CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, 27 April 1906, Page 7

CITY POLICE COURT.

Thursday, Aran, 28. (Before Mr C. C. Graham. S.M.)

A Series of Chr.rjr-.—David Howe was charged thai, on the 2lnl April, at Duncdin, hr. did wilfully break ens pane of glass !o iir value of I.l= Od, ths property of You On. aisii with using ohsc.ne language at the fame tune in liselagg.v: street; and. further, with assaulting Yow 6" si the same tune and piacc—Accused pleaded " Guilty," electing io In dealt with sumniar: : y on "the indictable ' barges-Sergeant Kin?, said that about 10.30 p.m. on the 21st inst, t!v; accused and another young man went into ti.3 complainant's shop in Maclagga,". street. Abused purchased some cigarettes, and afterv.-rds used very bad language towards the Ciiiuaman, who ordered him to leave the premises. He refused to do so, and picked up a 4!b weight, which ho Ihrew at complainant. This struck the wall Bud hit another man e>» the rebound. Before Recused was ejected he got possession of alemonado bottle, which he threw through the rindoiv. after getting u:ln the street. Accused hail been before the court previously for assaulting this Chilian!: l .!), and in answer to other charges.—The Magistrate (to accused): Have you anything in say for yourself?— Accused. I was drunk at the time.—Tho Magistrate; How old are you?— Accused. I inn 20.—The Magistrate. It is very sad to sec a young man like you lirought up on this charge, and with such a record. You have slready served 12 months for theft. What do you do for a living?— Accused: I follow up the hnats. 1 have been out of gaol nine months.— Sergeant King said accused's associates were not of a desirable character—On the first charge accused was fined 20s, and ordered to pay the extent of the damage (15s Cd), in default one month's imprisonment. On the rharge of using obscene language be was scnieuced to one month's imprisonment, with hard labour, and the same sentence was imposed on the charge cf assault, the terms to be consecutive. By-law Offences.—Mark Lay pleaded tluilty" to driving a, vehicle across the interaction'of Princes and Rattray streets.at other

than a walking pace.—Sergeant King said complainta had been made as to the manner in which drivers crossed here. In future he would ask for a heavier penalty against offenders.— A. fine of 10s and costs (7s) was imposed. Joe Bun was charged with leaving his vehicle unattended in George street, and pleaded " Guilty."—He was fined 5s and costs (7s).—A further charge o! the same nature was withdrawn,—James Foster was similarly charged ir. respect of Princes street, and pleaded " Guilty."—Tlo wns fined as and costs (7s). James Ledgcrwood was charged with driving a vehicle along Cumberland street without a, light between Biinset and sunrise.—Mr Crisp appeared for defendant, who pleaded "Guilty," Mid said that defendant had (t light, but it had gone out some 20 yards before reaching his own gate. It was not a wiliul breach.—The Magistrate: He must take the consequences. Fir,e;l 5s and costs (7s). — James Geddos, licensee of the Douglas Hotel, was charged with permitting a chimney on his premises to be on fire.—Defendant, a former offender, pleaded "Guilty," and was fined 10s and costs (7s). For riding bicycles without lights at night James Walqiiist (who did not appear) was fined 10s and costs (7s), and Michael Facmy 5s and costs (7s). Hawking Without a License.-Sydney Charles Clnxion was charged that on the 16th Anril he did offer certain goods for sale in High street without having a license authorising him to do so.—Defendant did not apnear.— Constable Yeale gave evidence of the offence, and said that defendant had approached Ser-

geant Barrett and himself while they were in uniform with a view to selling them soap.— The Magistrate: Strange he.should run into the lion's den in that fashion.—Fined 2s Gd

and costs l7s). Traffic in Rattray street—William Hastic was charged with being the driver of a vehicle through Rattray street and driving on the wrong side—Mr Crisp appeared for defendant, who nleaded "Kot guilty."—Sergeant King paid this case was similar to those which had been heard a few days previously, cne o! which Mr Hanlon had contested. Since then the police had taken measurements, and they had no doubt that the eourt had been deceived over the matter. The plan shown b the court on that occasion was not correct. It appeared now that where there were two lines of rails the distance on each side from the outside rail was equal. For a short distance from the inter-section of the streets, oi course, this was not the ease, as there was only one line of rails, but for the rest of the distance it was IGIt Bin on either side. Complaints had been made regarding the matter, and it was desirable that the police should have a ruling.—Constable B.iird gave evidence as to having token the measurements referred to. Alter he had warned accused to desist from taking the wrong side he continued tn do so.—Mr Crisp said defendant had been delivering grods on the north side of Raftrny .street, and. .is he came away another cart was on Iho north side, and a number of people were about to get into the cable car on that, side. To have' pulled into the north side of the car would have jeopardised the safety of the passengers. Section 51 (the charge was laid under section 43) said th.it travellers must keep as near as practicable to the left side. He contended that drivers must use their own discretion, and that in this caso defendant had ex'-rcised his discretion in the mafter.-The Jfajistrnte said that section 51 was somewhat difficult of interpretation. In his case evidently the constable did not see defendant driving any distance back, and he did not think defendant wilfully took the wrong side. It was not an instance in which tn convict, and the esse would be dismissed. His Worship added that he intended to uphold the by-law in future.