POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 114, 13 May 1908, Page 5

POLICE COURT.

. YESTERDAY. (Before Mr. C. C. Kettle. SAL)._ A YOUTH IN TROUBLE. The case was continued yesterday afternoon In which Leopold McCarthy, a steward in the emply of the Union S.S. Co., was charged with stealing a rolledgold watch and chain and a silver matchbox, valued at £ 16. the property of John Bennett (second steward of the Hauroto). and also with the theft of two white coats, value 7/, the property of Charles Reeve. Mr. Hackett defended. William Bartley deposed that he was with the accused on the afternoon in tae steward's cabin, McCarthy's box being then in the alley-way. Accused made two trips between tne cabin and the alley-way, bringing with him each time a white jacket, which witness at His request placed in the box. Then McCarthy, remarking that he had lost his waistcoat, went into the cabin in the direction of Bennett's bunk, bringing back a waistcoat on which witness saw a gold chainThe accused placed this in the box hinii self, and locked it up. In consequence of i what witness stated when the loss of the j articles was reported, McCarthys box 1 was opened. Accused, on oath, stated that he had been so under the influence of liquor that . he could remember nothing concerning the alleged taking of the article--The accused pleaded not guilty on the i first charge, and Mr. Kettle, while es- - pressing deep regret at the circumstances, • said that he could not believe his state- ■ ment, and, on McCarthy electing to be dealt with summarily, decided to convict ! and remand for the probation officer's '■ report. On the second count the accused, ■ on his counsel's advice, pleaded guilty, a ' similiar decision being recorded by the Bench. Bail was allowed.

(Before Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M.) ' THOU SHALT NOT DISSTGUBE." When William Noton was using a .brush and paint-pot at the corner of Wellesley and Queen streets on the 11th. .ult_, he was committing an offence of ; two varieties. He was contravening ' j a commandment of the Auck-yad City i by-laws, and section 35-4 of the Muniei- = ! pal Corporations' Act. Noton was busj lly engaged painting the legend '"Drink Tea in globing colours on the footway, unconscious, as his solicitor, Mr - Burton, explained this morning, that he 2 was by this simple and picturesque act .- a malefactor. But so it was, and aca cordingly Mr Burton pleaded guilty for i. his client, adding that immediately he was informed that the footpath painting v constituted an offence, he desisted. r "Tt seems very strange that this man ~ should be prosecuted for this offence," • commented the magistrate, "seeing that c the whole of Auckland is plastered about with these sort of advertisements, cons trary to section 354 of the Municipal r Corporations' Act 1900." This Act discr tinctly says — 'No person shall post, 1. 1 paint, affix, carve, inscribe, or exhibit 3 j any placard, bill, inscription, advertisef6 j ment, or notice upon any telegraph or 3- | telephone pole or on any street, private c i street, building structure, or place withit j in the Borough, save only on hoardings le or places licensed by the Council for j. | such purpose; provided that this secL t j tion shall not prevent any person from sg I exhibiting notices in any building oi jT i structure r _/ace owned or occupies !q jby him.' The penalty for infringemenl , c 'of this section is a maximum of £20 j.. ] The disfigurements of the city by al .. manner of abominations in the shape oJ =. j advertisements, are legion," went on Ml Kettle, "but I do not see why this un r fortunate man should be singled out." j "The prosecution in question is undei

a City Council by-law. prohibiting the putting of this sort of thing, on. the street. - ' explained Mr Gordon. '""He was painting on a city footpath." "That may be, but I do not make fish of one and "flesh of another," returned the magistrate. "Where are we to begin?" inquired the Sub-inspector. "We could collect a good proportion of the advertisers in the city. including the daily papers." ■-Oh. it is not for mc to determine who you are to start upon, though I should make no distinction. Of course, this man must be convicted, but as I say. I don't know why a sudden example should be made of him." I "That is not so, your Worship, we have prosecuted others," explained Mr Gordon. "Well, he will be fined 5/-. and costs," decided Mr Kettle, who went on to re- j mark that some time ago he himself had communicated with the society having the beautification of the city for its objects on this same matter, but had heard no more about Tit:

