MAGISTERIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12843, 28 November 1905, Page 5

MAGISTERIAL.

TIM A RU—MONDAY. NOVEMBER 27th. 1905. (Before Mr C. A. Wray, S.M.) UNLAWFUL CUSTODY OF AN INFANT. Clara. Jane Shaw was charged that in contravension of section 3 of the Infant, Life Protection Act, 1896, she had charge of ak infant without being licensed, and in angistered premises. The Act provides that no one shall keep an infant, for payment, for more than three days without a license a» an infants* home-keeper, or in premises not registered as an infants' home; and the penalty for infringement is a fine up to £25, or imprisonment up to six months. Sergeant Warring stated tie case, Mid called Constable Lewis, who stated that he was the registrar of infants' homes. Lately the defendant applied to haTe a child in iier keeping adopted, and he -went io see her at her bouse. . He found that she Siadl been keeping the child since December 19M, and was being paid 7s per -week, through the Court. He had been here three yean?, and during that time defendant had never applied to him to have the house registered or herself licensed. Sergeant Warring stated that about tfirae years ago ,when Constable Crawford wan registrar, she applied for a license, andf the premises were examined and enquiries made. The license was refused, and' the applicant was told she could not. have a license. Defendant sworn, pleaded ignorance ol the law. She leiuembered not having obtained the license; but she thought the place was approved by the police. She got certificates of character from several persons, and thought it was all right when Sergeant Warring said he would ste into the matter. She had then taken a ciild, which had since left her. When the last application to take a child came she accepted the charge. She -was not aware that licenses must be renewed at beginning of each year. TJie Magistrate said it was high lime people knew the provisions of this Act, and that they could not receive infant« without a. license and until their btnme •was registered. Defendant had plenty oi opportunity for finding out whether she was doing wrong or not. bnt be admitted! she had acted in mistake. He wished iti to bo known thai in future h© would nob entertain erenses of not knowing tfaif, that and _ tbe other. It was veiy important that when infants were taken in the who took them should be suitable and known. In consideration of her excuses and the fact that the child had Ibeea well locked after, accused would be -only fined 10s; but after t3iis suet infringements would be severely punished. Defendant asked what she was tio do abnut the babv.

His Worship said he had surely 1"ld her enough to siH.vr that si.? could not keep i* until sue had complied with tlie Act. LARCENY. Oeni|re Leach and William H. Harris were charged' with stealing two do'ckß, valne 4*. from Mors Jonas 1 auction rooms on Saturday. Leach pleaded guilty "to being in possession of the ducks, but did wt know banr : he cr.:ne to hav't* them; Harris said be was not. guilty at all, and knew nothing of the affair.' : : "- , Moss Jonas stated in evidence that the two d"i"'ks. dead, were hanging in his r n rm« in the afternoon, and were Th« two accused ire:< described as having bec-a about ihe place, and they were found sn«l charged. To accused Harris: Did not see him in the yard of the rooms. The barman of tie Empire Hotel «iiv« described how Leach came to the dive with a bag, and on being questioned., said; he had two ducks in it. and would give witness one of them. He said he had bought th*tn. hut had r.ot paJd frr them yet. Have witness one. Constable Collins, on the inform a lion i>f last witness, arrested Leach in his hut at Waiinafaitaj. One of the docks in the hut; the other in possession <->f Hast witness*. 1/earh told witness he bought lK? duc!;s in Cain's Terrace. Charged Harris also; and Harris said he yn» with Leach in the yard, and him i=tsending near the -ducks with a bag but did -soil see him take them. Sergeant Warring detailed what- Harris said U> him when he was arrested : that Leach, seeing the ducks, said lie -wan going to have them, and went for a. jbag-. It was evident that Harris knew what waj» going on. Harris -was intorjo&ted then. Accused Harris gave evidence, and denied making such He wji.h in Moss Jonas' yard -with Les«l», «irit3dxtg beer, and went away witi a bag. Did cot nee him Egain fSB Im was arrested. . »' Leach was fined 40s. and 5* •oste, indefanlt seven days. Haww ra given like benefit of the doubt and ffimbuyi3. _ Sergeant Warring applied for prohibition orders against accused; bet t&sy objected. Leach *«id he did c»t l>eliev« in giving up hi* liberty. Ti» applications were held over.

GERALDI.VE—MONDAY, SOT. 27th. tftefore Messr* 11. W. Mooine axi W. If, Moore, J.P.V:.) ALLEGED THEFT. Thomas and Michael Mulimem .w<eiw cbarj*ed ■with having <cm X"Tecib#r 16lli aX (feral dine, stolen 5J ba«* of vsiv. iLc property of Timothv H-crlitr aad rained aifc £2 Ms. Mr Hay appeared for Tb«ma« awl Mr Raymond U>r MicLmJ Unlbani, and: Constable Ra.*3nw<Ti j)T»in©cni»d. The evidence of Timothy HuiHhr, James Gncfsbam, H. F. Jfewa j>rw«»d tb« ideality of the ©ate, wbit.li were diww»d lorded in a feed- room in the <"txcct-t3 wtobiee, the key of which wa* ia Jbe pfweFFioa of Michael Mnlbern. After bearing «rid«nce for both mcSck the be®«"h «<tTirl*dAd that, She oate belonged S« Mr Heritor, thai; Michael was «a»W!«t. but *fcaS «tr<W TO*juckra ne4«d on. .Tbntn;* ' Mn'hera ib<ro«b lbe evidence was not vafScieat iv tmnviet him. Ontfable IU«nio»«<~i hp Iwd jmrebttttmjr wonld dearly prove Il.lt Tb»."m-.t! *Whom was wit staling lb* Irt»lb wben hp «w| h* *w noi out r.-Jlll lei'. rjl the nisht of the 15ib in*l. A* I':© -ir:l r:, T " v ir-j */! if aird WnrH h-ive in br • ',-"1 *Vt- ■•"' titil 5: J.-u- •«, *Bow i 3«. fmMr« t*» "" l -« 3'' K til2 liLH', .., r Tfr * Ji.'jvJ, :.K. U»erefoif