POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 66, 17 March 1916, Page 4

POLICE COURT.

(Before Messrs. Jae. Jamieeon and R. E. Isaacs, J.P.'s.) DRUNKENITESS. One first offender, who was out of a job, was convicted and discharged, and one who came off hie ship for a spree was fined 5/. John McSweeney (29), for committing a nuisance on the street when he was drunk, was fined 40/, and was, by agreement, prohibited. James McElroy (38) and Martin Saunders (58), on charges of getting drunk when prohibited, were remanded till tomorrow. HOME AGAIN. George Heighway (59) was charged that on January 25 he stole a hand-saw, value 6/6, the property of Arthur Smith. Evidence was given to the effect that Arthur Smith, on the morning of Jan. 25, missed a hand-saw which had been hanging in the washhouse of his house in King Street, Xewmarket. That same morning a little earlier some neighbours of Mr. Smith caw Heighway go into Smith's place empty-handed and come out with a saw in his hand. When Heighway went into the house the only thing he was visibly carrying was a '"square-rigger," which was sticking out of hie coat pocket. Heighway said he had no reflection whatever of the matter, and his record of 122 previous convictions, mostly for drunkenness and offences arising therefrom, indicated that the man probably didn't know what he was doing. "It's only like sending yoiT home again," commented the chairman as lie sentenced Heighway to three months' bard labour. SHORT-SIGHTED INIIKkff Thomas Mawicke (52) was charged that yesterday morning he stole a pair of boots, vahie 13/6, the property of Charles A. Clark. * ' Charles Clark, bootmaker. Great North Road, near the Newton reservoir said that about ten o'clock yesterday morning a lady called hie attention to the fact that something was happening xt hie shop doorway. Witness went to the doorway and found that a pair of boots had been cut off a hook to which they had been har-ring by a string, and were lying in the doorway. Massicks was walking down the street a little way off.

Constable Wilson stated that when his attention was drawn to accused he charged him with the theft, and ilassicke admitted that he had cut the boote down, ibut didn't intend to steal them. He was looking at them and thought they would suit a boy of hia and, being a little shortsighted, he cut them down to see them closer. As they didn't suit ihe put them down and went sway. He didn't ccc or hear any lady draw attention to his actions, he eaid The man had evidently been driniinc ' When the Bench intimated that it did not consider the explanation sufficient the man said he had had some domest l ' tronble and some drink, and hardly knew what he was doing, but had no intention of stealing. He had a wife and family to keep, he added. He was sentenced to seven daye' hard labour. MISCEIXANEOUS. Wdlliam Milne (38), on charge* o f drunkenness and >of being absent with out leave from his ship, the Onawi ! v.aa remanded until to-morrow.