MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18063, 9 March 1923, Page 9

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

TIAIAIfU—THURSDAY, .MARCH S. (Before Air J. G. L. Hewitt, S.AI.) I)RUX KENXESs. A first offender for drunkenness, who had been liberated on bail, had liis bail (10s) estreated. - ON LICENSED PREMISES. A first offender who was charged with having been found ,on-licensed premises, to wit, the Old. Bank Hotel, at a timo when , such premises were supposed to bo closed, plodded not guilty,' and was defended,by Air Campbell. • Sergeant Packer said that on Saturday, February .17, ho had seen the accused go into the Old Bank Hotel at 8.30 p.m.,-- and a few minutes later had seen him come out of..the door. Witness spoke to him when he was standing on licensed premises. There was no mistaking the man as ho had a faun overcoat on, and there was nobody c.lsb. about at' the time, who was! dressed like him.

To Mr Campbell: Defendant was standing on licensed premises when witness asked him tor an explanation as to why ho was there. Defendant replied that he did not know that he was on licensed premises, and he denied that lie had been in the’hotel. Constable Herron 1 said that lie was with Sergeant Packer when he saw the accused come out of the Did Bank Hotel. The accused denied that he had been on licensed premises. Mr Campbell said the defendant was on bis way borne when lie turned back to get some fruit, and when passing the Old Bank Hotel the police came along and charged him with having been in the hotel. .Ho denied it, where-, upon the police asked the licensee or the hotel whether defendant had been in, and the licensee replied that he had not been in so far as he knew. Defendant gave evidence in support of counsel’s statement. He denied absolutely that, he was in the hotel, on the night' in question. He was just opposite the door of the hotel when he saw the police, and felt awkward lor fear they should think he had come out of the hotel. He was on his .way to huv some fruit at the time. The Magistrate remarked that an innocent person should'not feel awkward simply because he was seen in front or an hotel door. His "Worship said that he was satisfied with the evidence given by the police. They had seen the man come out of the hotel; therefore he must have gone into it. He would be fined IT.

ALL BO I'll) CRUELTY. Henry McMillan Junr:, was charged with having been guilty of cruelty to three ponies, by working one with a soro wither, and another with a son: back, and working a pony, with girth gall. , , i Mr Emslie appeared ior the accused, who, lie said was a young man, and was at present working, on a threshing mill. Ho was not in Court that day, but bis father was in attendance. Tlio Magistrate, said that', accused was entitled to be tried by a jury, and it wus jiot’i'Ksrtpy tluit ho should ho present when the eases were hoard. The case would he adjourned till April o.

NO LIGHTS. Jonas .Smith, for having left, his ear in. Softou Street on the night oi Eebrunry •>, without a, light, was lined 10s. , ,1. tv. Wilson was charged with .having driven his motor cycle' by night, along the road between Pleasant Point and Sutherlands, without a-, light, and also with having driven it on the wrong side of tue road. lie pleaded guilty to the first charge and was lined Tits. To ' the second lie -pleaded not guilty. Senior-Sergeant l'ahey said that as a result of file defendant being on. his wrong side of the road, he had collided with a, motor ear owned by T. Jones, and the, car had been damaged. On being told by .Mr .Jones that, be intended to'bring a. civil action, against the- defendant, the Magistrate said he. would adjourn the ease t,;ll April o, so that both eases could lie heard together.