Magistrate’s Court

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 17, 21 January 1941, Page 7

Magistrate’s Court

RESUMPTION OF SITTINGS At the sitting of the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., was on the Bench. A large number of cases was dealt with, mostly involving breaches of the Licensing Act. Two men, who were found on licensed premises after hours, made a voluntary appearance, were convicted and lined £1 each plus 3s costs. Twenty men were charged with being found on licensed premises, the Imperial Hotel, after hours on the evening of December 24. The police evidence was to the effect that the men charged were all first offenders and that thero was no sign of drunkenness in the bar. Each offender was convicted and fined £1 and costs according to scale. G. 11. V. Simpson, licensee of the Imperial Hotel, through his solicitor, Mr. A. M. Ungley, pleaded guilty to selling liquor after hours and for exposing and opening for sale on the night of Christmas Eve. He was convicted and fined £lO and costs. A. F. Wesche, barman-porter, T. Hurley, barman, and C. W. liobman, assistant barman, of the Imperial Hotel, wore all charged with supplying liquor after hours on December 24. Each was convicted and fined £2 and costs. Another man was convicted and fiued £1 and 11s costs for being found on licensed premises, the Grand Hofei, after hours. Two more offenders, through their solicitor, pleaded guilty to a charge of being found ou licensed premises, the Midland Hotel, after hours. Each was lined 30s plus costs. L. M. O 'Shea, licensee of the Midland Hotel, through his solicitor, Mr. Martyn Abraham, pleaded guilty to selling liquor after hours, and he was convicted and fined £3 plus costs. Still another offender was convicted

and fined £1 10s and costs for being found in the Grand Hotel after hours. A. D. Jury, assistant barman at the Grand, for supplying liquor, was convicted and fined £2 and costs. J. F. Hoare (Mr. J. A. Grant), licensee of the Grand Hotel, ploadcd guilty to a charge of exposing liquor for sale and was convicted and lined £3 and costs. Charlotte Connor forwarded a letter pleading guilty to a charge of using her premises in 253 Main Street as a common gaming house. Detective-Sergeant A. B. Meiklejohn stated that defendant admitted acting as an agent ou commission. She was convicted and fined £25 plus costs. For riding an unlighted bicycle after dark K. T. Leys, who did not appear, was convicted and fined £1 and costs. 11. S. Anderson, charged with crossing the railway line when a train was approaching, pleaded guilty and was convicted and lined £3 and 10s costs. Senior-Sergeant Mclntyre explained that the information had been laid by the Railway Department and that if it had not been for defendant's candour when questioned, and his plea, it would have been difficult to succeed with the case as the incident occurred in October. M. Mclv. Knox, charged with failure to notify change of ownership of a car, through bis solicitor, Mr. Ougley, pleaded not guilty. The evidence snowed that Knox had secured a car under a hire-purchase agreement and that later another man had agreed to take over the car and to complete the payments under the existing agreement. Defendant thought he was under no obligation to give notification of the change of ownership until the payments were completed. The Magistrate hehl that it was not a serious breach of the regulations and defendant was convicted and ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution. Gordon Edward Jeffreys, a farmer, of Taonui, who was represented by Mr. John Graham, pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving a car without due care and attention but after hearing the evidence the Magistrate dismissed the information.