MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12288, 10 April 1918, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

TO-DAY’S SITTING.

Christchurch.

Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., presided at the Magistrate’s Court to-day. DRUNKENNESS. A female first offender for drunkenness was convicted aud discharged. ; George William Oliver, a second offender, was lined 10s, in default fortyeight hours’ imprisonment. THREE CHARGES. Mary M’Kegney was charged with having been drunk, with procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order, and with being a rogue and a'vagabond, in that she was found by night without lawful excuse on the premises of James Napier. Accused emphatically denied all charges, and tolq. a most voluble story of the various injustices she imagined she bar) suffered. The .Magistrate decided to remand her for a week, OBSCENE LANGUAGE. James Kearney, charged with having used indecent language in Manchester Street, was fined 40s and costa. BREACH OF PROHIBITION ORDER. John Gearschaw&ki (Mr Cassidy) pleaded guilty to a breach of a prohibition order. A fine of 10s was imposed. CHARGE OF TRESPASSING. William Cunningham, Frederick Harris (Mr Cuningham) and George Joseph' Mather were charged with trespassing in the Sydenham Swimming Baths. The last-mentioned defendant was also charged with having used obscene language. Mr Cuningham said that tiis client and Cunningham had both left the baths when asked to do so, and therefore there was no caso of trespass, against them. The Magistrate said that he would dismiss the three charges of trespass* but that in the case of Mather he would impose a fine of 30s and costs on the. charge of obscene language. BREACH OF MILITARY SERVICE act. ; V; Thomas Morris (Mr Beswick) was charged with making a false statement under iho Military Service Act, 19161 Defendant stated that be bad gone id work when he was nine years of age, and could therefore hardly read or write. Accordingly a friend had filled iu his registration papers, and owing to a misapprehension his friend had stated that lie was a married man when in reality he was single. A sentence of one month’s imprisonment was imposed. CRUELTY TO COWS. William Henry Poninghaus was charged with ill-treating two cows by neglecting to milk them. Mrs Beswick. conducted the case for the prosecution. Defendant was convicted and fined £3 and costs. (Before Mr W. H. Cooper, J.P., and Mr Kenneth Mathcson, J.P.) FORGING A CHEQUE. Ernest Edward Needham was charged with having forged a. cheque on the Bank of New Zealand. He pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Lyttelton, (Before Mr TV. T. Lester, J.P., and Captain E. Hatchwell, J.P.) DRUNKENNESS. Two first offenders avere each convicted and discharged. PROHIBITION ORDER. On ins .application, a prohibition order was made against Reuben TV lute. DISCHARGING A FIREARM. Johannes Sandvick was charge-d_ with discharging a firearm on No. 3 Wharf,' Lyttelton, on March 12. Sergeant M’Rae stated that on the day in question a (.unstable had seen, accused living a shot at birds. Accused, wins pleaded guilty, was' fijied 10s and costs. ALLEGED THEFT CF,A MAGNETO.. Charles John V'-Tidt was charged wth having on,or abuiu Alarch 15, at Lyttelton, stolen a magneto, valued at LI 10s, the property of Henry Weeks. On the application of the police the case was adjourned until Monday, April 15. CHARGE DISMISSED. Francis Richard Forman was charged with having on March 23 obstructed Constable Lloyd in the execution of his duty. Accused, who was defended by Mr Donnelly, pleaded not guilty. Sergeant M'Kae stated that on the' arrival of the 11.45 p.m.' train from Christchurch on March 23. in consequence of a complaint made to Constable Lloyd, the constable had made investigations and, while interrogating a man named Hutchins, accused had come forward and had grasped the constable. Hotchins was later arrested and fined £2 in connection with the charge of disturbance on the train. ; Accused had swung the constable round. The arrest was not made at tho moment. Evidence was given by Constable Lloyd, Frederick Gilray and Alfred Sampson. Mr Donnelly said the case was trifling. Had the obstruction been of any serious character the constable would have arrested accused at once. In his evidence, accused denied that he. was tho man who put his hands on the constable. He had not been on the train, but when be saw the occurrence lie went forward and asked Constable Lloyd not to arrest Hotchins then, as he had to leave by the boat. Gunner Reid. , who was in accused’s company, denied that he (accused) had put his hands on Constable Lloyd. Gunner Sait corroborated the last witness’s evidence. The Bench decided that as the evideuce was conflicting and the accused bore a good character, the case would be dismissed.