POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 73, 26 March 1923, Page 3

POLICE COURT.

! (Before Mr. J- VV. Poynton, S.M. DISORDERLY BEHAVIOTJB. Richard Bryant (45) made his 40th. appearance before a magistrate this morning, when he was charged with disorderly behaviour and the use of indecent language on the Devonport ferry boat Kgoiro on Saturday night. Accused mumbled and shouted all sorts of strange things from the dock, but he did not contradict Constable Marsh when it was stated that he had got himself disliked ■by being obstreperous. "He's a cadger pure and simple," said Senior-Sergeant Rawle. "An old trick of Bryant s is to pick out a doctor's residence, stand outside, wait till somebody approaches, arid then faint. Afterwards he tells the o d soldier story." "Never on your lite, veiled Bryant, but the magistrate quiet > interposed with "one month," and the old soldier was marched off to line up With those about to enjoy a ride in the "black maria." THE WHEEE OF FATE. Only seven behind in the matter of 'numerous appearance was John Pryce (49) who found the dock railing handy to lean on for the 33rd time. He pleaded CUilty to having stolen three pan's of boots, valued at £3 3/, the property of George Underwood. His lucky star must have been undergoing an eclipse ,-when he stole the footwear, because shortly afterwards he forgot to look where he was going, and was knocked down by the wheel of a hurrying automobile. The accident served to reintroduce him to his friends the police, who quickly connected him with the theft "I'll pay for the b-b-boots when I get some w-w-work," stuttered accused. "That's all very well. You stole them. You're a single man. One month, said his Worship. EMULATED SAEOME. The police received a message on Saturday afternoon that an old man was dancing and running about in a patrol underpants and a flowing shirt at Grey Lvnn As a consequence James Murphy (53) was arrested. When gently pushed into the dock this morning he proved to ' be an old and shaky man. who mumbled his defiance thus: "I don't care what you , do. Goon!" He was charged with obscene language in Selbourne Street. "Yes, I went to the races and got too full," he replied. "I'm a baker.' _He was given the choice of paying £5 or doing 14 days up on the hill. "DON'T TEOX ME THAT!" Daniel McLaughlin (40), an inmate of 1 the Rotoroa Inebriates' Home, pleaded : not guilty when charged with insuli- __ ! ordination. Major McCaulay and Ad- • jutant Gunson, of the Salvation Army, " deposed that accused had refused duty, | used obscene language, and threatened I violence last week, stating that he could ' not work because his rib was cracked. " I He had been examined, and it was ascertained that his rib was sound. "Even I a cracked rib wouldn't justify such be- . haviour," said his Worship. "Want to ,' say anything, McLaughlin?" "Yes, a lot. 1 I couldn't work with that rib. But they ? bullied mc. They told mc the day I went g in that they didn*t want men who were c committed. I said I couldn't help that. I was sent there. They have got another big officer down there, a six-footer, who is kept so he can knock you out if you - won't- work. Then, if you don't go to . their old services they call a man a cannibal." His Worship, sharply: "Oh, don't toll mc that! Two months!" ~ Prisoner, at the door, struggling with a c: constable! "Yah! There's the Salvation ; - Army for yer!" n A FOOIJSH ACT. i. A young man admitted two charges " relating to the alteration of an Educa- {| . tion Department certificate of cornit petency. In order to obtain a permanent position in the Railway Department accused made an alteration on - the document, so that it was made to v appear that he had obtained a junior free place when, in point of fact, he had failed. In committing accused to the Supreme Court for sentence. Mr. Poyn- ». ton remarked to the reporters that it '( seemed to be the foolish act of a young J, man. There did not seem to be any a reason why his name should be pub- £ i lished.

A BAREFACED DENTAI-. "I told him lie could keep the money if he gave mc back my bag," said Mrs. i Shakespear, when giving evidence in conj nection with a charge of theft, when j James Hunter (64) confronted the ! magistrate. On the afternoon of March 1 16 Mrs. Shakespear left her bag on a ! seat .in the. Newmarket reserve. Tt con--1 tamed 7/0, a pair of spectacles and, | among other things, two war medals, j earned by her son. After a short absence she returned and found the bag had disappeared. She then accused the old man of having taken it, and politely asked for its return. Despite the fact that it was sticking out of his pocket, Hunter denied the theft an walked away, going into a nearby hotel. The lady waited for some time and again accosted him when he reappeared, but to no purpose, and she had to follow him to the railway station ere possession of the bag was regained. When she first approached accused he ''had ft j sniff of liquor about him.'' Mr. Allan Moody submitted that Hunter, who was a respectable man in a responsible position, had been stupid with drink at the time. Mr. Poynton did not like the wav accused had denied the theft, but he "would give him a chance, because he waß not in his senses. Instead of being sent to gaol he would be fined £10 and ordered to pay expenses, £1 13/6.