MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Southland Times, Issue 21770, 27 July 1932, Page 4

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

SITTING AT GORE. YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS. At a sitting of the Gore Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., the following cases were dealt with:— Cyclists Fined. For cycling on the footpath T. Barnes was convicted and fined 10/-, with costs 10/-. Similarly charged Clifford Crawford was convicted and fined 5/-, wtih costs 10/-. Motorists Charged. Colin Brown was charged with driving an unregistered car, with driving a car without being the holder of a driver’s license, and also with failing to notify the change of ownership of the car. The defendant, who did not appear, was convicted and fined 40/with costs 10/- on the charge of driving an unregistered car, and was convicted and ordered to pay costs 10/— in respect of each of the other charges. Dugald McGill pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a car when not the holder of a driver’s license, and was convicted and ordered to pay costs 12/-. For failing to notify the change of ownership of a car George Perks was convicted and ordered to pay costs 10/-. Stanley McKay pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving a car without being the holder of a driver’s license. J. Croad, the borough traffic inspector, stated that he saw the car stop in Medway street. Four persons alighted from the car, the defendant getting out from the driver’s seat. Defendant went straight into the horse bazaar, but later came and asked witness where he could get a license. The defendant in evidence denied that he had been driving the car, and said that his brother, Thomas McKay, who had a driver’s license, was in charge of the car at the time. Corroborative evidence was given by Thomas McKay and Hugh McKay. The information was dismissed. Licensing Cases.

Edward Stevens, hotelkeeper, Waikaia, pleaded guilty to a charge of selling liquor after hours on July 9. Sergeant Fryer said that Constable Robertson visited the hotel at 8.45 p.m. on July 9 and found the licensee in the bar. There were five men in the bar parlour and all of them had been supplied with liquor. Two of the men stated that they were boarders, but this was subsequently found to be incorrect.

Counsel for defendant said the facts were as outlined. Stevens had no excuse to offer except, that times were hard. He was going out of the hotel with nothing and was in poor health. The Magistrate entered a conviction and fined the defendant £3, with costs 10/-.

A. Stevens, Frank McKay, Charles Hetherington and Frederick Miller Darling each pleaded guilty to being found on licensed premises after hours. Stevens, McKay and Hetherington were each convicted and ordered to pay 20/- and costs 10/-. Darling was convicted and fined 10/- with costs 10/-.

David William Lamond pleaded not guilty to a similar charge and said that after tea he had asked Stevens if he could stay the night. Stevens said he could, but when Mrs Stevens came in she refused to give him accommodation.

Defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs 10/-. Month’s Imprisonment.

John Barry was charged with being found drunk in a public place and also with unlawfully converting a bicycle to his own use but not so as to be guilty of theft. The defendant pleaded guilty to the first charge, but entered a plea of not guilt’i- in respect of the second charge. Sergeant Fryer prosecuted and stated that William Whitty had lent his bicycle to his son to go to the skating rink. The lad had left the cycle at the back of the hall, but at 10.30 p.m. when his father called for him it had disappeared. Evidence Would show that Barry had been seen in possession of the bicycle between 8 and 9 p.m. Later the bicycle was found at the back of the East Gore service station.

After having the evidence the Magistrate entered a conviction against Barry on both charges. On the charge of drunkenness he was fined 10/- in default 24 hours’ imprisonment and on the charge of converting he was sentenced to one month’s hard labour at Invercargill.