MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 174, 24 June 1936, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

BREACHES OF BY-LAWS. Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., presided over the sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston North on Monday. Charged with being found after hours dll the licensed premises of the Masonic Hotel on May 31, William Hall and Conrad Rock were each fined £2, with 10s costes. C. G. Purton pleaded guilty to a charge that, when driving a motor truck at Awahou on May 17. ho was involved in an accident involving injury to Zena Lankow, and did not report the same forthwith to the nearest police station. Defendant said the girl was a pillion rider on a motorcycle with which the truck came into collision. She injured her knee and he offered to take her to Palmerston North, but she declined assistance and proceeded home. A penalty of £l, with 19s costs, was inflicted. For cycling at night without lights 11. Collins (Feilding) and S. Rabbitts were each fined 10s. with 12s costs, while H. Nicol, N. G. Donaldson, H. Egdell, and G. Ewart were each fined I Os, with 10s costs. For failure to- have rear reflectors on their machines at night, Rabbitts. Donaldson, and L. Mandcrson were each fined ss, with 10s costs. L. 11. Steele was fined £2, with 10s costs, for employing a nineteen-year-old driver who did not hold a license to drive a public vehicle. C. Thomas, who pleaded guilty to a technical breach, was fined £2, with 10s costs, for carrying shavings along Main Street in a vehicle not so constructed as to prevent them from escaping from the receptacle. Sid AVilkinson, of Masterton, stated to lie £8 10s in arrears on a maintenance order, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, his release to ho conditional on the payment of arrears. The Magistrate said it was evident that defendant would not pay unless forced to do so.

Arthur Henry Bell, who was £3l in arrears of maintenance of his children, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, tho warrant to bo suspended so Jong as current maintenance and 10s a week off arrears are paid. CHARGE AGAINST MOTORIST.

John AVilliam Fitzgerald, a labourer, aged 32, of Rangiotu, appeared on a charge that, while in a state of intoxication, he was in charge of a car in Cuba Street on June 20. He was also charged with failure to possess a driver’s license. Mr T. M. N. Rodgers appeared for accused, who pleaded guilty to both charges. Senior-Sergeant Moriarty stated that at 10 p.m. on Saturday defendant collided with the hack of a- stationary lorry in Cuba Street. He went round to the police station to report the accident, was seen to bo under tho influence of liquor, and was locked lip. A doctor pronounced defendant to bo drunk.

Pleading for leniency for defendant. Mr Rodgers said the latter was not drunk in the ordinary sense of the word.

The Magistrate: But drunk within the meaning of the Act. Counsel said very slight damage was done in the collision, but defendant was under tho impression that he had to report the accident, and drove round to the police station, entering tho drive there without damaging the gate-posts. It was unfortunate for him that he went there.

Tho Magistrate: But it might have been to the advantage of the public.

Defendant, who was stated to be on subsidised labour, was fined £5, with £1 Is costs, in default one month’s imprisonment on the first charge, and 5s in respect of the second charge. An order was made that no driving license should be issued to defendant for a period of twelve months. CASE REMANDED. i Aged 19, and stated to be of no fixed abode, a Maori. Bill Wallace, appeared before Mr A. E. Ward, J.P., in tho Magistrate’s Court at Palmersston North yesterday on a charge of using obscene language at the Showgrounds on June 22. On the application of Senior-Sergeant Moriarty, accused was remanded to appear again on Thursday.