MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1789, 7 November 1919, Page 10

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

TO-DAY'S CASES. Mr V. G. Day, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court this morning. Unattended Oars. —Daisy Isobel Smith, for having a motor car unattended, without lights, was fined 20/and costs. Horton Burke, for leaving a motor car unattended in High Street, for a longer period than 15 minutes, was fined 20/- and costs. Pillion Biding.—Alexander Bremer, on charges of possessing an unregistered motor cycle, and of pillion riding, was fined 10/-, with costs, in each case. Cycling on Footpath.—For cycling on the footpath, Jack Soper was fined 5/and costs. ; No Lights.—Frank Robson, for riding a motor cycle without lights, was fined 20/- and costs. For cycling without lights, George White was fined 10/-, and costs, and for giving a false name and address received a further fine of 10/-. James Frederick Turner and Harry Sutherland each were fined 10/- and costs for cycling without lights. Gavin Turnbull, aged 18, on a charge of riding a motor cycle without a light, was convicted and discharged; Burton W. Shipley, aged 16, on a similar charge, and on a charge of pillion riding, was cautioned and discharged. Speeding.—For exceeding the speed limit over a road crossing, Douglas Ogilvie White was fined 40/- and costs. On similar charges for breaches of the Waimairi County by-laws, Charles Shannon Young and Howard Woods were fined 20/- and costs. Nelson Fisk (17) was convicted and discharged. An Unregistered Dog.—Reuben Cook (Mr F. W. Johnston), on a charge of keeping an unregistered dog, was convicted and ordered to pay £1 17/- costs. Straying Cattle.—Alfred Parker, for allowing a horse to wander on October 30, at Papanui, was fined 5/- and costs. A charge of allowing cattle to wander, preferred against Claude Gallop (Mr K. M. Gresson), was dismissed. A Dirty Chimney.—For a breach of the Christchurch By-law 409, in allowing his chimney to catch fire, a fine of 5/and costs was imposed on Alfred Frederick Gwatkin. A Charge of Theft.—-"Walter Prime (Mr K. M. Gresson), aged 17, appeared on remand on a charge of the theft of a lady's bicycle at Methven on June 4, 1918. He was also charged with having, on the same date, stolen the sum of 15/-, the property of Andrew Henderson, and £7 3/- in money, the property of John Henderson, of Methven. Mr Gresson stated that the offence was alleged to have taken place in June, 1918, or 18 months ago. His client had been working in Christchurch for a year since. He submitted that, in view of the circumstances, the charge should, be dismissed. Sub-Inspector Mullany stated that, so far as the charge of the theft of money was concerned, the police could not proceed, as the complainant had since died. But they could proceed on the charge of the theft of a bicycle. The accused had been working with the Hendersons at Methven, and on the day in question was left in charge of the place. On their return they discovered that the youth was gone and the bicycle missing. It was subsequently recovered on the Rakaia railway station. Mr Gresson stated that the boy took the bicycle in order to catch a train at Rakaia. Had he had time, the boy would have sent the bicycle back to Methven. On his arrival at Rakaia, however, the train being in, boy-like, he left the bicycle on the roadway near the station. It was not theft; it was borrowing the bicycle without leave. The Magistrate pointed out that, if a man borrowed a horse, and loft it, say, at a neighbour's place, he would not be guilty of theft, but could be prosecuted on a charge of trespass. Under the circumstances he did not think any jury would record a conviction. He accordingly dismissed the charsre.

JUVENILE COURT. 'Theft of Carriage Lamps.—Two boys, aged 16 and 15 respectively, were charged with the theft, on October 4, of two carriage lamps valued at £4. The elder boy pleaded guilty, the younger not guilty. The elder boy stated that they were driving in the dark without lamp's, and' borrowed the lamps in question, intending to return them. Sub-Inspector Mullany stated that the boyS both bore good characters. The boys were admonshed and remanded for six months, with the provision that if they behaved well during that, period nothing further would be done in the matter.