POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16987, 22 October 1918, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

-—■» : FINED FOR BREACH OF PEACE. A breach of the peace was the cause of a charge being preferred against James > McMinn, aged 50, William McMinn, aged 22, and Thomas J. Taylor, in the Police Court yesterday- before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M. Constable Murdoch said he, saw James McMinn and Taylor fighting, while William McMinn stood by calling out "Get to him, dad." Taylor stated that he was walking with Mrs. McMinn, who was divorced from her husband, when James McMinn rushed out and knocked both of them down. James McMinn said his son William eaid Taylor had locked him oUt of his mother's house. Witness went to look for Taylor, and when he came along Mrs. McMinn caught hold of witness while Taylor punched him. Each defendant was fined £1. William H. Worker pleaded guilty to , the theft of three magazines from a. soli diers' book-bin. Senior-Sergeant McNamara said that early on Sunday morning accused was seen to take magazines from the bin 'at the Grafton Bridge. Accused had provously been convicted for a similar offence, and had only recently left gaol. The magistrate said, it was a' mean despicable theft, and imposed a sentence of 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour. A charge of failing to enrol in the Expeditionary Force Reserve was denied by Robin R. Robinson (Mr. Moody), a wireless operator, who contended that he was not domiciled in New Zealand. Defendant said ho was born in Australia and resided with his parents in Taranaki for about 19 years. He had been a wireless operator on various vessels since 1915, and ' his home was in Australia. Ho had never voted in New' Zealand, but was on" the Australian electoral roll.. Since going to sea he had visited his parents at intervals. The magistrate said he considered that his father's home was defendant's domicile, and he hold that defendant should enrol. Defendant was convicted and discharged. On a.charge of assaulting a child aged six John Colcord (Mr. Moody) was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. He pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence. For drunkenness, Robert Rutherford, a third offender, was fined filj James Massey, a second offender, was Convicted and discharged; and four first offenders were dealt with. <