MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4881, 5 February 1903, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4. (Before Messrs IV. Hildreth and B, * Arnold, J.P.’s) Four first-offenders, charged with drunkenness, wore convicted. John Bockel, a wharf labourer, admitted having been drunk, having assaulted a Sergeant of Police v bile in the execution of his duty, and having wilfully damaged a cab door to the extent of ss. Tho Bench said tho police must be protected, and imposed a'-fmo of 10s or 48 hours’ for drunkenness; ordered tho accused to pay the amount of damage done to the cab, in default three days’ imprisonment ; and imposed a fine of £lO, in default two months’ imprisonment, for having assaulted the policeman.

For having failed to comply with a notice-board “Stop! Look out for -i ho engine!” befor j crossing a railway lino, when a train was approaching, W. Dcnniston, the driver of a vehicle, was fined 20s, with 11s costa. MOTOR-CABS AND THEIR DRIVERS In consequence of tho acchlent which befol tho daughter at Major 'Williams, by being run over by a motor-car near tho Rost Office on 28th January, Hubert Anderson was charged with haring (I) furiously and (2) negligently driven a motor-oar in Customhouse quay. Mr Hiflop appeared for tho dcl'oadaut, who entered a plea of not guilty. Wm. Hunter Jackson, a Harbour Board employee, deposed that ho was standing on the express stand at the head of tho Qiuoon's Wharf, when ho. saw a motor-car driven by i o defendant approaching at a rate of eighteen miles an* hour. The vehicle duelled against the child, who was crossing from tho Queen’s Wharf to tho Post Office. The car knocked the child ten feet forward and then passed over her. The defendant did not move the lever of the vehicle or ring the boll, until after the car had struck tho child. P. Leigh, motor-car export, deposed that tho vehicle was driven along the oxpiecs stand at a speed of about four and a half miles an hour. > Tho defendant repeatedly rang his bell near tho crossing. Tho defendant was a careful driver. Tho defendant gave similar evidence, and stated when ho saw tho girl was in danger ho immediately stopped tho car. The vehicle was brought pip when it, had passed about a foot over tho child. v * Tho Bonehsaid there degrees of furious driving, Considering tho locality where the accident occurred, the Justices wefo satisfied that tho rate of eneod was excessive. A fine of 40s, wiin £2 Is costs, was imposed on tho first charge only. P. H. Leigh, a motor-car expert, was charged with having assaulted a cab driver named Alfred Stratford on tho 29th January, Mr Hislop appeared for the defendant, and cntc:-d tt plea of guilty under provocation. Tho prosecutor stated ho saw tho defendant m his car in Will is # fhroot. There wo* a large crowd of people round him. Witness asked tho defendant if ho would give the car a null. Thereupon tho defendant jumped -out of the car and assaulted him. Evidence for the defence was called to show that tho prosecutor jeered at the, defendant. Tho Bench considered the ends of justice would bo served by imposing a fine of 5s without costs, STOWAWAYS. •

Richard Eitehicson and Daniel Lenta were each fined 20s. and ordered to pay 12s 6d. in default seven days’ imprisonmont, for having travelled from Lyttelton to ’Wellington on tho Rotomahana without having previously paid their faros, 12s 6d. For having travelled on the Victoria from Srdnev to Wellington vithcat having previously paid their fares, John Hyde. Edvard Lillis and Ohse. Warn were each fined 60s and ordered to pay their fares. 7os, in default 14 days’ imprisonment.