THE COURTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18617, 12 July 1930, Page 19

THE COURTS

RULE OF THE ROAD. By Telegraph—Press Association NELSON, July 11. In reserving judgment in a case in which a motor-cyclist was charged with negligent driving, the Magistrate (Mr T. E. Maunsell) said the time had arrived when there should be a law making it necessary for pedestrians to walk on the right hand side of the road. SOLICITOR STRUCK OFF. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, July 11. The Court of Appeal made an order striking John Douglas Vernon, of Te Kuiti, barrister and solicitor, off the rolls. The charges brought against Vernon by the Hamilton Law Society, were that he had misappropriated funds of his clients, and that he was generally unfitted to be a member of the profession. LOTTERY SWINDLE. By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, July 11. A deliberate swindle which had been going on for months, was how the Magistrate (Mr F. K. Hunt) described the offences of William Thomas Watson (41), plumber, who pleaded guilty to eight charges of obtaining £9/19/6 from persons by falsely representing tickets as purporting to be issued by the Queensland Golden Casket Art Union, which is conducted by the Queensland Government. The police said that Watson, when in Queensland a year ago, evidently became conversant with the gold casket lotteries, including the dates of drawing. He induced a printer to print 500 tickets, which were similar to the genuine tickets, and had printed on them the correct dates of drawing. Although Watson said he profited only £5, the police were convinced that the

profit was much greater. Watson pleaded that he was driven to the offence by poverty, following unemployment. He got one month’s imprisonment. TRIVIAL OFFENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, July 11. A taxi company’s scheme to obtain extra business led to the prosecution of three men to-day, for what the Magistrate termed a trivial offence. The men were charged with commencing a lottery by which free rides in taxis were gained by chance. The service consisted of arrows painted on wheels of cars, and dots on the mudguards. If. when a ride was finished, the arrow pointed to a dot, the passenger was not charged. It was stated that a detective had taken two rides, but was charged each time, and both drivers admitted that they had never been caught. The company admitted that the innovation had increased business. The Magistrate said it was a lottery, but not serious. Defendants must discontinue it. He ordered them to pay costs.