POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 143, 19 June 1922, Page 6

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.JI.)'

A CASE OF HARDSHIP.

"I don't think I'm guilty," said Jacfc Watson, 19 years of age, when charged with being an idle and disorderly pe r .

A constable gave evidence stating that last night he found Watson sitting down in a doorway in High Street.- He said that he had only come out of the hospital on Friday, and was suffering from the effects of pneumonia. He arrested the accused. Accused, in evidence stated that he had endeavoured to get lodging at the Salvation Army tent, but without success. He had been digging kauri gum for the last si_ months. He had a cousin in New Zealand, but was not able to locate him.

Senior-Sergeant Rawle stated that nothing was known against the accused. It wa s a CAse of hardship. Watson was .unable to get in at the Salvation Ar_v tent as it was so overcrowded at present. The Magistrate: Yes, it is a case of hardship. I will discharge him and he can try the Salvation Army again. ONE MONTH. A middle-aged man, Peter Bradley, ■bearing a fearfully injured face, with his head swathed in bandages, was charged with insubordination whilst an inmate of Rotoroa Island. Major MeCauley, officer in charge of the Salvation Army's staff on the island, in evidence, stated that Bradley had been an inmate of the island for the past ten weeks. Bradley was terribly injured in a mining explosion at Huntly some time ago. and on account of his awful facial affliction he was kept apart from the other patient? on the island. He seemed to resent this and was most insolent towards the staff. He was given a special diet, as he did not have any teeth, but frequently he would throw his food away. Witness stated that accused was never satisfied, and lately would not eat his food at all. The officers on the island always treated him leniently, and endured a great deal, hut accused traded on his injury. Witness had already written to the Minister of Justice requesting that Bradley should be transferred-frism the island. His conduct could not be tolerated.

The Magistrate: N"o. you cannot tolerate such a man. Poor fellow, he cannot work. I will give him a month in Mt. Eden until the transfer is put through. He will get a doctor there and will be looked after. "I TEAKS ME STRIDES." '"'The other chap cracks mc, yer Wor» ship, and I falls down on mc knees ana I tears mc strides, that's all that happened," said George Saville, charged with threatening behaviour on Saturday evening at the intersection of Quay and Queen Streets. After hearing the evidence of a constable, Mr. Poynton thought that accused had some provocation, and convicted and discharged him. A RACECOURSE INCIDENT. A young woman, Rita Martin, for whom Mr. Sullivan appeared, pleaded not guilty to having stolen from Joseph Wright the sum of £2 at the Ellersiie rae'ecouTse on the last day of the recent winter meeting. Joseph Wright told the Magistrate that he was standing a few feet' away. from the bar on the outside enclosure of the racecourse, when the accused asked him if he could oblige her by getting her a glass of beer. Witness did so, and when handing the glass to the accused, he felt a light touch at his side coat pocket. He felt in his pocket bat the money had gone. He noticed accused put her hand up to her blouse, as if she had just placed the there. Witness told accused to return the' £2 to him, or else he would call ho police. Accused then took the money; from her blouse and gave it to witness.

Cross-examined by Mr. Sullivan, witness Wright denied having spoken t» accused about backing any horses. Sergeant Lambert who witnessed the commotion, saw the accused hand the money to Wright, and leave thee course. She again returned to the racecourse.

Mr. Sullivan submitted that there was no ease to answer. Accused would admit taking the money, bi * stated that she was talking to Wright about the

The accused, who gave her name as Alice Kemp when she stood in the >vtness box, said that she was at Eilersli'e at the last day of the recent winter meeting. She admitted taking the money 1 out' of his pocket, but stated that Wright had spoken to her about investing £2. She said that she was a little drunk at the time.

Cross-examined by Senior-Sergeant Rawle, she admitted having several aliases.

"I have been before the Court before your worship, but never for theft—l did not think of stealing the money. I was going to put it on the totalisator," said the accused. . Mr. Poynton: One month. ____■, ;