CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21196, 29 November 1930, Page 21

CITY POLICE COURT.

Friday, November 28. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. On a charge of drunkenness, a first offender was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. MOTORISTS’. OFFENCES. For failing to report a motor accident, Thomas Harvey, who did not appear, was fined 10s and costs (10s). Charged with allowing his motor car to cause an obstruction in Dowling street, David H. Napier was fined 10s and costs ,(10s). ", For failing to have, his motor car equipped with a reflector, Frederick J. Didham was fined 10s and costs (10s). George Ambrose Donelly was fined 5s and costs (10s) for not having his motor car properly, lighted, Henry J. Turnbull was fined 40s and costs (10s) for not having his motor truck equipped with proper, brakes. Similarly charged, James Wintrnp was fined 10s and costs (10s). ' For leaving motor cars unattended for more than 15 minutes, Francis B. Adams, Wilfred J, Irving, Ernest L. A. Rolfe, Grey Wilkinson, and Aubrey H.. Clark were each fined 5s and costs (10s). Albert Edward Smithers pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a motor car without its assigned number, and not guilty to a charge of using an unlicensed mfftor car. He was fined 40s and costs (10s> on the .first charge, and was convicted on the second. UNLICENSED HAWKER.. Frank Isaac pleaded guilty to a charge of hawking without having a license, and was convicted and ordered to come up .for sentence-if called upon within.three months. WANDERING CATTLE. Amy Sprott was charged with allowing cattle to wander bn Pine Hill road, and was lined 5s and costs (10s). • BRiJACH OF PROHIBITION ORDER. ■ Ernest Alfred Woods was fined 10s and costs for being on.licensed premises whilst a prohibition order was in force against him. BUILDING REGULATIONS. William Charles Craik .was charged with failing to furnish a return of building construction—Mr G. W. Lightfoot (inspector of factories) said these returns were used for statistical purposes.—The defendant was convicted and fined court costs* (10s). ' UNLAWFULLY ON PREMISES. Cornelius .Gallagher and Norman Pledger were charged with, on November 8, being found unlawfully on the premises of the Provincial Hotel after hours. The defendants, who were undefended, pleaded, not guilty.—Sergeant Isbister said he found the two defendants on the premises at 10.30 p.m. on November 8. They were upstairs. There .was no evidence that any - offence had been committed by the licensee. The wife of the licensee said she had no knowledge that the men were upstairs; they had no right to be there.—The defendant Gal.lagher said he went to the hotel to book a room for the night, but before he had time to do so the police caught him. The office downstairs was in darkness, sp he went upstairs.—Pledger also gave evidence. He simply accompanied his mate in the.hotel. He did not think he was committing an offence by going into the hotel with his friend. He did not go in to get a drink; he did not drink.— In answer to his Worship, the defendants said they had not previously been before the court.—The charge again Pledger was dismissed, the - defendant to pay court costs (10s), and Gallagher was fined court costs (12s). THE LICENSING ACT. John ' Richardson Was charged with,' on October 24, exposing liquor for sale during such hours as the premises were supposed to be closed.-—Mr B. S. Irwin appeared for the defendant, who pleaded guilty.—lnspector Cummings said that, in view of the plea, he would ask leave to withdraw three other charges of aiding and abetting other men who were on .the premises.—His Worship allowed these charges to be withdrawn.—lnspector Cummings said that on October 24 Sergeant Wade and Constable Maynard visited the hotel at hours when it was supposed to ■be closed." On going upstairs they found three .men standing' at a slide, with three glasses and half a crown on the. counter. The defendant said the men were his guests. He had been out for a walk with them, he said, and on returning he asked them in to have a drink.—Mr Irwin said he had advised the defendant to plead guilty. No exception could be taken to the conduct of . the hotel.—lnspector Cummings said the police report was that the house was fairly well conducted.—The defen- , dant was fined £lO and costs (10s). His Worship said, he did not propose to endorse the license, but if the defendant came before the court again the license would be endorsed without question. ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES. The case against James 1 Eric Davidson, who was charged with obtaining, by false pretences, the sum of £2l 10s from Ernest Oscar Nees by representing that he was the owner of furniture for which he had sighed an instrument by way of security, was continued.—Mr White appeared for the Accused.—Chief Detective Cameron said that the accused had purchased furniture, from A. and J, Watt in "August, 1928. He had borrowed money from the complainant on the security of the goods and had‘failed to maintain the payments to the vendors, who had seized the, furniture. Of the amount actually borrowed, there was still £l2 owing.—Mr White said that the accused had handed him some papers which threw new light on the case. If the magistrate considered acting on the suggestion made by the probation officer in his report he would not bother further with the case. ..If, however, it were intended to take another course,, he would ask for an adjournment and would like to make application to have the accused’s original plea altered" so that he might defend the case.. The accused had receipts for payments up to September, and it seemed that the complainant had been very precipitate in taking criminal proceedings when the Qctober payment was not forthcoming.—The said he did not entering a conviction. The case was adjourned for two years on condition that the accused did not enter into any financial arrangements without consulting the probation officer. ALLEGED THEFT. . John M‘Lean was charged with the theft of a case of whisky and with damping a wardrobe, the property of John Frederick Hammerley, of Mosglel.—The defendant, who was defended by Mr C. J. L. White, pleaded not guilty.—Mr Hammerly, the prosecutor, said that when he was away from home the accused and others broke into a wardrobe and took from it a case of whisky. He had subsequently arranged with the men that no action would be taken against them, provided they met certain obligations, and they agreed. Owjng, how. ever, to what had happened he had been obliged to bring this case against the accused.—Mr White said his client contended that Mr Hammerly owed him £4O, which the prosecutor denied.—The procutor gave evidence on the lines of bis statement.—His Worship asked why the other men were not charged.—The prosecutor: We made arrangements that the men would not be brought before the court.—His Worship: What right had you to do that?—The prosecutor said the property was his.—His Worship: If the other men are not brought before the court charge against this man must be dismissed. • I am not going to