The Courts

Western Star, 26 January 1906, Page 3

The Courts

Wednesday, 24th Jan. (Before Messrs W. R. Pankhurst

and J. C. Thomson, J's. P.) Maggie Loy King alias Mrs Sing Yo Lee, Round Hill, against whom there were three previous convictions of different kinds, was. charged on the information of the Police, with having no visible means of support. Constable Bingham, who conducted the prosecution, said the accused belonged to the unfortunate class. She had resided at Round Hill for eight or ten years, and lived with the Chinese. She ha'dbeen legally married to a Chinaman many years ago, but he had deserted her five or six years ago. The Police had endeavoured to find' *him,and had ascertained that he went to ' China about four or .five years ago, since when nothing had been heard of him. The accused

lived entirely with' the Chinese, and was living with a convicted Asiatic, while .she begged meals' from others. She was not known to do any work for a number of years, and did not observe the ordinary rules of cleanliness, and was anuis ance to the whole community at the Hill. He knew of no reason why she should not earn herl'vingat work. The Police had repeatedly cautioned her, and she i.ad been seen repeatedly about the liotcl indulging in liquor. The moral effect of her presence at Round Hill was bad, as the school children could not help seeing her, the school being quite close to the tramway along which they had to oass and close to which accused lived. He called Alfred Reynolds and Charles Morgan. The former deposed that he did not know how accused earned her living, and stated that her associates were principally Chinese. He. had not known her to do any work,but he could not speak as to her being addicted to drink or soliciting alms. The latter deposed that he had known the accused for upwards of ten years. f'he went about in a very bad state, and lived with the Chinese. He had never seen her doing any work, and he passed her house two or three times a day. Her. premises? were filthy. Had seen her the worse of liquor sometimes, and as there wire fifty children attending the sihool, he considered the .moral""effect of her presence bad. Accused denied the charge, but in reply to the Bench, was unable to state what she earned. She was convicted, and sentenced to three months.

A prohibition order was {Merited

for twelve months against vi Cclac resident to have effect in ihe Wal-

lace electorate. There was no appearance of the defendant. On the information of the Police,

instructed by the Railway Department, Donald McKay, Orakj, was charged with allowing cattle to trespass on the railway line. Defendant stated that the cattle had wandered away and while he was seeking them they had strayed on to the line. He had spent 15s on the search for them. He admitted that the cattle had been on the line In view of the circumstances, the Bench inflicted a fine of ss, and costs 7s. ,

Police v. John Thompson, boot-

maker, Thornbury, who was charged with .theft of articles of the value of £2 from a dwelling. At the request of Constable Bingham, a remand was granted to Saturday, the 27th inst., at 11 a.m.

The charge against seven fishermen of a breach of the Fisheries Conservation Act in that they did net trout within a prohibited "area, was adjourned until the 14th February. CIVIL BUSINESS.. Judgment was given by default in the following undefended cases— A. E. Willett v. M. J. and R. G. Riddell, claim £9 16s, costs 9 6 Jnof Petchell v R. Logan, claim £j- 9s jd (defendant had paid £7 into court), costs 13s 6d. Mr Hunter appeared for Mr Willett,and Mr Aftderson for Mr Petchell,