MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16583, 16 November 1921, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

CHRISTCHURCH. TO-DAY'S SITTING. Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M. presided at to-day’s sitting of th© Christchurch Magistrate’s Court. DRUNKENNESS. A first offender, charged with drunkenness, began to say something about “having only had two or three, ’ but th© clerk of the Court interrupted by asking how ho pleaded. “ Oh I Guilty ' said the accused. He was fined ss, in default twenty-four hours* imprisonment. A dark-complexioned man napped George Mallouk, fifty years of age, admitted that h© had been drunk in Tuam Street and that he had broken his prohibition order. Mr R. A. Cuthbert said that this was Mallouk’s second breach. Apart from the question of drunkenness, he had a good character, being in steady employment as a Jiawker. “ H© has been to the Island twice,” said Mr Wilson. “ .11© will be fined £5 for th© breach of his order, and 10s, in default forty hours', on th© charge of drunkenness.” “ A CLUMSY. ACT.” James William Murdock Ross, alias Ryan, thirty-four years of age, pleaded not guilty to a charge of wilfully damaging two costumes valued at £ll 2s 6d, th© property of Mary Rossbo rough. Mary Rossborough, a married woman, employed as a dressmaker at Rangiora, said that on November 4 at 5.45 p.m. accused came to the shop and asked witness if she would buy a bottle of ink. When she refused, lie shook the bottle about and allowed ink to get on to two dresses. To the Magistrate: Witness thought that Ross was under tlie influence of drink. Police evidence was to the effect that Ross said he was a manufacturer of ink. H© had subsequently been arrested for drunkenness. The Magistrate said that the information would be dismissed. The of fence was the clumsy act* of a drunk&a man. There were grounds for a civil action. REMANDED. Alf red Thomas Goody was charged with breaking and entering tho office of tho Milburn Lime and Cement Company, at Dunedin, on July 15, and stealing various articles valued at 12s 6d. He was remanded to appear at Dunedin on Saturday. Arthur M’Keever, alias Anderson, charged with wilfully damaging a plat© gloss window valued at £2O, the property of Arthur Stanley Guiney, was remanded to appear on Friday. STOLEN BENZINE. James Murton pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a case of benzine, valued at 29s 6d, the property of the New Zealand Government. Chief-Detective Cameron said that Murton had been a casual employee in th© railway goods shed at Christchurch. Mr M. J. Gresson. for tho accused, said that Murton was forty years of age, and had been working for ten years as a casual employe© in the Railway Department. Th© case was one of sudden temptation, and not part of systematic pillaging. Murton had been dismissed by the Department. Tho Magistrate said that Murton had pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing goods entrusted to his car© in the course of duty as a Government servant ; that made it a much more serious offence than ordinary theft. As it was accused’s first slip, he would be convicted and fined £lO. IDLE AND DISORDERLY. Annie Coleman, a married woman, was convicted on a charge of being a\i idle and disorderly person, and ordered to com© up for sentence when called upon, provided she remain© in tho Salvation Army Home for three months. NOT LICENSED. Henry Marshall was charged with carrying on th© business of a. secondhand dealer without a license. He pleaded guilty. Chief-Detective Cameron said that in a city like Christchurch when unregistered persons acted as second-hand dealers it was very difficult to trace bicycles and other articles which were bought and resold. The Magistrate: It was very convenient for thieves. Chief-Detective Cameron said it was not suggested that Marshall was dishonest, but tlie police wanted him to comply with the lawr. Marshall said that his regular business ivas a commission agent. He thought there was personal animus on the part of the police, as he had not been warned, and as other people were buj-ing motor-cycles without being ijcensed. Chief-Detective Cameron suit! the police complained not only ©f buying but of selling and exchanging. The police were not supposed to go round telling people what tlie law was. The Magistrate said that the object of licensing second-hand dealers was that a record might be kept of articles sold and exchanged. Marshall would be convicted and lined £3 with costs. LYTTELTON. (Before Mr S. E McCarthy, S.M.) PROHIBII lON BREACHES. For procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order John Collins was convicted and lined £2, in default seven days. John Goad was similarly dealt with. LICENSEE CHARGED. Alexander Mitchell, licensee of the Royal Hotel, was charged with supplying George Fitzsimmons with liquor through Clarence Ferris, barman, while Fitzsimmons was in a state of intoxication. Accused pleaded guilty, but stated that the bar was fin 11 at the time and Fitzsimmons had not Leon noticed. He was away from the hotel that day. The Magistrate, in imposing a line of £lO, said he would not endorse the licensee" s eer till cate. Clarence Ferris, the barman, charged with serving liquor to an intoxicated person, was convicted and discharged. JUVENILE COURT. Three juveniles were charged with stealing a quantity of carpenters’ tools valued at £2, th© property of J. Miller. Ltd. Two of the boys, who were brothers, were placed on probation for two years and ordered to report to tlie Catholic priest weekly. The charge against the other bov was adjourned until next Court day. Charlotte AVakelin, charged w*4 l? .h receiving a quantity of carpenter'** tools from one of the above defeiida*tO&. was a period of two years, dei'ciijfiaiii to report to the police, weekly.