to take proceedings until his father, Mr P. Gorman, received a letter from Tangata's solicitor demanding £lO, damages for injuries received at his (Mr P. Gorman's) hands, and in the event of noncompliance threatening immediate legal proceeding. He (Mr j Lewis) would agree to. a week's ad- i journment. The Bench adjourned the case until August 20th.