THE COURTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 9875, 24 July 1923, Page 8

THE COURTS

OPOSSUM POACHING. HEAVY FINES IMPOSED. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 23. Two men were before the Court charged with the illegal removal of opossums. It was alleged against Henry Chettick and Joseph August that they took opossums without a license, and removed them out of season. It was stated that the movements of the accused had been closely watched by rangersu employed by. the Acclimatisation Society, and a number of opossum traps were found which had been set by the accused. As it 'was difficult to detect offenders in such cases a heavyfnie was asked for if a conviction were recorded. The Magistrate agreed that small fines were useless, as large profits could be made from the practice. A fine of £2o each was imposed. iw ‘ |f * ! **\ COURT OF APPEAL. WELLINGTON. July 23. *;The Court, of . A PP<; al * his m P rnin 8 applica> ns for leave to ap- • peal against sente ™ es £ the fo^wing .Terence Maher, Emm. .ward Myers, and Robert -.lcLaughll . The Court gave judgment “■ ,:case of McDonald v. the lieai on July 10, being an application tor : leave to appeal against his convictltiAl for making a false declaration in con- ( nection with the insurance of stock m %is grocer’s shop at Kilbirme. Ihe .Court held that there had been no .misdirection of the jury by the trial .Judge and leave to appeal was tnere•fore refused with costs, ten guineas. ; SERIES OF THEFTS. TWO YOUNG MEN CHARGED. AUCKLAND, July 23. At the Magistrate’s Court, John Muckley aged 20, pleaded guilty to, • and Ss committed for sentence or .the theft of a Chevrolet motor cai valued at £230, the property of Edwin Strand to breaking and entering a dwelling and stealing goods to the val ne of On charges of stealing two bicycles he was remanded for sentence till dealt with by the Supreme Gou In a statement to the police, eased said that a companion named they force the doors of two shops On the night of July 2, Buckley said, Sayes s ear standing, mthe street, and he took it hiding it in tlie Domain. Ihe Sue and number plate were™ and another number substituted. After riding round the city, Buckley alleged that they went to see if any money Suld be y stJen from the father of Pi - tam, but Mr Pittam was m. M foie Pittam was m the house, Buckley got the car and drove all night and most -of the next morning,till he self stuck in the mud at Hanginri, when he decided to return. He entered a house at Kohimarama and stole a number of household articles. He subsequently hui *he' car Domain, where it was found, damage • assessed at £2d having been done. Kynold Pittam was also committed •for sentence for attempting to break and enter the shop of James Trubulovicli with the theft ol some high-ten Son’wire and a knife switch va ued at 9s, and the theft of four machinists .chisels, LOSS OF SCOW EDNA. THE FINDING^OF THE COURT. AUCKLAND, July 23. At the rehearing into the loss of the ■ -geow Edna, near Nortn Cape on I t marv 1 the Court was of opinion tha the 1 master, Henry John mitted an error of judgme t the deep S lead should have been kept m a pm where it could have been obtained at any time when necessity arose but ” the special circumstances discioseo, £ cl, tt thought that to^used no useful purpose. The Court did not proposert. -rf” with the masters ceitiiicate no order as to costs.