COURT NEWS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2714, 23 June 1925, Page 5

COURT NEWS.

BY-LAWS BREACHES. A sitting’ of the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court was held yesterday, Mr. J. L. Stout. S.M...presiding. He was stated to have been riding a motor-cycle in a manner that might be dangerous to the public, and for this breach. Basil Martini was fined £1 and costs 7/-. A fine o£ 10/- and costs 7/- was imposed on Clarence Frederick Hancock for carrying a passenger on the rear of his motor-cycle. Bertram Spooner (Mr. McGregor) was arraigned on a charge that being a person who sold or disposed of a motor-cycle on May 2, he did fail to notify the deputy-Registrar. Also, that on May 3, he did use a motorcycle without it being registered. —A fine of 10/-, with costs, was imposed on each count. j Failure to keep on the correct side of the road while turning a car from the Square into Church street cost Wm. Dustin £1 and costs.. For riding bicycles at night without lights, Charles O’Connell, Alexander Henry Brace, Frederick George Jenkins and William Frederick Schlierike were each fined 10/- and costs. • Cl large of Speeding. Harold T. Peat was charged with driving a motor-car from Main street into Domain street at a greater speed than S miles per hour. F. A. Phelan, assistant Borough traffic inspector, said the car was a Ford, and was travelling at 20 miles an hour. It narrowly missed a collision. Defendant stated he had no recollection of the incident. Ho did not drive a Ford. The charge was dismissed. A Belated Excuse. Annie Clarke was charged that on April 20, at Palmerston North, being the licensee of the Commercial Hotel, she did sell liquor in such premises at a time when they were required by law to be closed; also, .that on the same day, she did ahow liquor to be consumed after hours.

Defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr. Cooper, while Senior-Sergeant O'Grady conducted the case for the police. Evidence was given by Sergeant Power and Constable Cole of a visit to the hotel at 7.20 p.m. on the date of the alleged offence. There were four men there drinking, and upon being asked whether they were boarders .they replied: "Not exactly, but we had dinner here.” The defence was that the four men wore invited to an evening at the hotel by defendant. The liquor was supplied to them as guests, and was a bona fide gift. The consumption of liquor applied to purchased liquor. All had sworn that no money was passed over in payment of the drinks. In summing up, Mr. Stout said that if the parties concerned had explained at the time of the arrival of the police that they, were guests, then the Court would bo justified in accepting the story. The story had been elaborated as to be almost unrecognisable, the original excuse offered being that the men had had dinner at the hotel. The Court must look with suspicion on a story that was not told to the police, but was later elaborated in Court. A fine of £lO and costs would bo imposed on the charge of selling, the count of consuming to be dismissed. In commenting on the recent remarks by Mr. Louis Cohen, of Wanganui, that a man was foolish to give any excuse when caught on licensed premises, the Magistrate said that it was wise to follow the course only if one were guilty. If one had a reasonable story to offer at the time, one should do so, instead of bringing it to Court later. Maintenance Cases. Virgil Edwards, of parts unknown, was ordered to pay 10/-, a week from February 10, and incidental expenses £2O, toward the maintenance of his child. Richard Millet was ordered to pay Elizabeth Mary Millet £4B arrears in his maintenance order, also £2 2/costs and £1 18/4 witnesses’ expenses, in default, 6 months’ hard labour.