POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1913, Page 5

POLICE COURT.

■ ■ (Before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. There were twelve persons charged with drunkenness, all but two being firstoffenders, arid dealt with accordingly. Charles Skidmore and Patrick Cummings were fined £1 each for third offences. THE LEISURED CLASS. Two youths named Leonard Billett and Bertram O'Connor were convicted of being idle and disorderly persons in that they had no visible lawful means of support, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. His Worship did not send the young fellows to gaol, as they said they had work to go to. Detective Cummings told a story of a life'of vagabondage, including sleeping out in the Domain. Clara Lilian Weston, a girl a little over sixteen years of age, who had been found with the two accused, was also brought before the Court on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person. The mother rsaid she could very Well look after the girl if the decoyers like the two male accused did not come round. She said it was she who first gave the police the information about the goings on in the Domain. His Worship said it would be better for the girl's own sake if sl-,e were kept under restraint for a while, and committed her to the Salvation Army Home in Parnell for twelve months. John Dawson and Henry Dean, who followed the sea. for a livelihood, admitted that they had been found by night without lawful excuse on the premises of the Auckland Gas Co.. but denied that they were "rogues and vagabonds." and attributed their presence at the Gas Works to "a drop too much." in which they had indulged with some friends. Under the circumstances his Worship recorded a conviction and ordered the men to come up for sentence when called upon. TIME TO REFLECT. '"The young man's downfall is due to drink," observed Chief Detective McMahon when Thomas Henry Simpkins was charged with the theft of an overcoat, the property of a commercial traveller named Neil Buchanan Campbell. The police story was that accused picked up Campbell, who was under the influence of liquor, conveyed him to a quiet place, and then snatched his overcoat. A constable watched the informal meeting of < the two. and. scenting trouble, shadowed ' the pair. Simpkins was arrested for theft and Campbell for drunkenness. His Worship convicted Simpkins and ordered r bim to be detained for reforiii__Lb-s- par- - poses for-8. .rrer_-4-__-^-_--M--_-ngg^-i---ui, _