MAGISTRATE'S COURT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7023, 11 January 1910, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

MONDAY, JANUARY, 10. Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M.) Ernest Albert Stevens, described by Sub-Inspector Norwood as an "old offender," pleaded guilty to a charge that, unlawfully, he had supplied intoxicating liquor to a man named G. jjambart on January Ufch. Tiio Subinspector stated that the accused was loitering about the street near the Mount (Jock Police Station on Sunday iast when tv/o probationary constables in jjlain clothes caino upon the ticane. Tho acouscd, mistaking their identity, invited them to have a drink and as the- invitation was accepted they were piloted by the accused to a stable in Luke's lane, where they got- some beer and also- purchased for IDs a bottle of whiskv; later one of the probationers purchased a second bottle of whisky at the same price, but though the money was paid the whisky was not given to the probationers. When. 'fcho -place was- raided by the police a. number of bottles of beer was secured by the officers of the law. The accused was convicted and fined £lO or a month's imprisonment. A similar charge was brought against Mrs Ellen Keeney, tho licensee of the Thistle Inn, for whom Mr A. Gray appeared. From tho evidence it appeared that tiro plain-clothes -police constables bad been sent out to see how the licensing law was being observed, and they secured admission to the Thistle Inn, where in a room in proximity to the bar they found five men seated. They also stated that, they naw glasses which had. just-previously I contained liquor in the room. The 1 evidence for the- defence was that two I of the five men who wore present in j the. room when tho raiding constables arrived were practically permanent boarders in the hotel and that the other three wero intimato friends of these two men/ who had invited them to take lunch with them, and when i they oa.nie to lunch asked them to have a glass of beei>. His Worship, having heard a considerable amount of evidenco for the prosecution, held that it was not necovrcary to call any witnesses for the defence as the evidence for the prosecution had proved insufficient to sustain a conviction. The information was dismissod . BREACHES OF BY-LAWS. Quito a number of persons were accused of having committed breaches of the oity by-laws in regard to the conduct of street traffic. James Maj - fihall, who had driven a vehicle on Constable street having no lights burning on the evening of December 24th, was fined 20s or forty-,eight hours' imprisonment. Edward Shaw pleaded guilty to a- similar charge, but he said that Christmas night was very stormy, the lights in his lantern were blown out and he could not relight them. Fined 7s, the -amount of Court costs. Porcy Gayler.was fined 40s, /with 13s costs, or seven days' imprisonment, for having driven a-a-pidly round the corner of Cuba and Garrett streets, and knocked down a young lady, who was injured to some- extent. _ Henry Haywood, charged with a similar offonoe, although ho had not knocked anyone 'down, was fined 20s, costs 7s, or forty-eight hours. Charles Henry Pym, the driver of a motor car, was fined 40s, and fees 7s, for driving too rapidly- round the corner of "Lambton quay and Charlotto street. Francis Williams, on a similar charge, was fined 40s, costs 7s, or seven days. George Ward, who had left his horse unattended, was fined 205., _ ' Ambrose Anker, who had ridden a bicycle by night in Riddiford street, when he was unprovided with lights, was directed to pay the costs of the (prosecution. Frank Davis, John Llewellyn, Charles Miller and Joseph Norman, on charges of loitering in Cuba street and refusing to ''move on" when requested to do so by police officers, " -were ea.eh fined 10s and costs of Court. William and Louisa McMillan, charged with having received from their children some firewood which had been dishonestly obtained, were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called'upon. Four persons were convicted and dealt with on charges of drunkenness.