POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 252, 21 October 1908, Page 4

POLICE COURT.

j ; :'l (Before Mr C,C;- Kettle, :S3ifc) 7", J The -man Charles Arthur Ganertori; remanded from last week for the tipn.offioer's'reporfcj after a conviction for stealing, a roll of linoleum from, a second* haiwi'sliop- in KaTangahape-road, was brought up foi" settlement' this morning; -The officer's" report disclosed the fact" Ganerton had previonsly.been- convicted for theft from a dwelling. IVHIe con-, that.the accused's statement that ! he was under the influence of liquor- at the time- might'be- correct; his. Worshipyet expressed the opinidri that- a certain ; amount of cunning was' noticeable in . the way-he went about the-business. Sentence- of three months' imprisonment' was - passed, the Magistrate deciding, also to issue- a prohibition order, for 12 i months. - - (Before-Messrs J. Ziman and -C. Wheeler, ?' J.P.'s.) THE BLUE TEEKOH. Herbert Ford, a dealer in'jewellery, was called upon-- to answer, a charge this morning of having, ,on or about [ September 23 last, delivered to a lady 1 customer a document intended or likely 1 by reason of its wording" or-appearance ' to cause any perßon- ignorant of the law to believe that it had been issued by a court or magistrate or some-: court-- official, or that- its' delivery would hawe some legal effect. Mr- Brookfield appeared for thedefendant, and admitted' that the paper, in question had been delivered, -but:he asked the court to put themselves in the. place of persons ignorant of the law, arid then look-at the document', and say ' if it were likely they would believe that it had been issued by any magistrate' or court official, and.had any legal significance. Chief Detective Marsack produced the papeT in question, blue of colour, sur- - mounted by the royal coat' of arms,- but minus the U.R., and bearing- the legend; "Notice of Demand (Detention of Property)." Beneath this appeared the further intimation: "Take notice that unless you deliver up to me-my property; which I have already demanded of you,-by , ■I will, cause legal, process to issue against yoa for the recovery of the same. (Signed) Auckland in the said State, this day of ~ A.D." This somewhat formidable-looking document was. j picturesquely spaced and "To wit-ed" in [style beloved of tim-archaic engine of law, but lacked many essentials that would i quakn the heart -of -anyone versed in I legal process, form and correct phrasing. Said Chief Detective Marsack: "Ford, ] who is. a> dealer in .jewellery, sold .something to a- woman on.the time payment . system a little while back, and when the--I.payments failed, to eventuate. he> de'maiidcii the .return of the jewellery, and later dispatched this document as-an enI couragement to her- to comply without j loss of further time.". . Mr Marsack I went-on to. contend that the mere fact lof the coat of.. arms being at the top of the document was of- itself sufficient to j deceive- any peison ignorant i of, the* law, | and make." him or her believe it to be la' legal process issued by some person in 'authority; and induce belief that unless j the goods were delivered court proceedI ings would follow. / "There Jiave been prosecutions for ! breaches of this 'sort all over the colony. •; | but I -think this-is one of. the strongest ' leases I have .heard; of," commented the .Chief.- He suggested; Tiorwever, that it I was a matter-that could better be dealtJ with by- a- magistrate. Mr Brookfield submitted that it was a, case-where- tlie person not very intimately acquainted with tbe law and its pro--(•ess could better decide; but the "Bench agreed that a magistrate had best hear [ it, so the question was adjourned for that purpose. A ST. HELEEK'S BAY CASE. Last night a young man named .George Long was arrested in WeUesley-street by Detectives Miller and Lowell on a charge of haring stolen a cashbox from the St. Helier's Bay Hotel, containing money and jewellery to the-value of about £40, the property of William Henry Wrathall. This morning Lorig. appeared at Court, and. Chief Detective Marsack asked for '■ a remand of eight days, explaining that a necessary witness was- at present ab-' sent in Hawke's Bay. '"'•;' ; Bail was-fixed in two. sureties, each ol £50. REMANDED. A youth named John Matthews wis charged with having broken into the , shop of' Henry Jackson- at Otahuhu on' the 18th inst. and taken away a quantity of tobacco; Detectives- MacMahon' and Cox captured the accused last evening'in Queenstreet, and in aslurig for a remand, Mr Marsack explained that as tbe offence occurred at Otahuhu,. and the witnesses were somewhat scattered, he could"" notyet say whether the case would be heard at Otahuhu or at* Auckland. Matthews was remanded for a week, bail being fixed at £100^-BT-lAWS. Ah Gin explained that why he left his . vehicle without chaining'the wheel wasbecause his horse was so quiet that it would never ruri away. Natheless he . was called upon for 5/ and' costs 7/. Walter Powley paid .10/ and costs for allowing, his cart.to stand in Pitt-street longer than was - necessary. INEBRIATE. William Lynch, a second, was ordered to pay' 10/ or 24-hours; one first offender" forfeited bail by non-appearance, and two were mulcted to the usual extent. ■