MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1927, Page 4

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

GRKYAIOUTH. Nov. 22. At tin* .Magistrate's Court yesterday, Samuel Groom was charged with failure to report an accident that happened at M i tchi'll's on Oct. 23rd. wlierehv Mr Kim Williams was injured. Defendant pleaded not guilty lo-eau.-c Mr William; got up and said he was all right alter the accident. Witness therefore did not report the accident thinking it was too trivial. When Mr Williams got up and .said: “Get away, old sport! It’s all right!” witness naturally thought he was not hurt. A conviction was entered, costs 10s to he paid. For using set nets for whiteha.it in Grey mo u tli river, four defendants were each lined 20s and costs 12s.

For failing to notify the Deputy-Re-gistrar that his motor-cycle had lteeome useless and lmil been destroyed, an offender was fined 5s with costs 10s.

The Turiuhate Sawmill Co. Christchurch Road, was charged with employing a second-class engine driver, and Cornelius Joseph Daly was charged with driving an engine without a proper certificate. The Company was fined £2 with lls costs and £3 3s .solicitor's fee. Daly was lined 10s with 10s costs and £3 3s solicitor’s fee.

A plea of not guilty was entered l>v a young man. Archibald Chester, to a charge that, at Wallsond on November 11th. lie assaulted Elizabeth Shearer, aged 13 years. The girl's mother. Mrs Agnes Shearer, said that, between S p.m. and 0 p.m. at a dark place on the road, a man .stepped out from some trees at the side of the road, caught hold of the gill. and endeavoured to take her away. Witness struggled w ith him. and tried to get her daughter from him. hut, as he was too .strong, she called for help. The. man then put the child down, and went back among the trees. The man had a bottle in his pocket, and had been drinking, hut was not “staggering.” The S.M. said the offence was serious, and accused was liable to imprisonment not exceeding .six months. Had Mrs Shearer not been with her daughter. something more tserions would probably have happened. The ease could not ho met with a fine, and accused would he sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, with hard labour.