CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19443, 31 March 1925, Page 11

CITY POLICE COURT.

Monday, March 30. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) A first offender who did not appear was fined 20s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment for drunkenness. Maintenance. —Christopher Thomas Morris was charged with failing to obey an order for maintenance, defendant being in arrears in his payments to the extent of £l4.—Mr Irwin, who appeared for complainant, stated that on each occasion money had been obtained from defendant they had had to issue a summons. Defendant had never paid voluntarily.—Defendant was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, to be released on payment of arrears. Samuel Thomas Cole was proceeded against for separation, maintenance, and guardianship in respect to his children.—Mr Irwin appeared for complainant. —Evidence was given that the parties were married In 1010, and that defendant drank heavily.—Mr Bundle said ho did nor propose to make any separation order in the meantime. It would riot be advantageous. lie requested Sister Honora to make inquiries into the case because the man might be straightened up and the parties might possibly get on together. He would adjourn the case till April 20. Henry Wright was proceeded against by the maintenance officer on two charges of failing to pay arrears, £4 in the one case and £0 in the other. On the first charge he was fined 20s and the second was withdrawn.

Attempted Suicide—A man aged 5(1 years was charged with having on Slarch 23 attempted to commit suicide, and Mr C. J. L. White appeared for the defendant.— Senior-sergeant Mathiesoa said that the. defendant had been a seafaring man. He had been drinking heavily lately, and had gone to a boarding house in Cnnongate. Shortly after 10 p.m. on March 23 the landlady heard a noise, and in company with another boarder she investigated, ami found bloodstains in his room. The defendant was found unconscious near Canongate steps, and a note written by the man was also found. There was a razor near him. The defendant had been seven and a-half days in hospital, where lie had been continually guarded by the police, and the expenses amounted to £lB 13s.—Mr White said that the man was single. He was a man of considerable substance, and it was not as if he had financial troubles. The occurrence was the outcome of heavy drinking, but he had now recovered and was in his normal state of mind and health. He had come from Melbourne about three months ago to settle here, and intended to take up land as soon as his money came from England, where it was invested. The case was a most unfortunate one, and the letter itself showed that the defendant must have been in a drunken condition, as it was written in a very incoherent manner.—The Magistrate said that he would order the defendant to come up for sentence when called upon within 12 months, on condition that he paid the expenses and abstained from liquor for 12 months. This would not necessitate taking out a prohibition order. His Worship agreed to prohibit publication of the defendant’s npme, as it was not a matter that affected public interest.

Faulty Balances.—The Inspector of Weights and Measures (Mr Kinsman) proceeded against Henry Gore on a charge of having on March (i refused to deliver a weighing machine, to wit, a spring balance, for examination, and also with being in possession of a spring balance not stamped according to the requirements of the Act. —Mr Kinsman said that he saw the defendant at his place of business in Bay View road, and asked him to produce the scales. The defendant said that he would do so the following Monday, but It was not until March 25 that he called. Defendant then explained that he was giving up business and was proceeding to England. Witness said that the balance was four ounces out in two pounds when tested, and over that it was correct The defendant had been warned six months ago to get proper scales. Witness said that they had not been tested then as the spring balances could not be stamped. They could stamp clock face balances, bm not the old-fashioned type. The defendant had been given a good many chances. —The Magistrate: He must have had a good credit balance during that period.—A fine of £3 and costs (7s) was imposed in each case.