POLICE COURTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 110, 10 May 1923, Page 3

POLICE COURTS.

(Before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M.) MBTH" DRINKERS. Among the shabby parade of "drunks' , were three who were described as being methylated spirits drinkers. As they filed into the dock —blear-eyed, shaky specimens of degraded manhood —Senior Sergeant Rawle produced a bottle containing a quantity of the spirit that ' had been found on accused. Two were statutory first offenders and were diecharged on payment of 2/4 cab hire. Henry Arnold (49), a second offender, was lees fortunate, since he got the option of paying £2 2/4 or spending three days in the service of His Majesty. A GRAND SLAM. On a recent morning at the busy little New Lynn railway station things were rather lively. Just as a train was pulling in, Wm. Henry Whyley (Mr. Inder) appeared at the ticket-1 box window with the intention of pur-1 chasing a weekly ticket. But the clerk knew his job (according to regulations) much too well. Slam! —the window was closed in his face. Thus summarily denied, Whyley became nettled, and when the ticket-clerk strolled along the platform to the signal-box Whyley, who. of course, could npt board the train, passed some uncomplimentary remarks about the railway in general and the clerk in particular. These were raeh words, the sequel being that he was j charged this morning with using abusive I language to an official. 'When asked by Mγ. Inder why be closed the window so smartly in accused's face, the clerk said the regulations forbade the sale of tickets when a train was at the platform. Accused admitted having let olf steam in rather strong terms, and the magistrate inflicted a fine of £1, with costs and witnesses' expenses £1. LIGHT-FINGERED VISITOR. .Facts somewhat off the beaten ,track were related when Mary Adelaide j Kasßfin (23), a fashionably-dressed j young woman, pleaded guilty to having stolen £10, the property of Mrs. Harding, end £1 the property of Mrs. Parnell. <1n a recent afternoon Mary was among the' guests at a quiet little "At Home" at Xewton. She was a poor person among the wealthy, though her attire belied the fact. She learned that ine of the guests had a tidy sum In l\or handbag. It was the work of only a moment to deftly abstract a note, which turned out to be worth £10. A few minutes later a £1 note caujiht her I eye in another part of the room, and | *hat went west also. Senior-Detective j Ward got very busy when the thefts I were discovered, and he lost no time in lookirj: up Mary, who was "known *« the police." having been on probation. T4ie jjirl was not at all contrary—indeed, she confessed to the whole affair, and produced the identical notes. Remarking that a term of probation did not seem to havp been of much value, his Worship said be would adjourn the case for a report from the probation officer. Mary then made an ■•vit in company with two fur-coated friends. A SERIOUS CHARGE. •fames Baldwin, charged with committing an offence on a seven-year-old child at Papakura, was remanded to appear at Auckland on May 17. It was stated *Jiat an®application would be made on ■ that date to- have accused further remanded to Papakura on May 21. THE UNKNOWN STRANGER.. George Henry O'Brien (41) spent most of April 27 at the bars of hotels in the j city, and towards 5.30 he was beautifully befuddled. After a little he found himself in Alexandra Street trying hard to sell shirts from a bundle which he carried over his arm. It was the origin of the bundle that interested a certain lady, who communicated with the police, and it was not long ere it was found that those self-same shirts rightfully, belonged to display piles stacked outside a Queen Street draper's shop. O'Brien spun a tale to the Magistrate that was quite remarkable for its originality—the bundle of shirts had been presented to him by "an unknown stranger," whom he had never seen before or since. The stranger had a cast in his left eye! Mr. Poynton, S.M., remarked that the unknown stranger was \ quite an interesting personage. The only trouble was that one heard of him so frequently that one grew doubtfulvery doubtful. This was O'Brien's thirty-sixth conviction, and it was time he was locked up for the winter. Three months! STOLEN SOLACE. Leslie Fisher (20), an unkempt vouthi pleaded guilty to the theft of 12 packets of cigarettes and other goods, together with 10/ in money, of a total value of £5 10/. The charge was also in respect of breaking and entering. Fisher was hard-up and without work, and he wanted a smoke. That led him to break into a tobacconist's shop, and onoe inside he found there were things j he. wanted other than cigarettes. When I interviewed by a detective he confessed, i Fisher was committed for sentence. j MISCELLANEOUS. "The total amount involved will probably be £01 4/8J when this case has been thoroughly investigated," remarked Chief Detective Mctlveney, when John Reginald Simmonds (41) was charged with receiving 30/, and failing to account for it. Bail in one surety of £100 was allowed, accused being remanded for one week. George William Sullivan (SO) was charged with having obtained the sums of £4 4/6 and £5 ln/6 by means of valueless cheques. He was remanded for one week.