MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17327, 16 November 1916, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

CHRISTCHT/RCH. Mr W. W. Collins, J.R, and Mr W. H. Cooper, J.P., presiaea at yesterday's sitting of the Chris tchurcn Magistrate's Court. Alexander Martin, a second offender, pleaded guilty to drunkenness, and asked for a chance, adding that he would leave town immediately. He was fined ss, in default twenty-four hours imprisonmentJames Diggs, charged with being an idle and disorderly person, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, it being stated that the accused was leaving with the Twenty-third Reinforcements for camp that evening. . ;' Thomas Hampton Bennett pleaded guilty to cycling on a public footpath, and in.extenuation said that ho was rushing off to get a nurse! He jumped on his cycle and rode a, short way on the footpath from his home. The Bench said that under the circumstances the case would be dismissed.

Louis Bourgeois, who did not appear, was also charged with riding a cycle on a public footpath, and was fined <fi, with costs. Jack M. Halliday, who was similarly charged, was fined 10s with costs, as ho had .given a wrong address to the arresting' constable. Henry Hudson (Mr Malley) was charged with riding a cycle on the footpath. Defendant pleaded not guilty. The case was dismissed. ' James Munday, an apprentice, aged seventeen years, pleaded guilty to cycling on the footpath, and was ordered to pay costs. Charles Close, Edward Leatham, Ernest Hayman, Tom Cooper and John Robertson, cyclists who had erred in similar fashion, were fined 7s, with costs. Norman Robinson, charged with cycling niter sunset wjthout a light explained that " his lamp went out." He was ordered to pay costs. Lewis Rose was lined 7s with costs for a similar offence.' William Saunders, a motor-cyclist, pleaded guilty to a similar charge, and was fined 10s with costs. Albert Norman Anderson pleaded guilty to driving a motor-cycle at night without a tail-light, and was fined os with costs. Alicia Mary Candy, charged with allowing a horse to wander in the Riccarton Road, was fined 5s with costs. She appealed to the Bench to "let her off this time, as she had uever been before the Court before." Sub-Inspector Mullaney supported her appeal, and the Bench relented, and the defendant inw convicted and discharged. William Henry was convicted of allowing horses to stray, and was. fined 10s with costs.

Nelson Egan, charged with.. driving an unlicensed vehicle, was convicted and ordered to pay the costs. Edward Atherton de Houghton ,de Latour (Mr M. Donnelly) was charged with indecentlv assaulting a male at Ohristchurch on October 28 last. ChiefDetectivo Herbert prosecuted, and on bis application the Court was cleared while evidence was being taken. Tho hearing of the evidence occupied neatly five hours. Accused pleaded guilty and -was committed to the Supreme Court- for sentence. Chief-Detective Herbert said that there wore two more informations against the accused. He could not> taVo the responsibility of withdrawing such serious charges, and ho applied for an adjournment until the following day. The application was granted.