MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 52, 1 February 1932, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

CASES HEARD TO-DAY. Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., presided over the sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston North to-day. Karl Stevens Kelcher was charged with the theft at Shannon,, on or about December 12. of 12s, the property of W. Swindlehurst. Accused pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant Whitehouso said that restitution had been made of the money, which had been stolen from the money boxes of the children of accused’s employer, who was prepared to keep him on. Accused was convicted and ordered to come up for entence at any time within six months if called upon. Richard Johns was charged with being found on licensed premises during the currency of a prohibition order. He was fine<l £l, with 10s costs. For parking a car more 'than ten feet from the kerb in the Square, Ivo Taylor was fined 10s, with 12s costs’. A penalty of 10s, with 10s costs, was imposed on T. H. Mai for parking a car in front of the police station in Church Street.

F. Henry was fined £l, •with lOi costs, for cycling on the footpath. For a similar offence Alan Follett was penalised £l, with 3s costs. Joe Shun was charged with failure to give way to traffic approaching from the right at the intersection of Campbell and Cuba Streets. A penalty of £l, with 13s costs, was imposed upon defendant, who pleaded guilty. A fine of £2, with 19s costs, was inflicted upon Leslie Wells on a charge of negligently driving a motor vehicle on the Bunnythorpe-Kairanga Road. Raynor Bond Shearer pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a car on the Foxton-Palmerston North Road on January lin a manner which, having regard to all the circumstances, was dangerous to the public. SeniorSergeant Whitehouse said that defendant, through an alleged fault in the steering gear, had crashed into, the rear of a stationary car. Defendant was fined £2, with' 19s costs. Arising out of the same incident Rex A. Shearer was fined 10s, with 10s costs, for not possessing a driver’s license.

Failure to produce a firearm on demand resulted in H. Treseder being fined 10s, with 10s costs. H. W. Gretton was fined 10s, with 3s costs, for cycling at night without a light. A fine of 10s, with 10s costs, was imposed upon A. T. Gardiner, a dairy farmer, for allowing a Jersey bull to be at iarge in Limbrick and Manson Streets.

Charged with failure to keep a vigilant look-out and with attempting to cross the railway line in the Square when it was not clear, William Hart,' of Levin, pleaded not guilty. SeniorSergeant Whitehouse said he saw defendant’s bus cross the line while the bells were ringing and a train was approaching. Witness denied to counsel for defendant that the bells had only just started ringing when defendant crossed the line. Counsel said defendant had just reached the line when the bells started ringing, and the only thing to do was to continue across. Defendant gave gviden.ee confirming this statement. He said he could not have stopped without getting on the line. There was more risk in reversing than in going forward. The case was adjourned for a week to enable the regulations to be produced to indicate just under what circumstances a lino was not clear. •

Charged with having been found on licensed premises after hours, J. Carson and J. Nelson were fined £2 with 3s costs. CHARGE OF THROWING MUD. “That he did throw a missile, to wit, mud, to the danger of the public at Palmerston North, on December 23” was a charge preferred against Hugh James Trask: Mr McLeavey appeared for defendant, and entered a plea of guilty.. _ * Charges of ajding and abetting him in the commission of the offence were brought against G. H. Murfitt, N. Christensen, F. Whibley, R. J. Wright, G. R. Findlay, G. R. Graham, R. Mouldey, T. B. Davies, S. E. Smith, S. Jarvis, G ; . F. Withers, H. Nelson and Aubrey Thorpe. All lined up at the side of the Courtroom and pleaded not guilty. Senior-Sergeant Whitehonse stated that a party of relief workers had been returning from Mangawhata and the, mud had been thrown at a motor cyclist and at a motor car, the windscreen being broken in the latter instance. Two of the men charged had, however been riding inside the cab and could not have participated in the episode. He consequently asked that the information be withdrawn in these instances.

W. J. Spicer, farm hand, of Oroua Downs, stated that on December 23 he had been proceeding along Foxton Line on-his motor cycle when he had had mud thrown over him as he passed a lorry. When he had looked back two. men has been standing up in the vehicle.

W. J. Shailer, farmer, of Glen Oroua, stated that as he had passed the lorry on Foxton Line a ball of mud had been thrown at his car, penetrating the windscreen. Constable Barrett stated that he had received a complaint from the two previous witnesses in connection with the mud throwing. The lorry had later arrived at the station when he had taken the names of the men and had asked whether they could give any particulars. The name of one man

had been given as the person responsible for putting the mud on the lorry. The Magistrate commented that' the men appeared to forget that the public were paying to keep them in employment and sustenance and it was no wonder that the public was getting a little tired if they were being accorded such treatment in return.

Mr McLeavey explained that Trask had informed him' that it had been the practice of some of the men to indulge in mud throwing. The Magistrate: There is at least one honest man among you for others must know the person or persons responsible. You should be all suspended for a week or two by way of punishment. However, I hope you will be men enough to assist towards Eaying the fine for the man who will ave to bear the brunt. Three of the men voiced an objection against the remark, but the Magistrate ordered them to desist, adding that while the charge against them would be dismissed, Trask would “be fined ’£l and costs.