TO-DAY'S COURT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 22 July 1909, Page 7

TO-DAY'S COURT.

(Before Mr A. Greenfield, S.M.)

TRAVELLING WITHOUT A TICKET C. A. Hayward (Mr ODea) pleaded guilty to travelling on the train between, Hawera station and Normanby without a ticket. Counsel said he did not think defendant meant to evade payment of his fare. The defendant had travelled on the mail train, and tickets were not issued to Normanby from Hawera by the mail.

Sergeant Bernard said when defendant got off at Normanby he did not have a ticket. When asked for it by the stationmaster and guard the defendant replied, "To h with the ticket." There was too much of this sort of thing going on, and he would ask for a heavy penalty.

A fine of 5s with costs was imposed. A further charge against the defendant of committing an indecent act in a public place was then heard. Mr ODea appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Counsel pointed out that defendant was a laborer and bore a good record.

After hearing the evidence of both sides, his Worship said there was no doubt that defendant had committed the offence, but as it was not a bad case he would convict the defendant and discharge him. BREACH OF THE LICENSING ACT.

James Makin pleaded guilty to procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order.

The Magistrate observed that the defendant had been previously convicted for a like offence and fined 40s. It did not seem to stop defendant from doing that which was not right. Defendant: I am sorry for it.

The Magistrate: I shall fine you £3, in default one month's imprisonment.

The defendant was allowed a fortnight in which to pay the fine. BREACH OF THE POISONS ACT.

H. B. Williamson, chemist, was charged with committing breaches of the Poisons Act, 1908, in (1) that he did sell a poison, a bottle of tincture of opium, to a half-caste Chinaman at New Plymouth, and did fail to make a woner in the sale of poisons book; (2) that he did sell the poison without its being properly labelled with his name and address; (3) that he did sell the poison to a person unknown to him without such person being introduced by some person known to the seller.

Mr McCarthy, for the defendant, pleaded guilty. He would nH: his Worship to take into consideration the fact that defendant had pleaded guilty and that it was his first offence.

The Magistrate said he would fine the defendant £ 1 on the first information, and leave it to the police to say whether they would witbdraw the other two charges.

The Sergeant: I will be satisfied to withdraw the other t—- informations.