MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4730, 12 August 1902, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

MONDAY, AUGUST 11. .(Before Mr W. R. Hascldeu, S.M.) Fourteen first offending inebriates were convicted. An old-offending drunkard named May Richards was lined 20s, in default seven days’ imprisonment. Alex. Bullock and Aycm William Bruce were each fined ss, in default 24 hairs’ imprisonment. A young man named Thomas Davenport denied charges of having assaulted William Mason and of having made use of obscene language at the Assembly Hall on the 9th lust. Mr Skcrrett appeared for tho defendant. His Worship imposed a fine of £3, in default twenty-one days’ imprisonment, on the first charge. The second charge xvas dismissed.

A young man named Alex. Bedford was charged with being an idle and a disorderly person, in that he habitually consorted with prostitutes. His Worship imposed a sentence of throe months’ imprisonment with hard labour. A child named diaries Currie, who was found dwelling with persons reputed to be prostitutes, was committed to the Wellington Receiving Homo. A young man named Edwin Joseph Green' was charged with having stolen an overcoat and a cap, valued at 4','s, the property of Eustace Soloman, on the Ist inst., and also with having sU’ien a glazier’s diamond and throe opal plaijues, valued at £2 10s, the property of Robert Martin, about the 2nd February. His Worship committed the accused to the Supremo Court for trial. Bail was grapted. A separation order was granted against J?. Stapleton, with custody of children, 22s Gd per week maintenance, and 30s posts. First payment to commence next Monday. Mr Wilford appeared for the complainant. For having .disobeyed) an order, of the Court to pay 15s per week towards tlio support of his two children (arrears due, £0), William M. Hatfield was sentenced to two months’ imprisomuent, with hard labour. Warrant of commitment is to he suspended so long as the defendant pays £1 per week. A LICENSING CASE-

Jerome Bacovich, the licensee of the Nag’s Head Hotel, mas charged with 1 having sold liquor to other tnau a lodger or traveller during closed hours on the 28th Jialy, at Wellington, and also with having exposed liquor for sale on 'll is premises during closed hours. Mr Hell conducted the case for the prosecution, and Mr Wilford appeared for the defendant.

Francis Cullen, sergeant of police, gave evidence that when ho was in front of the Nag’s Head Hotel at twenty-five minutes past eleven on the night of the 28th July, he saw four young men coming out of the building. Witness wont in, and saw that the bar was fully lighted up, and observed five men standing at the counter. A woman, whom the defendant said was his wife, was standing behind tho counter, on which wore standing three glasses of beer. The defendant said to the men, "Von w«;uld not leave when I wanted you to,” Upo of the ipen replied, “If you say a thing like that against us, wo will tell the wjiolo truth about it. 1 ' Witness said to the licensee, “It’s a long time to keep them in tho bar; it is 11.25.” The defendant took out his watch, and said “Yes.”

Samuel Caldwell, a grocer’s assistant, stated that he was at “Tho Messenger Boy” on tho 28t}i July. After the opera ho and a friend. Jackson, went to the Nag’s Head Hotel and had' a drink. Witness went into tho hotel about ten minutes to eleven. It was fivo minutes past eleven when tho sergeant wont into the bar.

Several other witnesses gave corroborative evidence.

Mrs Bacovicli and two barmaids gave evidence that they jeft the hotel ears and went into the private sittingroam at 11 o’clock for supper. Mrs Bacovich got the key of tlio private bar from her husband, and got one “shandy” and two glasses of liniejnice and lemonade to drink at .supper. A dr, m Cartwright pave evidence that liq closed the doors of the hotel at 11 o’clock, and turned out the lights in the middle and front bars on the night of the 28th J"jly. There was no one in the bars at il o'clock, but he saw four men going out just as he was going upstairs. The defendant, sworn, stated that-the bars were closed at 11 o’clock. Several men loitered about afterwards. .When witness wa.s allowing four men—whom ho thought to bo the last in the hotel—out, the sergeant came in the doorway. Witness walked to the private bar (which had been opened by his wife, in order to obtain refreshments for supper) with the sergeant, and he saw several men there, but they were not served with drink. His Worship reserved his decision until next Friday.