CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18946, 21 August 1923, Page 11

CITY POLICE COURT.

Monday, August 20. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) Indecent Assault Alleged.—A man charged with indecently assaulting a fomalb at Macandrew Bay was further remanded till Monday next.—Bail was allowed as before. Remanded to Invercargill.—James Nicholas Gordon Hoskin, charged with stealing at Invercargill 13 sacks of rabbitskins (valued at £222 Os 8d), tho property of Kirk and Co., Invercargill, was remanded to appear at Invercargill on Monday next, the Chief-detective explaining that the witnesses were evenly divided between hero, and Invercargill. Idle and Disorderly.—John Hydes, on remand, pleaded guilty to a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, having no visible means of support.—Mr F. G. Gumming (Probation Officer) said that the defendant was a good workman, and could probably get work.—Tho Senior-sergeant explained that the accused had given himself up, and had said that he understood that there was a warrant out for his arrest in respect to the payment of maintenance. This, however, was not so.—The Magistrate said that inquiries had been made into the matter of maintenance, and he was not sati&ued that the wife was looking after the children as she should. The charge would be dismissed on the understanding that Mr Gumming should see if ho could find some work for the defendant.

Drunkenness. —William Sterling, for drunkeness, was fined the amount of his bail (20s). Tho accused did not appeal-. Alleged Theft.—James Baxter Kerr was charged with the theft of an overcoat (valued at £5), the property of John Philip Stapleton, from the Farmers Arm® Hotel.— Chief-detective Lewis asked for a remand till Tuesday, August 28, as witnesses had to bo brought in from Port Craig, and Mr Hay (who appeared for the defendant) asked for bail.—Tho Chief-detective asked that the bail should be substantial, as ho thought that there might bo some difficulty in locating the defendant if it were light.— The remand was granted, and bail was allowed at £25 in the accused’s own recognisance, with two sureties of £25. By-laws Broken.—Thomas Tobin and George Sparrow l were charged with driving drays across a footpath in the borough of St. Kilda. —The defendants were represented by then- employer, who pleaded guilty. Do explained that ho. had understood that a permit had been taken out. . Tho practice of driving across tho footpath had been going on for two months, and other carts had been concerned. A permit had since been taken out.—Tho Magistrate said that in view of the fact that several carts had been driven across tho footpath, it would have been sufficient for one of the two defendants to have been charged. They would bo convicted and discharged. Robert Muir, for placing an obstruction across a footpath .in the borough of. St. Kilda, wa s fined 5s and costs (7s).—Mr Ward appeared for the defendant and explained that he had merely helped to build a bridging across _ the footway in the course of his occupation. Arthur Francis Lawrence was fined 10s, with costs (7s), for turning the corner from Frederick street into George street on the wrong side.——Charles Betting pleaded guilty to driving at a speed dangerous to the public.—The Senior-ser-geant explained that the defendant had driven along about 100 yards of the busiest portion of King Edward street at 30 miles an horn-.—The defendant said that he had speeded for 100 yards to enable himself to pass a tramcar and avoid a blockage of traffic.—The Magistrate said that a® the explanation was reasonable and as the defendant slowed down after passing the tramcar, he would be dismissed with a fine of 20s and costs (7s). Remanded.—Frank Herbert M‘Naughton, charged with casting- offensive matter in a public telephone cabinet in Manse street, wa s remanded till Wednesday to enable his counsel to appear. Failing to Attend Drill.—Eric Drysdale Anderson, on remand, was charged with failing to attend drill.—lt was explained that since the case had been first called the defendant had attended six out of seven parades.—The case was dismissed.