MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Nelson Evening Mail, 17 November 1916, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

(Before Mr Wyvern. Wilson. S.M.) OIBFENciTcASES. Four Defence cases, adjourned when the big batch was recently dealt with, came on for heaving at the Magistrate's •Court to-day. TTios. H. A. Mortimer, charged with failing to render personal service, in being absent from parade, did' not appear. ■Captain 'Conway, representing the Defence Department, stated that defendant , had been in hospitaL He was now convalescent,' and had gone to Colling-wood. iHe would transfer to the Collingwood 'Company and , had promised to attend parades.' The case was withdrawn by leave. Hector Whitwell was similarly charged. A doctor's certificate was put in stating that defendant had been suffering from l a bullet wound in the leg, and could not attend- parades for a time. Capt. stated that defendant was now attending 1 parades. The case was'withdrawn by leave. JN plan Frost pleaded guilty to a similar charge, and stated that he "had enlisted, but had been declared medically unfit. Jae had been an out-patient at Nelson - .(Hospital from" Apnl to the beginning of this month, and had had all operation ior nasal obstruction. He had not bceri' out at night till recently. Ho had not been wording since June. • He had enlisted seven times, and had been rejected every time. "^

•Capt. Conwayi said ho had iseen the' medical certificate produced. "Frost had' attended parade during the time he.stated he had not been out at night. \ J>efendant • Only one: The .Magistrate- told defendant that until he was accepted for- the Expeditionary ForGes lie .must attend Territorial parades. If he could not attend h© must fet the officer commanding' know, and also endeavour to get an exemption, it was in defendant's favour that he \rtlS trying to get away with the forces, but" till then he must* obey the laws of the country and attend parades, defendant would be convicted andvordered to pay 7s costs. 'E'ruest diFenemore did not appear to answer a similar charge. Capt. CVwiwayj saidi defendant had a bad parade attendance record, .and' had been previously convicted and fined for failing to attend parades. When the case was called on previously it was adlourned to enable inquiries to be made as to whether defendant should have a medical exemption. Defendant had been written to in regard to this matter, but had not replied. Defendant was convicted and fined £o. costs 7s. in de.anlt 23 days' detention at Kipa Island.

THE 'STOKE ESCAPEES

William James Vickery appeared oi remand, charged with the theft on November 6th of two pea rifles, valued at 30s, the property of W. D. Thompson, of Wakapuaka. . \ similar charce wa« preferred against John, Andrew SlcWilliams, and.- the charges were heard jointly. i>ot.h accused elected to be dealt with summarily. •,* i +~ Walter Douglas Thompson lde/iuihcd,tht two pea viltes: (produced) as nis pro* pertv. Thev were taken from a shed on the night of 6th inst. flair. Clothes Constable Wade, stated that ho arrested Vickery at Carluke, vickery showed him where he had hidden one of tho pea rifles. He admitted ho went to -~r Thompson s house with McWilliams and kept watch, while .McWilliams took/ tho pea rifles- and 'ammunition. M itness arrested. McW ilhams at H/avelock. McWilliams had the other pea rifle and admitted taking it from Mr Thompson's. Both boys had obtained employment cm farms when arrested. Both accused pleaded guilty to the charge of dealing the rifles. ■• \'ickorvy in reply to the Magistrate, said McWilliams made up to enter Thompson's house, but he was against.it. McWilliams then took the pea rifles from McWilliams .said -he had nothing to

Leonard Bradstock, manager of the Stoko Training "Farm, staled that tne boys absconded. Vickery had been at the institution six years, and up to the last six months had behaved very well. In the last six months he had ab,seond«d about six times, but had always, with the one exception, retnnied of his own accord. McWilliams absconded in October. 1914, and broke into a launch at Port kelson. From that date his behaviour was cvgrthmhuk» /"the best, and' he was Scensed out to* a Collingwood settlers wnere, however, his behaviour was xet> hud McWilliams returned to the institution, stayed a week, and then abSt The Magistrate said he did not wish U> nunirfi Vickiery. who had been led awav' McW'illhm*. unless his conduct improved, would- have to be sent to Burnham. 'Mr Wilson gave both boys some kindly advice, and hoped ln«> would obey tho authorities at Stoko and crivo-no further itrouble. ' ~* Vickerv. was convicted and dißchnrnr-'i. and ordered to be returned to the Stoke Trainins Farm. . • McWilliams" was convicted and oracied to come up lor sentence "at nnv time within six months, he also to .be returned to the Stoke Training Farm. '