MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7942, 17 January 1906, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

MASTERTON—TUESDAY. (Before Mr W. P. Jimes, S.M.) ALLEGED ILLEGAL SALE OP CIGARETTES. Yea Chong was charged with having sold cigarettes to a boy named Arthur Boyd, under tho aae of 15 years, and, also, with having sold cigarettes on Sunday, Decern oer 17th. Accused pleaded guilty, and was represented by Mr P. L. Hollings. Arthur Boyd stated that at about a quarter to eignt on tho morning in question, while on bis way to Church, he went round to the back door of Yee Ohoug's, and purchased a box of cigarette". Ho tendered a two-shilling piece, and received the change. Witness was certain that Veo Chong was the man who had supplied hitii with the cigarettes. When ho went to Pai Gen's for a bottle of ginger beer, Uen Gen saw the box of cigarettes iu his Docket, and asked him where he got them. Witness did not kuow the Chinaman'si,name at, that tima, but indicated tho position of the shop. Constable lieffeman deposed to receivinK a box of eigaruttus from Uen Gun and to tho boy taking him down to Yce Chong's, and pointing him out tho place as that of the man who had sold him tho cigarettes. The back door in the shop where the cigarettes had been bought was not open to the view of the public. Mr Hollings, for the defence, submitted that there was nothing in the Statute to prevent the selling on Sunday, provided it was done away from the public view, and the evidence went to show that, assumirg the cigarettes were sold, tho place where thoy were obtained was not opeu to tho public view. Defendant, ou oath, stated that on December 17th he was away from his shop all day ai Ah Lin's. He never sold any cigarettes to the coy on that or any other occasion. Ah Lin, a gardener at Akura, stated that ou December 17th, Yee Chong was at his place. He arrived at about 8 o'clock in tie morning and remained there all day. The Magistrate stated that be «vas rather inclined to believe the boy's story, but at the same time there might have been some mistake, and he would give tho defendant the of the doubt and dismiss the case. SUNDAY TRADING. ' Edward Grooir.bridge was charged with having kept his shop open and transacted business by selling Jollies on January 7th. He pleaded guilty, stating that he had no intention of breaking the law. A fine of Is with 9s costs was inflicted. CAB-DRIVERS IN TROUBLE. Harry Gray, a cab-driver, was Sued 5s with 7s costs, for having drawn his cab alongside another cab in the street, and off the recognised cab-stand, on December 26th, contrary to tne Borough by-laws, and Arthur Woodham, for having driven a cab around the corner of Perry and Queen Streets at other than a walking pace, on December 26th, was also fined 5s with 7s costs. A THEFT BY A MAORI. Ruku Ropiha was charged with having stolen, from the dwelling of Hugh Rea, a leather trunk, valued at £3, clothing valued at about £l, and about £5 in money, on the 10th insc. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Mr C. A. Pownall. Hugh Rea stated that when going to bed on the evening in question he emptied his till and put the conteats, 30s, into a leather-trunk. There was also another £3 or £4 in the box. In the morning he missed his trunk, and immediately gave information to the police. Witness estimated his loss at £B. Timothy Clancy stated that on the evening in question he jvas attending his horses at about 9.15 o'clock. He heard a noise on the vaoant section adjoining his stables as the rear of the Empire Hotel, and he went to see the oause. Witness saw the accused coming through a hole in the fence with a leather trunk under bis arm. He did not take any more notice of the incident. Arthur Cook, night porter at the Empire Hotel, stated that, on the morning of the 10th instant, he was with the accused. He saw him have tt drink and heard him say that that was his last sixpence. Witness, while working outside the hotel, saw accused at about midnight, and he wanted a bed. He showed about 10s in silver, but witness would not let him in. He did not see him again until he was drinking between 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning. * Constable Learpiouth gave evidence to the arrest. Accused seemed to know nothing of the trunk when arrested. When witness searched acouaed he found a quantity of silver, mostly threepenny bits, and three half-sovereigns. On December 31st. at about 1.30 a.m., witness saw acoused iu Rea's bank-yard walking about. Witness was going to arrest him, bat the accused jumped the fence and made off. There was no lock on „ Rea's door, and Rea was lying on his bed. Acoused stated that the reason of his being in Rea's back-yard in the evening on the olst ultiuio, was because Rea, who was indisposed, had asked him to look after the place. He ran away from the police because he thuughc he might be arrested for drunkeuness. He did not know anything about the robbery. Mr Pownall asked that the accused should be dealt with leniently. A sentence of two months' imprisonment with hard labour was imposed. FAILING TO REGISTER. A. H. Wrightson, for failing to register the birth of his child within the prescribed time, was fined ss.