POLICE COURT

Southland Times, Issue 17486, 29 July 1915, Page 2

POLICE COURT

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2S. (Before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M.) DEFENCE CASES. A youth named Robert Jenkins did not appear to answer a. charge of failing to attend a territorial camp held at Five Rivers, but he forwarded a medical certificate to the effect that he could not attend the camp. He was convicted and discharged. John Kaye, who was similarly charged, was also convicted and discharged. ADULTERATED MILK. The case against OH\er E. Woods, milkman, who was charged with selling adulterated milk, was resumed. Woods, for whom Mr Eustace Russell appeared, had pleaded guilty but had alleged that the milk sold to the inspector had been purchased from another dairyman by his daughter. The daughter gave evidence that on the date in question she had bought three gallons of milk from a dairyman, whose name she gave, and this was the only milk in the cart when the inspector made his purchase. The Magistrate remarked upon the seriousness of tampering - with milk, but said that in the present case the adulteration was not so extensive as in the last case before him, besides -which lie had to consider the excuse preferred. The defendant was fined £4 with 17s 6d costs. BY-LAW CASES. For leaving an unlighted vehicle in a public place H. Alsweiler was fined JOs. Charles Heady, who was charged with driving a cab without proper lights after dark, pleaded guilty and was discharged with -a caution. Eric Brodie, charged with leaving a motor car without lights in a public place, was cautioned and discharged. For riding bicycles without lights Frank Hall, Wm. Flowers and Quinn were each fined r.s. Benjamin Edginton, on a charge of riding a bicycle on a footpath, was fined Is. Edward Royds and William Henry Cartwright, similarly charged, were each fined 2s. Alex, McCurdy, who was charged with being fee owner of certain cattle found wandering at large, was convicted and fined ss. William Stone, for whom Mr H. A. Macdonald appeared, was charged with driving a motor car without lights. He was fined 10s with 7s costs. FURIOUS DRIVING. Frank Stone was charged with driving a motor car at a speed dangerous to the public. Mr H. A. Macdonald appeared for tile defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given by Harold Abbott, tramway motorman, who stated that on the date in respect of which defendant was charged 'no saw a green motor car coming towards town on the western side of the North Road. The ear was travelling at a dangerously fast pace, hut he did not know who was driving it. As the motor car was clinging to the rails witness had to slow down in order to avoid a collision. In answer to Air Macdonald, the witness stated that the tram was on the loop when it met the motor but the latter also turned on to tile loop line. To Sergeant Burrows: He felt certain that if any passengers had been leaving the car at the time they would have been injured by the motor. Constable Tonkinson, Gladstone Station, said that on the night mentioned he was in Filleul street, a few yards from the North Road. He saw a green car, which ho knew well, coming towards town. The figures on the number plate were 4OS. The ear was travelling at fully twenty-five miles an hour, and he thought at the time that defendant was driving. Ho had since seen the defendant driving a car numbered 4CS. The motor cur passed the point in question at about 10.10 p.m. ' For the defence Mr Macdonald said that defendant had been at Wallacetown on the night in question but had left

there at 9.40 p.m., arriving at the Club Hotel, Dee street, at 10.12 p.m. On the way in he met no traffic save two motor cars and a tramcar. • Evidence was given by Wm. Thomas,' Joseph Doe, Jack Droscher, and the defendant, all of whom negatived the sug-» gestion that the car was travelling at an excessive speed. His Worship said that having regard to all the circumstances he was satisfied that defendant was guilty of negligent driving, and Imposed a fine of £S with costs. BREACH OF PROHIBITION ORDER. > William E. Pope was charged with a breach of the terms of a prohibition order against him. He pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Mr G. McDonald. Constable Sinister said that at 10.50. p.m. on July 5 he saw accused, whom he knew by sight, in front of the Hotel Cecil. He spoke to accused, who said that he was waiting for the car and then went over to Price and Bulleid’s corner. ’ Accused went out on to the road and tried to board the car but fell back on to the road. He finally got on to the car, but there was no doubt in witness’ mind as to whether he was drunk or not. Mr McDonald said that the defence amounted to a plain denial that defendant was under the influence of liquor. The facts were that he had been up since 3 a_m. and had gone to the pictures. He afterwards had a fish supper and caught a car at the Post Office at 10.16 p.m. His Worship intimated that he accepted the statement of the constable and imposed a fine of £l, with costs.