MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16569, 31 October 1921, Page 7

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

TD-DAY’S CASES. CHRISTCHURCH. (Before Mr Wyverrt WNson, S.M.) DRUNK®* NESS Two first offenders for drunkenness were each fined ss, in default twentyfour hours’ imprisonment. Another first offender, who did i*>t appear, was fined the amount of his bail, 10s. dorm Sullivan, a second offender who die not appear, was also fined the amount, of his fail, 10s. William Henry Flower NewslJ. wan charged with drunkenness and also with having broken his prohibition order. On th© charge of drunkenness he was fined 5s f in default twentyfour hours’ imprisonment and on the, other charge 40s in default seven days' imprisonment. • Hugh Miller, who was charged with helpless drunkenness and also with having broken his prohibition order was not in a fit state to appeal. 4 week’s remand for medical treatment was granted. COMMON ASSAULT. William Henry Hepburn was charged with having assaulted Michael Hurley by striking him on th© face with his clenched fist. Accused pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred i»hortlv after six o’clock on Saturday evening. A fine of 4(H in default three days’ imprisonment was imposed. IMPRISONMENT FOR THEFT. Frederick Armitage, thirty-three years of age, admitted stealing an overcoat valued at £lO, the proj>erty of C. F. Morkane, but pleaded not guilty r,o a charge of attempting to steal from a till, th© sum of £4 10s, the property of Charles McCarthy; fruiterer, of Manchester Street, Christchurch. The evidence showed that accused entered the shop during the temporary absence of the young lady in charge. On returning she saw a man, whom she identified as accused, bending over th© counter trying to open the till. Accused denied ever entering the shop. Th© Magistrate said that apparently Armitage had started stealing veryyoung for there was a conviction against him as far back as 1899. Accused had fifteen! convictions for theft agaist him. On the charge of stealing the overcoat accused was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and on the other charge to three months, the sentences to run concurrently. CIVIL BUSINESS. UNDEFENDED CASES. Judgment for tfie plaintiff by default with cost's was given in each of the following undefended civil cases:— The N.Z. Farmers’ Co-op. Association. Ltd. v. J. O’Neill, £5 15s; Mary Ann Lorgelly v. W. M’Dowell, £l2 10s ; H. H. Mugford v. Ernest Smith, £1 0s Id ; F. D. Kesteven v. E. Ranslev, £22; same v. J. M’Donald, £2O; Massey, Harris Co., Ltd. v. J. Donnelly, £3B 17s. JUDGMENT SUMMONS. Violet James, who did not appeal, was ordered to pay to Wyatt Bros (Mr F. D. Sargent) a debt of £3 17s 5d within three days, in default three days’ imprisonment. Harvey Georg© Liebert (Mr A. W. Brown) proceeded against Harold B. Clark for the payment of a debt of £lB 16s 6d. After hearing debtor’s statement the Magistrate dismissed the case, on the ground that there was no proof of means. A CLAIM FOR RATES. The Christchurch City Council (Mr H. H. Loughnan) sued Thomas H. Darker (Mr T. W. Rowe) for £1 14s 3d rates alleged to be due on a property situated in Spreydon. Defendant was sued as trustee for th© South Christchurch Estate Company, Ltd. After hearing evidence the Magistrate held that the action must fail, as the property was wrongly described both in the rate book and in the summons. Further, defendant was not trustee of the company, but official liquidator, and therefor© the company in liquidation and not Harker. should have been sued. Judgment was given for th© defendant, and he was allowed 10s costs. (Before Mr S. E. M’Oartliy, S.M.) RENT OF A HOUSE. Annie Rogers (Mr W. F. Tracy) proceeded against John R. Brunt and Itosina Maria Brunt (Mr _F. 1). Sargent) for a deereas© in the rent of a house at 246, Worcester Street, owned by defendants and occupied by plaintiff. Plaintiff stated that she was paying 30s per week. The Magistrate said that allowing seven per cent on the valuation of the property as at August 3, 1914, and allowing for insurance, rates and tlire per cent depreciation on improvements, the weekly rental would be nearly 3|o&. He accordingly fixed it at that turn. LYTTELTON (Before Mr W. T. Lester, Jh*.) One first offender for drunkenness was convicted and discharged. William Down, charged with using obscene language, was convicted mid fined £3 in default twenty-one days’ imprisonment. On a further charge of creating a breach of the peace he was convicted and lined £2 in default fourteen days.