POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16019, 10 September 1915, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

QUARREL ON A STEAMER. A JUSTIFIABLE BLOW. The second engineer of the steamer Kaituna, John George White, appeared before Messrs. L. W. Andrews and G. Martin, J.P.'s, at the Police Court yesterdsf-, charged with, on September 7, assaulting tie chief steward, Thomas Barlow. Mr. A. E. Skelton appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. Barlow stated that the accused had shown animosity towards him for a considerable time past and had reported him to the captain. On Tuesday night witness went ashore and returned at about 10.30 o'clock. Subsequently the second steward came aboard. Witness, in conversation with the second steward, made use of an obscene expression concerning the accused, but he did not know the latter was in the second officer's room next door. A little later witness went into the passage-way outside his door, when the accused immediateljy appeared and struck him on the face, breaking his nose. Witness had to be taken to the hospital for medical attention. He denied striking the accused with a ruler. The accused stated that he heard the expression used by the previous witness. Later he met Barlow in a passage near his room. Before he could get out of the way Barlow hit him over the head with a heavy round ruler. He used more obscene language to witness, and the latter struck him. A struggle ensued and the ruler was taken away from Barlow, who was put back in" his cabin. Complainant was considerably under the influence of liquor when he returned to the steamer.

After hearing further evidence the Bench held that accused was perfectly justified in striking Barlow, and dismissed the case.

MISCELLANEOUS. One first offender for drunkenness was fined ss, and another, who did not appear, was ordered to forfeit his bail, amounting to 10s. Frederick Robinson, alias Quartermam, who admitted seven convictions during the last six months, was fined £2, in default one month's imprisonment. Patrick Kane pleaded guilty to charges of drunkenness and breaking a pane of glass valued at 15s He was fined 5s and ordered to pay the cost of repairing the damage. M. F. Hardings was fined 5s and costs 7s for failing to keep to his proper side when driving a vehicle from Queen Street into Victoria Street.

Sidney Eddell was charged with failing to keep to the left side of the street when driving a vehicle in Queen Street. A fine of 5s was imposed. James White was charged with driving an unlicensed van. The defendant wrote explaining that his regular licensed vehicle broke down, and the vehicle he was using at the time the traffic inspector spoke to him was a substitute. The presiding justice remarked that it seemed unreasonable to prosecute a man for such a fault. Inspector Lindsay, who prosecuted, remarked that defendant should have notified the city traffic department. A fine of 5s was imposed. A charge of riding a bicycle without carrying a registered number-plate was preferred against Frederick Coster. Defendant was fined ss. William Craig was fined 5s for a similar offence.