POLICE COURT NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12085, 14 August 1917, Page 6

POLICE COURT NEWS.

. TO-DAYS CASES. Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.. presided at rtho Police Court this morning, when the usual list of police and maintenance cases was dealt with. DRUNKENNESS. Three first offenders were, each fined us, with the usual alternative PROHIBITION I j LIE ACHES. John Kelly, charged with drunkenness and the breach- of a prohibition order, pleaded guilty to both charges. Sub-inspector Mullaney said that this was th(, fourth charge of drunkenness, and the second charge of breach of an order in six months. If tlio- man could bo sent to tlio country there might be a chanco for him. The Magistrate said that ho Mould give accused one more chance. Ho would be handed over to tlio Salvation Army Homo authorities. who would find him work in the country. Jf ho appeared again he would bo sent to Boto Boa. Adrian Walter Biggs, charged with drunkenness and the breach of a prohibition order, did not appear. Accused's son gave evidence against him. A lino of 10s, in default forty-eight hours' imprisonment, was imposed. A GAME OF 801,0 WHIST. Walter Henry Overton (Mr Alpers) was charged on the information of the police, with permitting gambling on his licensed premises on August o, at Christchurch. Mr Alpers said the offence was moro technical than real. Defendant, with three friends, wero in a private room, in the Al Hotel on a Sunday night, and played a game of solo whist for a small stake. Iho defendant was not aware thart any offonc e was being committed, and when Sergeant Lopdcll called he was at once admitted to the room. The defendant was sorry that ho had committed an offence, and Jio pleaded guilty. Defendant had been seven years a licensee, and had only onco got into trouble before. That was five years ago, when he was fined 10s for failing to close a door firmly at ten o'clock. This offence was detected a minute or two after ten o'clock, and tho Magistrate did not regard that offence as a very serious one. Sub-Inspector Mullancy said that the facts were substantially as Mr Alpers had stated them. There was no attempt to hide anything. Defendant was convicted and fined £3 and costs. MAINTENANCE CASES. Amv Elizabeth Salkeld (Mr Mosley) proceeded against her son-in-law, Thomas Craven Ashwin, to recover arrears of maintenance due to her daughter, defendant's wife. Complainant gavo evidence that defendant was a returned soldier, and was well able to work. Employment bad been found for him by the Defence Department, but he had left it. Defendant was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment.