MAGISTRATE’S COURT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8654, 12 February 1914, Page 6

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

long list yesterday. Yesterday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was presided over by Mr W, G. Riddell, S.M. William Abbott pleaded guilty to drunkenness and also to having obtained £4 in money and £1 worth of goods/ Ifrorn Abraham Whittaker by means of a valueless cheque. The police inspector stated that the . man had been drinking very hard. Accused was remanded till February 14th, and in the meantime further information will bo procured regarding the charge of false pretences. Thomas Newton Withers, who had been convicted six times of insobriety in the preceding half-year, was found helplessly drunk in Lambton quay. On being charged with the offence, he asked to be sent to “the island.’ 1 He was remanded . till February 18th for medical treatment.

The case of Arthur Walker, the seaman on the Kaipara who had developed symptoms of insanity and was charged with disobeying lawful commands, was mentioned by Inspector Hendrey, who stated that the man had since, been in the Porirua Asylum, and that the owners of the Otaki were willing to take him to the Old Country by that steamer, leaving next week. His Worship made an order accordingly. Edward Ferdinand Runnstrom, a trimmer, pleaded guilty to having deserted from the Arawa at Wellington on November 27th. The inspector stated that the accused went to the country and only returned recently. The agents of the vessel were put to some inconvenience. ■ Six other men deserted, then two more, and in a week the deserters totalled fourteen. Apparently they had conspired together. Accused was . sentenced to a month’s imwrisonment.

For drunkenness, ’Arthur Manning, James Skilling, and Richard Pryor were fined 10s each, or forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. Mary Anderson and Edmund Barlow were charged with being idle and disorderly persons. Both pleaded not guilty, and were remanded to Saturday next.

The use of obscene language while drunk was responsible for Esther Collier’s appearance in tire dock. For the “language” she was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment, while for drunkenness a conviction was recorded.

Julia Schultz pleaded guilty to being an idle and disorderly person, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

Thomas Frederick. Everest appeared on a charge of breaking and entering. It is alleged that the accused broke into the house of George Reid, and stole therefrom a gold w'atoh and a gold ring, to the total value of £8 ss, the property of Mary Reid. He was remanded to Wednesday next.

An unprovoked assault upon Andrew McGrath was the cause of Joseph Barnum’s appearance. According to Inspector Hendrey, the accused went to the house where McGrath was staying, and without any provocation committed an assault which might have ruined McGrath for life. Dr Shand testified to the injuries which McGrath had received. The wound was about an. inch long, and could have been caused by a kick from a boot. It was not likely that there would he any serious consequences. In sentencing Barnuin to six weeks’ imprisonment, the magistrate said that it was lucky for defendant that the complainant had escaped so lightly.' When taken to the police station on another charge, Thomas O’Neill was recognised as a man “wanted” for threatening behaviour in Jervois quay. On being arraigned on this charge he was convicted and fined 40s, or seven days’ detention. : - Frederick , Sheldrake and Thomas O’Neill both pleaded guilty to having broken and entered, into the shop of Claude Brown and stealing therefrom a cheque for £l, a postal note for ss, two postal notes for Is each, and £l9 in gold arid silver, to the total value of £2O 19s. After formal evidence had been given, the two defendants were remanded to the Supremo Court for sentence.