OFFENDERS BEFORE THE COURT.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12500, 29 March 1909, Page 2

OFFENDERS BEFORE THE COURT.

A variety of excuses were put forward by defendants charged with breaches of the by-laws at the Police bourt on_ Friday morning, Mr G. M. Rout and Rev. B. L. Thomas, Justices^ presiding. Heni-y idler admitted ndinga bicycle on Wakefield yuay at 10.58. p.m. . on March 13th and explained that he intended staying overnight at Stoke, but', as he had an important letter to deliver he returned to town. A fine of 5s was inflicted, with 7s costs. Ashley •Joharisen_£leaded guilty to a similar offence on Haven Road on the same date, the ■* lm f being 10.45 p.m. His excuse was that he had walked from Stoke to the bicycle track -at the Port, as he had no lamp,, but as it had commenced to ram he jumped on, and had not gone tv.-on.ty. yards when he was stopped by thexdnstable. Fined 5s with costs /3. Cleveland Johnson, who did not appear, for a similar offence at 9.40 p.m. on the same date, -was also fined w iT 1 * 11 "/^*? 7s. Albert Vincent VVells, of Tahuna, had no excuse to offer, and was dealt with in a, similar manner for this offence, at the same place and date. The next delinquent was Gilbert Coomb, a College boy, who pleaded guilty to riding over the Nile street footbridge on 17th March, being a bridge constructed for foot-passengers only. Defendant said he was under the impression that so long as there was no one on the bridge, a cyclist could ride over. He was half-way across the bridge when he saw some children playing on the end and he got off. Constable Hickey stated that defendant did not get off until he was accosted by witness. A fine of 2s 6d was inflicted, with costs ss. Mary Maud Clouston who did : not appear, .was charged ttitn a. similar offence, and dealt with in a similar mariner. Francis Day, for riding a bicycle on the footpath in Nile street East, was fined ss, with costs 7sC Constable Hickey said that residents in this locality had complained about the number of cyclists riding on this particular footpath, and the practice had become so bad_that they were compelled to keep their gates locked to prevent their children from going on to the footpat,. where they were in danger of being knocked over. Percy Barriett pleaded guilty to riding on the footpath in Alma Lane, and -put forth the excuse that the road was in a terrible condition after the ram-, and he only rode slowly The Bench thought there was some excuse, and defendant was fined Is with costs 7s.