MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1938, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

GREYMOUTH SITTING,

GREYMOUTH, July 26. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr 11. Ferner, S.M., the business dealt with included : A GIRL ASSAULTED. Joseph Percival Wright, 33, single, pleaded guilty to assaulting a nine-years-old girl in a picturotheatre, at Greymouth, on Saturday. . Details of the assault were given by Detective-Sergeant H. E. Knight, who said that accused was a strangei to Greymouth,. and was employed-An n railway camp. Nothing previously was known-against him. : >' : * • On behalf of accused, Mr A. H. Paterson stressed the fact that Wrigfn was of weak mentality. He had been frank about the offence, when questioned and was sorry for bis action. He bad received a. fright, and Pad been in prison, ‘ and that, said Mr Paterson, would be sufficient deterrent. If probation could not be granted, Mr Paterson asked that the sentence be made as short as possible.

The S.M. said that interference with children, particularly girls, could not be tolerated. Accused was fortunate that he was not charged with an indictable offence. He would be sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, with hard labour.'

L . INSPECTOR IN COLLISION

On the information of Traffic Inspector R. P. Chibnall, Colin Robert Watson, was charged that, on May lb. near Murchison, he failed to keep Ills motor vehicle as Far as possible to tin left..

Inspector Chibnall said that while he was en route from lnangahua to Murchison, a collision occurred. Defendant came around an easy grade, in the centre of the road, and did not go over to his correct side until after he struck the rear of witness' car.

Defendant forwarded a letter, pleading guilty. He asked that the width of the road, and his unbroken driving record, be taken into consideration.

Inspector Chibnall said that the road was 14ft to loft wide.

The S.M. fined defendant £1 los with costs .

COMMON GAMING HOUSE. Charged with' using \the public library building at Wallsend as a common gaming-house, on July 23, Frederick Fletcher,- single, of Taylorville, pleaded guilty. • The S.M. pointed out that accused was liable to a fine of £IOO, or three months’ imprisonment. It v was ' a serious offence, but apparently accused had been betting only in a small way. He Avould be fined £lO, and would be allowed (.until next Frida} J'or payment. Colin McSporran, married- of Dobson, was similarly charged, and pleaded not- guilty. The S.M. fined accused £lO.

Accused asked what the option would be, and the S.M/ said that would be fixed later. McSporran would be allowed until next Friday for payment.

USE OF EXPLOSIVES. Characterised hv conflict of evidence, John Hepburn Jackson, farmer, of Jackson’s, Otira Line, was

charged that, on April 24 between Cass and Bealev, lie used explosive to catch fish in the Waimakariri River. A second charge was laid in respect to a similar offence alleged to have been committed on April 28. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Mr Mi B. James, of Hokitika. The prosecution was conducted by Detective-Sergeant M, K. Knight. Alter hearing evidence the S.M. said that he was satisfied, on the evidence relating to the two alleged occasions, taken together, that an offence was committed on the second occasion, but, as there was no evidence directly connecting accused on that occasion, he would not convict. He would convict on the first charge. The Detective-Sergeant said that nothing was previously known against accused/ Mr James pointed out that the costs would be heavy. Accused was a well-known resident, and this was the first occasion lie had been before the Court. The S.M. fined accused £lO, with 10s Court costs, and £3 18s 6d, witnesses’ expenses.