MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 98, 9 April 1934, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Cases Heard in Napier Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., presided at a sitting of the Magistrate’s Court in Napier to-day. Henry Jorgensen, a labourer, aged 76 years, appeared in anwer to a charge of being idle and disorderly. He was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if culled upon, a condition being that he remain in the Old People's Home in Macdonald street. A disturbance in Hastings street on March 10 last had its sequel in Court this morning, when Albeit. W. Pritchard and Eugene R. Clifford, both of Wairoa, were charged with behaving in a diorderly manner. They were convicted and each fined £l, with costs 10/-. A fine of 10/-, with costs 10/-, was imposed upon Peter McCrombie, who was convicted on a charge of driving a car at night without headlights. A similar penalty was imposed upon him for driving the car without being the holder of a driver’s license. Fines of £l, with costs 10/-. wore imposed unon the following for being on licensed premises during closing hours:— William Henty Weeks, Arno Angen and Frederick Quinn. The last-named was also fined £l, with costs £ll2/-for procuring liquor while prohibited. Charles C. Riddell was fined £2 with costs 10/-, for being on licensed premises after hours.

Thomas Alexander Heath, licensee of the Provincial Hotel, was convicted and fined £l, with costs 10/-, for selling liquor after hours. He was represented by Mr T. H. Gifford, who said that the present offence was the defendant’s only one during his 18 years as licensee of the hiotel. For riding a bicycle on the footpath in Waghorne street, Henry C Eyles was convicted and fined 10/-, with costs 10/-. On a charge of failing to pay moneys under a maintenance order in respect of his child, Janies Kyle was convicted and sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE CHARGE. A charge of attempting to commit suicide at Port Ahuriri yesterday morning was brought against Agatha Codigan, aged 50 years, a domestic. On her plea of not guilty, she was remanded for one week. Sergeant J. W. Claasen told the Magistrate that the accused had been discharged from prison recently, since when she had been unable to get work. Yesterday morning she had divested herself of most of her clothing and had jumped into the Iron Pot. She had been addicted to drinking methylated spirits When asked whether she _ pleaded guilty, Cadigan replied: “I didn’t intend to commit suicide. It may have been a foolish action on my part.” A further charge of being idle and disorderly was brought against Cadigan. She was also remanded on this count.

Sunday Trading. Disregard for the laws governing Sunday trading resulted in seven shopkeepers being charged. Each was fined 10/-, with costs 10/-. The defendant’s names were as fol-low-.—Sarah Helen Codd, Colenso Avenue; George Smith, Vigor Brown street; Ellen Elizabeth Gannaway, Hastings street; Ellen Elsie Bullivant. Hastings street; Eliza Edlin, Napier Terrace; Ivy Thurston, Napier Terrace; Lillian Alice Hilton, Carlyle street. “RELENTLESS WIFE-BEATER.” “He is a ferocious fellow in drink and a relentless wife-beater.” This was the description given by Sergeant J. W. Claasen of Charles Robert Le Geyt, a wharf labourer, of Westshore, aged 36 years, who appeared in answer to two charges, one of assaulting Mary Ann Le Geyt, and the other of using indecent language in a public place. On the charge of assault he was convicted and fined £6, with costs 5/6. “The next time you will go to gaol, warned the Magistrate, Mr. E. L. Walton, He was also convicted on the second count and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months. Conducting the case for the police, Sergeant. Claasen said that Le Geyt was well known to the police. “He is a ferocious fellow in drink and is a relentless wile-beater,” he said. As a result of his violent ways there was not a pane of glass left in his house in James street. On Saturday night last he stayed some tune on the beach at Westshore. His wife came along to tell him to go home. He went home and began to beat his wile. A constable happened to be nearby at the time and he interfered. “This man’s offences have mostly been the result of too much liquor, ’ went on the sergeant. “His wife is in no condition to defend herself against his brutal attacks. 1 suggest that the penalty be a restrictive one. A prohibition order would, I think, be of little use.” Asked what he had to say, Le Geyt said: ‘‘lt was only a family squabble. There are two sides to it, but 1 don't want to bring it up in Court.” On accused’s pleas of guilty, convictions were entered.