POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 101, 29 April 1913, Page 4

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. F. V. Frazer. S.M.)

DRUNKENNESS. A first offender who had lost moral grip of himself, had still a mighty efficient hand-grip left when he embraced the arresting constable in Symonds Street and plucked half-a-crown's worth of cloth from the policeman's tunic. In consequence he had thirty pence damages to pay, in addition to the usual minimum line. Two ether first-offenders were treated in the usual manner. Ada. Warner's third celebration-within six months resulted in her being fined 20/- and' prohibited. Edward Allcock -was fined 10/-. WELCOMED A STBANGEB. Henry Taylor denied soliciting money in Queen Street at about 7 o'clock last night from Patrick Kean, a buEhman having a holiday in town. Kean said that as he and a companion were going along the street Taylor stepped oat from a corner and' accosted them, asking them if they were going to shoot or to give him some money. When J£esn refused to allow himself the hanonr-of entertaining the stranger, the latter requested him to come round the corner to get knocked out. Kean was not looking for adventures of the sort, and his friend invited a policeman to give his personal attention to Taylor. Taylor's defence consisted of drawing attention to the fact that he had 2/10 in his pocket when arrested , , and remarking that it was ridiculous to think he -would stick anyone up for money when he had nearly 3/- in his pocket. Taylor was also charged with stealing a brush valued at 6d. from a, secondhand dealer in Victoria Street. The dealer, Rosy Levy, said that last Saturday Taylor sold her an old portmanteau and a pair of old tronsers lor sixpence. The brush was in the portmanteau, and afterhe got his sixpence Taylor aeked for the loan of the brush totorush his clothes. While -she was attending to another customer Taylor cleared out with, the brush. Taylor simply said that he sold the portmanteau and' the trousers for sixpence, but not the brush that was in the portmanteau. He was convicted on both charges, and, his previous-record of convictions being unfsvourablej was sentenced to three weeks' hard labour. THE FIRST BLOT. The charge against Jame3 Alexander Wilson, of having stolen a hundredweight of lead belonging *o the Auckland Harbour Board was in some way related to the visit of the battle-cruiser New Zealand, for it was Wilson's employment- on the water-front in the -spectacular preparations for the ship's welcome that paved the •way ior the theft. The man took the lead away, but returned it after the-poßce had 'been put on bis track. Wilson's Tecord was of a hardworking and in view of that fact and for tie farther cogent reason that accused bed- -by Ms act forfeited a good job, the Magistrate extended the clemency of convicting him and ordering ihim to come irp for sentence -urtien called upon. GOT OK SIS HERV3BS. William McDowell (29), cheerfully admitted that be was one-of the two parties to a fight that occurred in Customs Street about half-past eight last night. The other man had not been caught, and McDowell explained that he had come , acrtos3 from Sydney on. &be came boat as the other man, who liad become a source of annoyance to him by "attacrh- ; ing himself to accused and " touching " him for occasional monetary favours. Wilson said the other man continued jhis irritating one-sided friendship after i they had got ashore. "He got on my ! nerves, and I was tired of it, and struck ■ him." Wilson concluded. , The price of WjJson'a impatience was summed np in a fine-of 20/. A PKCnKTAR THEFT. Jessie Emmerson (32), a well-dressed, prepossaessing woman, -vcirtt the added advantage of being •formerly unknown to the police, offered no defence to a charge i,ha<L she followed a young man to the door of the Royal Rink last night and snatched up -the shilling which he put on the counter of the pay office to enable him to get into the rink. The accused went along the street to an hotel in possession of the money, and wag stopped by a policeman. She had on her about 25/, and the only logical Teason the Court could -find for her strange action fay in the fact "that the policeman found thkt ehe was under the influence of drink at the time. She was fined 10/ and 12/ costs. MAINTENANCE. James Rush, for faffing" to comply with a maintenance order, was ordered to be made the subject of a. warrant committing him to 14 days' imprisonment if he does not pay up within a week. Arthur McMabon'-s non-compliance- with a maintenance order (respecting a brother) resulted in a magisterial order that he be seat to gaol for 14 days if he does not keep up his proper payments and wipe off the arrears at the rate of 15/ a month. MISCEIXANEOUS. William Joseph Smith MorreH (24), on a charge that at HeflensviHe, about April 4, he stole a collar-box, four ties, four shirts, «a suit of pyjamas, singlet, and five handkerchiefs, value £2 17/, the property of Norman Price Jack, was remanded to appear at Maungaturoto next Tuesday. Bafl was fixed at one surety of £200/ or two of £100 each.