PAHIATUA

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 74, 22 February 1930, Page 4

PAHIATUA

MAGISTRATE’S COURT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) PAHIATUA, Feb. 20. Mr J. Miller, S.M., presided over the usual monthly sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Fahiatua to-day, when a small list of cases was dealt with. Leaving their motor cars stationary, at night, without lights cost Roy Smith, Victor J. Nicholson, Lloyd Pacoy and Ernest L. Wilson each 10s, together with Court costa 10s, while for a similar offence Colin H. McLaren was fined 10a, and costa 12s. Charles William Overend left a motor horse-float in Wakeman Street, Pahiatua, by night, without sufficient lights and ho was also fined 10s with court costs 10s. Bernard Cottier, late of Pahiatua, but now of New Plymouth, an ex-barman, was charged that on 26th November, 1929, at Pahiatua he was found without lawful excuse, but in circumstances that he did not disclose the commission of, or an intention to commit any other offence on the, property of Lawrence Transvaal Russell, of Wakeman Street, Pahiatua. He was represented by Mr S. K. Siddells who pleaded guilty on his behalf. Constable Burrell stated that on the date in question the defendant had been found by Mr Russell on the latter’s premises at midnight. When questioned, the defendant had stated that he had taken shelter from the rain. Mr Siddells, for the defendant, told the Court that on the night in question the accused had been celebrating and was the worse for liquor. When he was going home it was raining and he took shelter on Mr Russell’s verandah. The defendant wae very sorry about the whole matter and had come down from New Plymouth to apologise to Mr and Mrs Russell. In convicting and fining the defendant £5, with Court costs 15s, in default three weeks’ imprisonment in the Now Plymouth prison, the Magistrate stated that the defendant had run the risk of having his actions regarded as those of a “Peeping Tom,” in which cose tho penalty would have been much heavier. Judgment for the plaintiff by default was entered in tho following debt cases: — E. T. James and Son (Mr Adams) v. VV. J. Moore, £ll 8s 9d, costs £2 16s; R. A. Burke (Mr Smith) v. T. Henderson, £4 11s 9d, costs £1 6s 6d. Richard John Geango, of Pahiatua, farm hand, was charged that he did on the 29th January, 1930, assault one Charles Lassen, of Pahiatua. farmer, by striking him on the head with a stick. The defendant, who was represented by Mr H. R. Cooper, of Palmerston North pleaded not guilty, the informant’s! counsel being ijr G. H. Smith. In evidence, tho informant, Charles Lassen, stated that he lived in Mangatainoka and was a farmer, the defendant being his brother-in-law. The defendant, until, recently, had been in his employ and lived in one of his houses rent free. On 19th December, 1929, he dispensed with defendant’s services, allowing him, however to remain in the hotisc and also to have the milk from

two cows. On the night of 29th January, he rang up the defendant and told him he wa3 coming with one O’Brien to take tho cows. While he and O'Brien were driving the oowa the defendant approached in a bad temper and brandishing a stick. He did not feel the blow, but some time after he felt a bump over his left ear and was told by O’Brien that he had been struck and had fallen to the ground. To Mr Cooper, informant admitted that ho and defendant had got on very well during the 12 months the latter had been working for him. Informant had been to the races at Pahiatua on the afternoon of the 29th January where he may have had some trouble with his wife who was Lassen’s sister. He had had some drink, but was not drunk, although he had been told by one policeman not to drive his car. He denied being offensive and abusive to defendant. He did not 6ee Geange approach him, but O’Brien told him that defendant was coming towards him' with a stick. He then put his false teeth in his pocket, but did not turn round. He had made no attempt to strike Geange and was quite sober. Geange was not a quarrelsome man and he had always got on well with him.

Michael O’Brien, of Mangatainoka, corroborated She informant’s story, adding that he saw the blow struck, that it wae a severe one and knocked the informant to the ground. He had not interfered. In opening for defendant, Mr Cooper stated that there had been some family quarrel; that when not drinking the informant was a very good natured man but when in drink he was always looking fo: trouble. The defendant, on the other hand had a reputation for being good tomcred, and on the informant’s admission had always got on well with tho latter. Defendant, deposed that he had worked for informant for about 12 months, leaving his employ in December, but being allowed to stay in the house and have the milk from two oows. On the night of the assault informant had rung him and used abusive language. Later when he saw him with tho cows and asked for an explanation ho had met with more abuse and the informant had also attempted to strike him. As he dodged the blow he had knocked off Lassen’s hat with a stick he used to keep the dogs in order. He had no intention of striking the informant. There was no illwill between them. Constables Frederick Burrell and Charles William Gainey, of Pahiatua, gave evidence to seeing the informant, Lassen, at the Pahiatua races on 29th January when he was in an intoxicated condition though not sufficiently sO to be locked up. When sober, informant was a good natured man. Mrs Geange wife of the oirfendant, deposed to ringing the police when 6he saw Lassen attempt to strike her hsuband. She also stated that Lassen was using bad language. In convicting and ordering the defendant to pay costs IQs and solicitor’s fee £2 2s, the Magistrate said that ho was satisfied that informant had been quarrelsome and in drink, but that the defendant knew of Lassen’s, quarrelsome nature when not sober and had gone prepared for trouble. Last evening at about 9 o’clock a chara-

banc, which came from Dannevirke to Mangamutu for tho dairy factory dance, wus being driven into Pahiatua for some minor repairs. Mr J. Smith was at the wheel. As the bus was approaching the station bridge it collided with a black steer, which had wandered off the riverbank. The bus was badly damaged.i Fortunately, the bus, which was going at a 6low speed, did not capsize. The steer, however, was killed outright. Mr R. E. Patchett of Pahiatua, has been advised that he has passed the entrance examination for the Methodist ministry and now expects to enter the Theological College at Auckland at an early date. Mrs H. C. Marsh and Mrs H. T. Dawson are both Pahiatua visitors to Christchurch.