MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 13 June 1927, Page 5

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M., presided at the weekly sitting of the Magistrate's Court this morning. IMPRISONED FOR THEFT Charged with the theft of various small articles from a bedroom at the Pier Hotel, Port Nelson*, in April, Francis John Reynolds was convicted and sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment. Accused had previously served a short term in gaol for a similar offence. Sergeant Whitehouse said that accused had been staying at the Pier Hotel and had stolen the articles from another boarder's room. He had then left the hotel without paying his board.

CIVIL BUSINESS Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the following civil cases: —S. Y. Wearing v. William Homaa £4 5s 9d, costs £1 lis 6d; D. M. Rees v. Roger Bisley £l3 8s 6d, costs £3 17s; The Nelson Paint Co. Ltd. v. Henry Henrys £5 15s, costs £1 10s 6d.

BY-LAW OFFENCES For riding bicycles at night without a light Arthur Francis Kirby, and George Malcolm Rout were each fined 10/-, and costs 10/-. Charged with riding a, motor cycle round the corner of Trafalgar and Bridge streets at a speed that might have been dangerous to the public, Basil C. W. Bell was convicted and fined £l, with costs £1 lis. To begin with defendant pleaded not guilty and cross-examined the traffic inspector (Mr Parkinson) on the evidence he had given. Mr Cheek, who appeared for the inspector; asked for an adjournment for one week to enable witnesses to be called. The complainant had been under the impression that defendant intended to plead guilty. His Worship then explained to defendant that if he wished to be relieved of the possibility of having to pay witnesses' expenses as well as a fine he could withdraw his plea, of not guilty ,ind plead guilty. After consideration defendant did this and was convicted and fined accordingly.

LICE INFECTED SHEEP Charles Armstrong Bird, who pleaded guilty to exposing lice-infected sheep for sale in the Associated Auctioneers' saleyards was convicted and fined £1 10s, with costs 10/-. MAINTENANCE An order for imprisonment for three months with hard labour was made against Sidney Rowe on two charges of disobedience of a maintenance order. Defendant bad made no attempt to comply with the order made against him a month ago. The warrant is to be suspended so long as he pavs £2 5s per week.

Charged with being an idle and disorderly person with insufficient lawful means of support, Joseph Edward Spoer pleaded guilty. He was remanded to 17th inst so that the police may try to get hirn admitted to a home.