WHAT HE 'WANTED. A bushy-crop neaded young fellow named William Ward was discovered by a police officer in Quay-street last night, waging mischief upon one of the city gas lamps, to the hopeless damage of the glassware. The constable persuaded him to cease hostilities, but during the adjournment to the police-station, Ward several times reiterated darkly that be 1 had a motive in Ms assault on the lamp. And according- to the attitude of him this morning the method of this apparent I madness was bound by a desire to become acquainted with the Auckland gaol. He was a fish merchant in Sydney a month lor so since, having been but three weeks I in Auckland, explained Ward to his VV'or- | ship, who then inquired of the lamp aaj sailant whether he would not prefer being lin the country to a residence in gaoi- ; The quondam" fish merchant hesitated, j with the father of a smile lurking in the ! wrinkling round his mouth. ~ Would jyou prefer gaol?" ventured the magis- • trate; and displaying a strong row of I teeth.' the other answered naively, "Yes, i for a little while." and went on to enjoy the situation in such cheerful unrestraint that the suspicious magistrate remanded him tor eight days. REMANDED. William Hillson and Sidney Day ap peared on a charge of conspiring to de fraud one Sidney Walker Hill of a quan tity of meat, valued! at 0/9, yesterday Hillson was further charged with steal iwr the meat, and Day with receiving it ' knowing it to have been dishonestly ob tamed. Chief Detective Marsack axplainei . that the accused men had only been ar I rested late yesterday, and he asked, ther fore, for a remand until Friday. Thi was granted, and on the application o , Mr. McGregor, who appeared for Hillsoi i bail was fixed' in two sureties each o r £25. COBS3Z3TTXD FOR TRIAL. The man William Blaas, accused of rol s bing a Maori named Ray Akatea, of sui t dry articles of clothing and a £3 cheqt i in January last, and who pleaded guilt i when first brought before the Court, th .- morning withdrew thai plea, electing t jjgo before a jxujr, and reserrajg his d 1

fence;. After the -Hearing again "of suffici-1 J|( ent evidence for .committal, ha was accordingly sent to stand his trial at the I Supreme Court. XNKBB.IATE. James Douglas McGregor Readford!, a second offender, was-prohibited; and one first visitor, a naval reserve .man from the Pioneer, was > convicted and ordered •■■ to return to his vessel, i _ gj. Georgina Thornton was convicted and ordered up when called upon in connec- SB tion with the charges against her of obscenity, drunkenness, and refusing to ai quit the Falls Hotel, Henderson, and was also prohibited for twelve months. Jane oi Duggan admitted breaking the terms of y. her" order, and loquaciously pressed the a] Bench, to accept a sovereign in adjustment of the offence, and allow her to return home to her delicate baby. Uponhis f c Worship deciding to convict her without sl the imposition of a fine. Jane's gratitude jj showered blessings so profusely upon the j, Magistrate that "one of the constables in el attendance began to consider the sltua- ,j, tion uncanny, and so gently led her to the g outer air. . d LEAVING HIS CAB. i a John Winter, who left his cab *j standing ' for five or six minutes $ in Stafford-street, Parnetl, on the si Ist instant, while he adjourned £ to the residence of his fare to collect the * money, and incidentally drink a glass of " shandy-gaff, "was fined 20s. and Court ? , " -Jo COS "- - .-. fi -pa-ivTTT.-y BOG-. " vi Thomas Chaplin admlttea that the dog p was a frequenter of his place at North- a , cote, but it belonged to his son, and was a now defunct, anyway, it havig- met with r a drowning accident subsequent to the t • receipt of. the summons for failure to I • register it. In answer "to his Worship g , he agreed that it was a. sort of family c • dog, "although it. nominally belonged to "v » son. His Worship decided that the I doz had met wit the accident too late * in "its life to save Thomas Chaplin from s a 5/ fine, together with the payment of C the fee of registration" J5/, and costs, t incurredj amounting to 13/. £ J - c