STREET LOITERING

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13414, 16 February 1907, Page 7

STREET LOITERING

A WARNING TO BOOKMAKERS.

Thomas Yates and Richard, May were each charged with wilfully obstructing the footpath in Queen-street by loitering thereon. Defendants pleaded nor guilty. Mr. J. K. London appeared for May; Yates was not represented by counsel. Sub-Inspector Gordon prosecuted. Sergeant MePhe-e said that on January 29 he saw Yates and two other men standing in Queen-street at the foot of Vulcan Lane. Yates stood there for two minutes. He then went away, and came back again. _ This time he remained at the foot of Vulcan Lane for three minutes. May was also standing near by. Witness did not know that May was a bookmaker, nor could ho say that any bets were made at the rime. .May informed witness that he was an old age pensioner. Detective Miller said May was once a bookmaker, but had not carried on his calling for about two years. Yates was a wellknown bookmaker. Mr. Dyer said as far as May was concerned there wits no evidence that he had been following his occupation for at least two years. "The information against him was dismissed.

Yates denied bring a bookmaker by occupation. He said he had a dairy farm at Mount- Albert. He admitted that he had often frequented country racecourses. He also denied that he stood lor Uvo or three minutes at the foot of Vulcan Lane. .Mr. Dyer said that if persons frequented Vulcan Lane for the purpose of carrying on bookmaking they were there for an illegal purpose. He was not prepared to accept the defendant's evidence. There was an illegal obstruction, and defendant would be fined 20s, and costs 9s.

Mr. Dyer also-said that if any more hookmakers came before him. for a similar offence he would fine them £10.

Sub-Inspector Gordon added that bookmakers were becoming a nuisance again by frequenting Vulcan Lane.

SECOND-HAND DEALER FINED

George Kenncrley, a second-hand dealer, for whom Mr. Baxter appeared, pleaded' guilty to two charges of purchasing goods from' a boy under the age of 16 years.

Mr. Baxter explained that on January 12 a hoy took some goods to the defendant's premises, and informed the defendant that his father had sent him to sell the goods. Believing the boy's statement, to be true, defendant purchased the goods from him. With regard to the second charge (January 15) the same boy again offered more material for sale. Defendant was not at home at. the time but oik'of his employees bought, the goods, bein',: under the impression that as his employer had already bought other goods from the boy ho was justified in following suit. Sub-Inspector Gordon said he did not press for a heavy penalty, and that defendant had been quite open in the matter. Defendant was fined 10s, and costs 7s, on the first, charge, and 20s, and costs 7e, on the second.

FAILING TO KEEP A LAMP ALIGHT. Christopher Leek, licensee of the Royal George Hotel, Newmarket, pleaded not guilty to the charge of failing to keep a lamp lighted over his premises. Constable Finlayson said that on January 31 lie noticed that the defendant's lamp over the hotel door was not alight. Witness aroused defendant out of his bod and told him that bis light had gone out. Defendant got up and lit the lamp. This would be about, a-quarter past, three a.m.. Defendant said he put the light out himself. He did so because he thought it was daylight. His wife told him that he had made a mistake in putting the light out so early. When the constable knocked at the door witness was in tiro act. of going out to relight the lamp. The light was only out .for about seven minutes. When witness told the constable that, he had made a. mistake- the constable replied: "How dare you speak to me lifke that?" To Sub-Inspector Gordon: Witness told the constable that, he. had .out. the light, out too early.

Mr. Dyer said that a technical breach of the Act had been committed, and convicted and discharged defendant.

TRESPASSER SEVERELY PUNIS.HED.

Patrick Sullivan pleaded not guilty to the charge of wilfully - trespassing on the premises of Henry Marshall, and failing to leave when ordered to do so; to assaulting Henry Marshall, and to wilfully damaging a cab window, valued at 3s 6d, the property of Pullen, Armitage, and Co. Sub-Inspector Gordon, who prosecuted. called witnesses to show that on February It accused went to Marshall's residence with a, bottle of liquor. Marshall told accused to leave the premises, and endeavoured to take the liquor away from him. Accused thereupon struck Marshall. A constable was called and'arrested accused. When Sullivan was being conveyed to the police station he put his hand through the cab window. ' For the. defence Mary Sullivan, sister to accused (and who lived with Marshall), said she told, her brother not to leave the premises. She did not see her brother assault Marshall.

Mr. Dyer, in convicting accused, said Sullivan had a very long list of previous convictions. Drink was accused's failing. On the first charge Sullivan was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, on the second he was sentenced to one month's imprisonment,, and on the third he was convicted and discharged on paying costs. ALLEGED ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. Mary Sullivan (the witness mentioned in the preceding case) was then charged with attempting to commit suicide on the 13th itist. Accused pleaded not, guilty, ami was remanded until this morning on the application of Sub-Inspector Gordon. COMMITTED TO AN INDUSTRIAL XTIOOL. A .small boy named Howard Presfclcy pleaded guilty to stealing two planes, 521b of lead, and an umbrella, valued at £1 los 9d. the property of Leonard Yates. Sub-Inspector Gordon stated that the boy stole the goods from a church in the course of repairs in Ponsonby. Defendant afterwards* sold tin l goods to a second-hand dealer. Prestlcy was committed to the Burnharn Industrial School. A SERIOUS CHARGE. Alexander Augustus Jones, a young man, charged with indecently assaulting a ten-year-old girl at Paurimu, was remanded to appear at. Taumarunui on the 21st inst.. Bail was allowed, accused in £200 and two sureties of £100 each. MISCELLANEOUS. Marv Conn, a young woman, plead-d guilt to vagrancy. It was explained that the accused had frequently been seen loitering about (.'rev and Alexandra Streets. She was a danger to young girls, who were seen in her company. Accused, who bad stated that " she could do the time standing oil her head," was sentenced to six months' imorisonment. William Dimmory was fined 10s, and costs 21s, for failing to keep on the proper side of the road in Quay-street with his horses and vehicle. Sergeant Ramsay stated in evidence that, defendant's vehicle collided with a mail cart and damaged it. Thomas Reynolds, charged with drunkenness (a second offence within six months) and with procuring- liquor during the currency of a prohibition order, was fined 20s, and costs ss, on the first charge, or, in default, seven days' imprisonment: and on the second count, he was fined 40s, or, in default, one month's imprisonment. Two first offenders were charged with drunkenness. One (a woman) was fined 10s and costs, or, in default, 43 hours' imprisonment, and the other 5s and costs, or, in default, 24 hours' imprisonment.