MAGISTERIAL

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13608, 30 May 1908, Page 7

MAGISTERIAL

TIM A 111'--MAY 2911 i. 1908

(Before Mr C. A. Wray. S.M.)

RAILWAY BY-LAWS,

William Ail ken was charged with commiitiiiu" a bleach of tin- railway liv-law in that In* did. •'» Saturday afternoon la>t. attempt l<> board a train while in motion. Sub-Inspector (!m-ii stated that defendant. had had a very nariow escape from being killed, anil might- have been s:r> lind it, nob been for the prompt action of a bystander. Mr J. Fraser. Defendant was a builder tesiding in Tiuiaru. but at present was employed at Methven. .). Fraser. a clerk in the employ of Smithson and Raymond, soi.cii-ors, stated thai he was ati tho railway station at ihe time the 3.30 p.m. cxpuss was there. He was standing speaking to a friend, with his back to tne train, which was then moving oft', when In- heard a cry, and turning round saw defendant hanging on to the rail at the end of a carriage. When lie 'was just, falling net ween two carriages witness caughr defendant and pulled him on to the .station platform. Ho could not say whether defendant was tm tfir train betore it began to movs off.

Sergeant Bowman corroborated, this evidence and added that he saw An ken on the station platform just prior to the train starting.

Defendant did noi. appear to defend himself, but- forwarded a letter asserting that he was standing on the carriage platform talking to a friend, when another man who jumped on after the train moved off bumped hint back, hence his narrow escape. .Sergeant- Bowman said he saw nobody bump Aitken and was certain he boarded the train while in motion. Detendant would have bpen killed but for Fraser.

His Worship agreed that there had been "a near shave." People were too fond. he said, of waiting till the last moment and then jumping aboard the trains and it. was time iliis sort, of tlung was checked. He impeded a line of 20s and costs. PROHIBITION ORDERS.

Two applications for the issue of prohibition orders against working men were granted, one at tlie request of a defendant himself and the other on a wile's petition. BOROUGH BY-LAWS. C'. Johnson, R. Bennetts and W. Ten nant. were charged with cycling alter sundown without lights. The firsr-named did not appear and the others entered pleas of guilty, and all were lined 5s and costs. in one case the offence occurred as earlf as 5.55 p.m., and in another at 6.30 p.m. The defendant- Bennet'ts stated that lie was riding in company with a friend who had a light and for his instruction it was pointed out. to him that this was a very dangerous practice, tor persons coming in the opposite direction would naturally think there was only one cycle to pass if there was only one light. Ct. C'owles did not appear to answer a charge of driving a vehicle after sunset without lights. Constable Smith proved the charge and a fine of 5s and costs wan imposed.