MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17859, 3 August 1918, Page 12

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

CHRISTCHURCH. Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Donald Campbell and Arthur Sarchett wore each fined 10s and costs for having ridden bicycles on the footpath. William Francis Doublcday, who did not appear, was fined 40s and costs for having driven a motor-car over a crossing at excessive speed. Krnest De C. Drury, charged with having allowed a chimney to catch tire, was convicted and discharged. Alexander Mills was fined 5s and costs on each of two charges of having failed to send his children 'to school. Ernest Luxton (Mr Cassidy) pleaded guilty to charges that in September, 1917, at Wellington, he obtained from Florence May Paulsen two sums of £5 by means of valueless cheques; that in September, 1017, at Wellington, he obtained Is Cd by false pretences; that in October, 191*7, at Christchurch, he obtained from Samuel Jennings Allen* sums of £lO, £5, £3 and £5 by means of valueless cheques. Accused elected to be dealt with summarily. Evidence regarding the offences was given by Chief-Detective M'llveney. The ChiefDetective said 'that as far as ho knew there was nothing known against the accused. Tho offences had been committed within the space of one month, and after that the accused had gone straight again. Mr Cassidy said that the accused came of a good family, but had got into troublo through drink. He had borne a good character, and had lived honestly since his lapse. Mr Cassidy said that tho friends of the accused had wired £2O to help to refund the money. Ho thought that if accused were placed on probation _ he would soon refund tho remainder. Chief-Detective M'llveney said • that •the total amount to be refunded, including expenses, was £39 4s Bd. The Magistrate said he would convict the accused and place him on probation for eighteen months. Ho also ordered him to refund (the money within fourteen days.

James Wilson was proceeded against by his wife, Rhoda Wilson (Mr Malloy), on tho ground that ho had. molested her after an order of separation had been made. After lengthy evidence had been heard defendant waß convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, the Magistrate adding that if defendant molested his wife within the next six months he would be eent to prison for two years. John Burke, alias O'Brien, was charged with the theft of a ■ lady's coat, valued at £5, and also with the theft of a handbag, valued at £2. Accused pleaded not guilty to both charges. Evidence was given by Lily Inwoodj, owner of tho coat; Lionel Maurice Denton, salesman for Triggs and Denton, owners of the bag; Alice King, second-hand dealer, to whom accused had attempted to sell the goods; and by Detective Eade. Oliief-detec-tivo, M'llveney said accused had a very bad record. Accused was sentenced to six months on the first charge and to three months on the second, the sentences to be cumulative, and to be followed by three years' reformative treatment).

'Hie hearing was resumed of the adjourned case Lottie Woods v. A. R. Harris and Co., a claim for £66, the sum paid by plaintiff to defendant for an electrically-driven invalid's chair, which plaintiff alleged was not up to contract standard, while defendant put in a counter-claim for £34, the balance alleged to be due on the purchaso price of the chair. After hearing evidence the Magistrate reserved his detcision.

ASHBURTON. Mr H. A. Lloyd, J.P., and Mr J. B. Christian, J.P., presided at the Ashburton Magistrate's Court yesterday. John Doherty (Christchurch), John Doody (Whitcchffs) and George 11. Oakley (Riccarton) were each fined 20s and costs for exceeding the motor speed limit within the borough of Ashburton. On a similar charge A. L. C. Watkins

(Kaiapoi), who, it was alleged, was driving at thirty-five miles an hour, was fined 40s. Hi Whit© (Flemington) charged with exceeding the speed limit in the Tinwald Town Board district, proved to the satisfaction of the Bench that ho was not in Tinwald on the date mentioned, and the charge was dismissed. , , ' , Judgment was given for plaintiffs by default, with costs, in the following civil cases:—O. Russell Rendlo v. G. Sullivan (Tinwald), claim.£3 3s; Buxton and Thomas v. H. Sutherland (Ashburton), claim £1 14s; Lawrence King v. John Thomas Wotten (Pahiatua), claim 14s.