POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 142, 15 June 1917, Page 4

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. F. V. Frazer, SM.) DRUNKENNESS. Two first offenders forfeited bait Waltor Hooton (6!)) wae prohibited, convicted, and ordered to come up for sen* tenoe when called on. Hector Hamilton (49), and Cecil Town* ley (34). for committing a nuisance when under the influence of liquor, were each fined 40/. Ivan A. Stewart (23), for a like offence, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence whea called on. CATTGHT FORAGING. George Harrison (53) admitted thai he was without sufficient means, and asked to be sent to the Island. It waa stated that lie had 74 previous convictions, and was only about ten daye out) of gaol. Yesterday he was seen loitering about a Chinese laundry, into -which ha eventually went and almost immediately came out. Then he went along to a dyer's shop, where there was an old coat hanging at the door, and he "wait through" all the pockets but drew a, blank- He then proceeded to the rear of an hotel, and was hanging about therei when he was arrested. Harrison said he had earned about 50/\ during thetime he was o'utr-bt g&ol, buft had spent it all in drink. He was sentenced to three months' hard labour. A FOOT-LOOSE SAILOR. Michael Singi, a Russian Finn seaman, who had deserted his ship at Wanganui and had been arrested in Auckland, admitted the desertion, and also that hq bad landed from an overseas ship without having a passport. A suggestion was made that the man might be shipped aboard another of the same company's ships, and Singi'was remanded for a week to enable that course to be followed. BECAUSE Ol' WORRY. Richard Cook (35) admitted a charge that at Onehunga about May 20 he attempted to commit euicide. It was stated that Cook had for some tima been in a nervous and depressed condition, owing to the death of a brother in, Sling Camp, and had taken to drinking somewhat. On the night of May 20 ha retired as usual at hie parents' home, where he lived, and at 5.30 o'clock next ■morning his sister, in. an adjoining room, heard a- knock on the -wall. She went into her -brother's room, and found him with his throat gashed. He had ua recollection when he had been attended to in the Hospital, and had no recoHeotion of having done himself injury. Hβ was now recovered, the Hospital ex« pensee having amounted to £7 18/. After hearing a statement of thei Cooks' home circumstances, his Worship convicted and ordered him to come up for sentence when called on, and to pay, the expenses. THE UNIVERSAL STRUGGLE. The theft of two pairs of boots from a case of cargo in a shed on the Queen's wharf yesterday was admitted by Hubert Xorman Hurt (33), a married ■man employed in the shed as examines by the New Zealand Express Company; The circumstances stated were that Burt'p duty was to examine the cases of cargo in the shed and classify them foe the various carts of the carrying company, and incidentally to see that the! cases were in good repair. Complaint was made to Plain-clothes Constable Gourley that a couple of cases had been broached, and the constable's inquiries led to the arrest of Burt. Mr. Taylor (for accused) stated thai the man had a wage of £2 17/6 a week, on which he had to keep a wife and three children, while the wife was delicate. The result was that debts had accumulated, and the man wanted working 'boots. When he came across a broached case with a "boot sticking out the sudden temptation, in view of his necessity, was too much for him. Hβ had a good previous record. His Worship remarked that he eonld not see how a man with a sick wife and three children could manage at the present cost of living to get along. That phase of the matter had to he considered. He did not feel inclined to send the man to gaol, and it would be an absolute farce to fine him: he would be convicted, and admitted to twelve months' probation. MISCELLANEOUS. Margaret Allen (37), for loitering in Hobson Street for the purpose of prostitution, was remanded till to-morrow, with a provision that if she could get) the means to get out of town to-night she might he let go, and would be merely convicted and discharged. Arthur Ernest Clark (47), arrested o* a charge that about September. 1916, he committed incest, was remanded for eight days, bail being refused. Louis Nicholas, o r Rui Nikora (30).£ a Maori, was Temanded for a week on s charge of the theft of a manicure ee£ and other things at Gi*t>orae.