MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 194, 21 September 1914, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Messrs J. Clarke and H. J. Crowther, J.P ? s.) DBTJNKS. Two male first offenders for drunkenness were fined 5/r, with the usual alternative. A female first offender was remanded for a week for medical attention. Mallie Joseph Dohney, with one previous conviction for drunkenness, was fined 10/- in default 48 hours' imprisonment.

INDECENCY,

Henry Dawson appeared for a first offence for drunkenness and for committing a grossly indecent act in Sydenham Park.

Sub-Inspector McKinnon: There's a woman ill this.

Christina Mills then appeared for a first offence for drunkenness and for committing an indecent act in Johnson Street. She admitted having had a few drinks, but said she had not been guilty of an indecent act. The constable who arrested the accused gave evidence as to the indecency of the act. '

: There was still another party to the proceedings, 'one Francis Edwin Collings, also charged with drunkenness and with committing- an indecent act in Sydenham Park. # Sub-Inspector McKirinon explained that there had been nothing; known against the men previous to this, but the Woman wa,s a well-known prostitute. Mr' Williams, who appeared for the two male accused, admitted they had been very drunk. They had evidently not known the character of the woman and it had been very dark at the time. For drunkenness Dawson and Collings were fined 5/- and costsj and for the indecent act they were each sentenced to 14, days' imprisonment with hard labour. Mills was sentenced to 30 days' imprisonment with hard labour. SOLICITING.

Mary Sheedy, charged with a second offence for drunkenness and with soliciting for prostitution, admitted having been drunk, but as to soliciting, she would not plead guilty to that. She admitted that-she had been given a chance, but she had made good use of it. She had been given a chance to go into the country, and she had got a place there. She was going away today, and she had got a ticket to prove it. Sub-Inspector McKinnon: She's had that ticket for the last twelve months. She brings it every time she is before the Court. Mary: I never bring that. My word's ■as good as yours. Have -I got any witnesses! she exclaimed in answer to; a question. Have you got any witnesses to prove, it. • She stated that she did not wish to go to the Magdala Home> and was sentenced to 30 days' imprisonment. .

DISORDERLY. William Henry McAllister, for being disorderly while drunk in Cathedral Square, was fined 20/-, in default seven days' imprisonment. ROGUES. Charles Lea and Christina Lawson, on a joint charge of bein'g rogues and vagabonds, pleaded guilty, Lawson being sent away for three months with hard labour, and Lea being ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, on the understanding that he remains in the Salvation Army Home for six months. ASSAULT ON CONSTABLE. Hugh Campbell Kidd (Mr Cassidy),. for having assaulted a police constable while in the execution of his duty, and for having used obscene language, admitted both offences, and was fined 20/and costs on each charge. SHIRTS AND SOCKS. Elizabeth Adams appeared to answer for having stolen four shirts and two pairs of socks, valued at 16/-, the property of Charles Brownley. She pleaded not guilty. Brownley stated he had been asleep on the river bank when the theft had been committed. Elizabeth: Didn't I read the paper to you ? Brownley: You read the paper to me when I was fast asleep. After hearing the evidence of the constable and looking at Mary's record, the Bench nentenced her to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. MAINTENANCE. The cast of Stephen William Kinsey, charged with failing to provide maintenance for his unborn child, was

matided for a week, bail being allowed in one surety of £IOO.

CIVIL BUSINESS. (Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.) 1 Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in each of the following undefended actions :-r The Taylor." Publishing Co. v. O. Percival, £1 12/6; J. McClatchie and Co., Ltd. v. J. Power, >l2/6; same v. O. Percival, £1 1/-; J. Murray v. Captain Hawkins, 12/6; Maling and Co. v. \V. Fitzgerald, .7/6;, Maling and Co. v.. G. E. Gibson, £3 18/9; same v. J.R. Dick, 10/-; Hugh McFeddriesjv, C. G. Smith, £3 14/4; E. Bryan v. S. Reid, £1 19/11; J. R. Hayea v. J. E. Burns, £4 15/6; Maling and Co. v. J. M. Nolan, £2 3/6; Maling and Co., v. F. Hay ward, £3 4/11; Benjamins Robert Marsh, £6O 17/2; Gordon and Gotch v. W. W. Hook, 19/3; Aitchison, Steins and Co. v. Timaru Co-op. Hairdressers' Society, £SB 2/5; W. H. Tisdall and Co., Ltd. v. J. T. Pike, £2 18/-; A. W. Jackson v. G. Bunker, £7 6/2; Arthur, Rider v. Lucy E. Harris, £6; C. H. Evans v. Fred. Smith, £3;, Margaret Rowan v. Fred. J. Moir, £4 10/-. In the case of F. H. Bedford, 6f Redcliffs (Mr Cassidy) v. Alex. Peddie, a claim for £2 4/-, due in respect to rent,judgment was given for plaintiff for 15/-. :: , /.