COURT NEWS

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 320, 8 October 1940, Page 2

COURT NEWS

MONTHLY SITTING ASSAULT CHARGE The monthly sitting of the Opotiki Police Court was held at the Courthouse yesterday, when Mr. E. L. Walton,’ S.M., occupied the Bench. Sergeant J. Isbister conducted proceedings on behalf of the police. As the result of an assault which took place on Saturday, September 28, when George Lysaght (senr.) was found near the Opotiki Hotel with severe wounds on liis face, a native, Sydney Rewita, aged 20 years, faced a charge of assault. Accused was convicted and fined £5, and ordered to pay 15/- for damage to teeth. Ho was admitted to probation until the fine is paid.

Liquor Near Dance Hall

A charge of having liquor in his possession in the vicinity of a dance hall, the Lyric Hall, at the time when a dance was being held, was brought against Tipi Tabb. Accused was convicted and fined £5 and 10/costs. Liquor To Natives James Bell was charged that on September 28, he took intoxicating liquor, to wit two bottles of beer, into a Maori home. He was convicted and fined £2 and 12/- costs. Accused was further charged that on the same date'he supplied liquor to a famale native, Annie Lingman. On this charge lie was convicted and fined £3 and 10/- costs. A charge arising out of the previous offence was heard when Annie Lingman was charged that on September 28 she aided and abetted James Bell in the commission of an offence of supplying liquor to a female native. She was convicted and fined £l and 19/- costs. . Frederick Baigent was charged with procuring liquor on September 11, during the currency of a prohibition order. Accused was convicted and fined £l and 10/- costs. Traffic Offences. The Borough Traffic Inspector, J. 11. Morell brought forward a number of charges as follows: — Timothy W. Robertson was charged that on August 19 he drove a motor car within the borough at a speed exceeding 30 m.p.h.. Tho charge was dismissed. Defendant was further charged with parking a motor car in Church street more than two feet out from the footway. He was convicted and fined 5/- and 3/- costs. * George Jones and Robert Proffit,. drovers, were charged that on June 25 they failed to keep or. prevent cattle from wandering or being at large without proper guidance in Stewart and Bridge streets. The magistrate viewed the streets and considered the men were justified in doing what they did. —Dismissed. Stanley Eppingstall was charged with riding a bicycle on a footpath on September 21. He was convicted and lined 5/- and 5/- costs.