POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 164, 11 July 1919, Page 6

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.) THAT'S ME. A"nic. Wilson (:J9), who had been up Thursday of last week for vagrancy and convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on, was called on. It was stated that on" Tuesday she was found with i-ome people of undesirable character drinking with her at her house, and yesterday she was found in the street under the influence of liquor. "Sir, can I say a few words?" called a young soldier from the body of the Court. The interjertor wacs called up to say his few words, and it seemed from his tone as if he had fortified for the occasion. '"She is a cousin of mine, and 1 don't think she has done any harm. The police have a set on her from the word go. that's mc." Asked why he thought the police had a set on the woman, he eaid they had been up to lieY place two or three times a day. "That's their duty," replied his Worship. '"She was given a chance on the understanding she should pull up, and she went on keeping the old associates and drinking." Accused was sentenced to three mon this' imprisonment. ASKED A POLICEMAN. "I only asked for a penny, and I plead guilty to that,'! declared William Samuel Erwin (3D), when charged with begging in Durham Street yesterday afternoon. Sub-Inspector Wohlmann stated Plainelothcs Constable Sullivan saw accused accost several men in Durham Street, and kept him under observation until the man eventually noticed him and asked him for a penny, whereon lie was arrested. Accused wafl not known to the police. Jle had only fourpence on him when arrested. "Where do yon come from?' , inquired his Worship of the accused. "From tho quarry at Rangitoto," replied the man. "Well, you had better get back and stay there,"' commented the magistrate as he convicted Erwin and ordered him to come up for sentence when called on. GENTLE ART OF "TOUCHING." William Anderson (30) and John ISeattie (40), both recently back from the war, admitted beggiog in Queen Street yesterday afternoon. They had pestered people in the street till word was passed to the police, and Plain-clothes-constable MeHugh got handy to them to observe their operations, when one of them picked on him as a "likely miifr" and asked him for the price of a meal. He let them go hungry for a time, which they occupied in trying other by-passers-, and then invited them to the police station. "They seem to be professional men in their line." stated Chief-detective McMahon, in describing the circumstances to the Bench. "For when they were arrested Anderson had 4/3 on him and Ticattie owned 22/1, and was still going on with the game." The Chief-Detective added that a month or two ago the begjring propensity nearly cost Anderson his life, for he stuck a bluejacket up, and when turned down called* the man a shirker, and was pushed over, with the result that he got a very badly-fractured skull from the fall. The trouble with both anen appeared to be drink. Adjutant Davis, of the Salvation Army, volunteered to put the accused men on the road to -work, and, on the understanding that they accepted the preferred assistance, they were prohibited, convicted, and ordered to come up for sentence when called on. MISCELLANEOUS. Henry Whiteside (31), for a second recent oiTeneo, was fined 10/, in default 48 hours. Walter Tamo, for leaving a motor car facing the wrong way on the street, was fined 5/ and 9/ costs.