MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1932, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

GREYMOUTH, January 19. At tiie Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Mr J. G. D. Hewitt, S.M. presided : , UNLICENSED DRIVER. Harold Henry Robinson was charged with aiding and abetting William Alexander O’Keefe in driving a motorcar along Mawhera Quay, on or about November 22, O’Keefe not being the holder of a driver’s license. Mr A. H. Paterson appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Mr Paterson raised the objection, that the charge could not succeed, until there had been a conviction against O’Keefe. The latter had not yet been before the Court.

In a statement to the police, defendant said that lie was under the impression that O’Keefe had a license, when he lent O’Keefe his car. The S.M. said that Robinson had been pretty severe, \y punished, as O’Keefe had smashed up his ear. The information was dismissed. REFORMATIVE DETENTION.

Appearing on remand, Walter Henry Mulroy, 27, was charged that, at Greymouth on December 28, he converted to his own use unlawfully and without colour of right, hut not so as to be guilty of theit within the meaning of the Crimes Act, a bicycle, valued at £4, the property* of some person unknown; also that he wilfully damaged two bicycle tubes and tyres, valued at 30/-, the property of some person unknown. Mulroy, was also charged that, at Greymouth, on or about November 18, he stole a pair of shoes, valued at 15/-, the property of William Barrow; and* that, at Greymouth, on or about December 23, lie stole a navy blue coat and a pair of trousers, valued at £2 10/-, the property of William Barrow. Accused pleaded liuilt.v to all charges, and elected to be dealt with summarily.

The Senior-Sergeant handed in accused’s list of previous convictions, and stated that his whole conduct for years past had displayed abnormal weakness.

The S.M. sentenced Mulroy to one year’s reformative detention.

STOLEN SUITCASE. The disappearance of a suitcase from a carrier’s lorry at Westport, on January 14, resulted in the arrest of Albert James Watson, 33, at Aliaura cm Saturday. He pleaded gulty to the charge of stealing the suitcase and contents, valued at £2O, the property of M. A. Graves, and said that drink was his trouble.

Accused was fined £5, in default one month’s imprisonment.

OBSCENE LANGUAGE

Robert McLngan was charged with using obscene language in Hart Street, Blackball, on December 24. He pleaded not- guilty. ' i " Constable Conway stated that at 5.45 p.m., he saw defendant come- from Dowling’s Hotel, head first, closeh followed by Austin Dowling, son of the licensee. It looked as though McLngan had been thrown out. He picked himself up, and then made use of obscene language. McLngan was fairly well under the influence of liquor. There were a number of women on the street when the language was used. Had McLaglan been sober, lie would not have gone to that hotel, as he was the wrong “colour” to be served there.

“Oh well,” said the S.M., “I will fine him £2, and that is much lower than T usually fine for obscene language. I will take into consideration the fact that- defendant was annoyed at being thrown out of the hotel.” Defendant w-as allowed seven dft-vs for payment. LICENSING ACT.

The licensee, of the Union Hotel). John Harwell, was charged that, on December 12, lie unlawfully opened his premises for the sale of liquor, and exposed liquor for sale. The barman, Joseph Patrick Low, was charged with unlawfully exposing liquor for sale. Mr J. W. Hannan, for defendants’ pleaded guilty on behalf of Low, and guilty to the charge of exposing liquor for sale, on behalf of Harwell. The barman was fined £l, with 10/costs, and the licensee was fined £2, with costs. The charge of opening the premises for the sale of liquor was withdrawn.

Charged with being unlawfully on the premises of the Club Hotel, Blackball, on December 24, Adam Pirrie pleaded not guilty, and denied Constable Conway’s positive statement that he (Pirrie) was on the premises. Called by defendant, the licensee, George William Drausfield, stated that he did not see Pirrie on the premises after 5.30 p.m. Witness admitted that he called the constable a “mongrel,” and explained the remark by saying tha.t, on a- previous occasion, the police opened the door of Mrs Dransfield’s bedroom, and alleged there was a man in the room.

Tile licensee, Dransfield, was charged that, on December 24, he unlawfully opened his premises for the sale of liquor. He pleaded not guilty. Constable Conway stated that when lie visited the hoted at 9.15 p.m., he saw a "moving mass of stampeding men.” When admitted,, after some delay, lie found signs of after-hour trading. Pirrie was on the premises, and left when asked by the licensee what he was doing there.

The evidence ‘of John Tiil/y and Adam Pirrie was called by Dransfield, who did not give evidence himself. The S.M. said he was satisfied that a conviction should he recorded against the licensee. He imposed a fine of £3, with costs. If defendant wished, however, the fine could be increased to £5 1/-, in order that an appeal could be made against the conviction. Dransfield: I don’t intend to pay th 0 fine. I will take it out !

The S.M.: That is your own affair. On second thoughts, Dransfield agreed that the fine should be increased to £5 1/-, to allow an appeal to be made. Pirrie was fined £2, with 10/- costs, as a third offender. FIGHT AT BLACKBALL. James Dunn pleaded not guilty to a charge that he fought with James Edward Gibson and Albert Myles in Hilton Street Blackball on the night of December 26th, 1931. Myles and Gibson, who were represented by Mr J. W. Hannan, were each charged with fighting with Dunn, who was further charged with using obscene language. The defendant, Dunn, was not represented by counsel. All of the defendants pleaded not guilty. The Magistrate said there was uo doubt about the fact that Dunn was the aggressor. “You cannot give a general license 'for free flights. I admit Dunn was the aggressor. ' Gibson might have got away without causing any trouble. T can’t see how I can give licenses to fight. Myles is fined 10s, Gibson £l, and. Dunn 10s on each of the fighting charges and £2 for using obscene language.” Dunn’s default was fixed at 21 days’ imprisonment. COBDEN TRAFFIC' BREACHES.

Herbert McGlashan, bus proprieitor, was charged that on December 3rd he drove a motor vehicle along Bright Street, Cobden, at such a speed and in such a manner as, having regard to all the circumstances of the case might have been dangerous to the public. The Magistrate said that McGlashaD had been u the wrong, but there' had been no very great offence as he wa* not traveling fast. McGashan was fined 16 s with £1 fix costs. Witnesses’ expenses were not claimed.