POLICE COURT

Southland Times, Issue 17464, 2 October 1913, Page 2

POLICE COURT

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. ‘A MISCELLANY OF CHARGES. ■ t (Before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M;) One first offending inebriate hai . been found drunk In Dee street on . the ■ previous evening was convicted ■ and ordered to come tip for sentence-when called upon, on the understanding • that he left the town. DEFENCE CASES. William Miller was charged with having failed to render personal service in terms of the Defence Act. Mr Tait represented the defendant, who did not appear, and Lieutenant Wilkes represented the Department. Mr Tait said that there were exceptional circumstances in connection with the case, and he appeared to state thejn. The defendant was a law student at the Otago University, and he had applied for registration there. He was served with a notice to attend drill; but at that time he was in Invercargill on vacation, and by the time 1 a transfer to Invercargill had been arranged he had returned to the University. ' The Magistrate: Then he has don* nothing at all? -* r.v.: ‘ 'Mr Tait: Nothing? so', fkr' as »:T antaware. • > The Magistrate: But how does it,, happen that he had not registered- - -It* is two years since it became: necessary.. Mr Tait; He was a clerk in my office before he went to the University. The Magistrate: Did he do ■ anything then? - Mr Tait; I am not aware of his having served. The Magistrate said that University students were inclined not to take the regulations seriously, and they should be made to do so. Here was a young man who appeared to be evading service by moving from one place to an-, other. Mr Tait submitted that he had put a reasonable excuse before the Court.

The Magistrate: This young man has apparently not had a uniform on at any time, and the scheme has been in operation for two years. He will be fined £3.

Mr Tait: I beg your pardon. The Magistrate; Three pounds. A fine of £3, with 7s costs, was entered.

TRAVELLING WITHOUT A TICKET.

David Lament did not appeaV to answer a charge of travelling in a railway carriage without a ticket between Invercargill and Winton. He forwarded a letter saying that he had no intention to defraud, but had merely left his ticket behind.

Sergeant Simpson said that ■ the man had told the guard that he had left his ticket behind, and the guard, understanding that Lament was employed on the railway, had permitted him to travel. He subsequently found that Lament had been discharged; but after that Lament again attempted to travel on the same excuse. ' Evidence was given by Guard Wells and Inspector Robb, who said that the accused had been employed as a carpenter. and as such had been given & monthly pass. This had expired' five weeks prior to his committing the offence with which he was charged. A fine of 42, with 18s costs, was imposed. BY-LAW CASES. William Dey was charged with allowing horses to wander at large.. Sergeant Simpson said that two horses belonging to the defendant had been seen wandering in Dee street at midday. The defendant explained that they had escaped from the paddock In which they were kept. In answer to his 'Worship, the assistant Inspector, Mr Murdoch, said that the defendant had never before given trouble over his horses. A fine of 10s was imposed. A you tli named Russell Merry was charged with riding a motor cycle along the footpath in Elddell street. Sergeant Simpson said that the defendant was fined £2 on February 4th for riding at a furious pace through the borough. . He was fined £3. For riding bicycles on the footpaths in Liddell and Tweed streets the following offenders were fined the amounts given in parenthesis:—Lancelot Jordon (£1). Thomas Horan (£1), John Prentice fss), David Stott (£1). Eennis Staunton (£1), Heldred Streete (£1). Wilfred Selby (£1), and Geo. Perry (£1). HATPIN CASES. Tramway Inspector Glancefield proceeded against four ladies for wearing unprotected hatpins ’in the Municipal tram cars contrary to the borough bylaws. Janet Valentine pleaded guilty, but said that she had not been long in the country, having come from Glasgow. There was no notice in the cars, and She did not know that it was necessary to wear protectors. The Magistrate: Haven't you seen it in the papers? The defendant: I have heard people talk about it; but I have not seen it in the paperfe. She was convicted and discharged. Sarah Gibson, for whom her sister appeared and pleaded guilty, was fined 10s. Bertha Gilchrist did not appear. Her husband wrote saying that the defendant was not antagonistic to the bylaw. She had gone out with her mother, haring no intention to ride on the cars, but as the • latter was overcome with fatigue she was compelled to do so. As they were the only passengers in the car she considered that the Inspector might fairly have given her an opportunity to take the pins out. A fine of 10s, without costs, was entered. W. D. Hunt pleaded guilty to leaving a motor car without a light in Esk street, and was fined 10s, with 7a coeta«