POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 287, 1 December 1923, Page 7

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.) WHERE IS MY WIFE ? In search of his wife, Frederick Henry Bowley (40) went into the shop kept by Richard Albert Lewis yesterday and struck him with his fist. This fact was stated, when Bowley appeared on a. charge of assault. It was also stated that Bowley raised a chair to Lewis. In explaining his action Bowley said ha had been looking for his wife, and, having strong reason to believe that she was with Lewis, went to tlie shop and asked for her. Lewis consigned him to a place not usually mentioned in polite society, and hard words led to blows. On leaving tlie shop Bowley waited outside and, so he told the magistrate, saw his wife emerge half an hour later, "so that she must have been there all the time." It will be remembered that Bowley recently stole some money and gave himself up to the police for the purpose of getting his name into the newspapers so that his wife, who had run away, would see that he was in trouble, and might possibly come back to him. Warning Bowley that he should not resort to force, Mr. F. K. Hunt. S.M.. imposed a fine of 40/, in default seven da vs.

AN EMPLOYEE'S LAPSE. An employee of a large drapery establishment in' the city. Mrs. Ruby Barry (29), pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from her employers, having taken some articles of stock. She was detected stealing one article, and when interviewed by Detective-Sergeant Issell she admitted' that on two other occasions she had been guilty of the same offence. The magistrate imposed a fine of £5, in default 14 days, reminding the woman that it was her last chance. NAUTICAL NAUGHTINESS. Having been sojourning ashore not wisely but all too merrily, Thomas Francis (415 ), a greaser on the s.B. Middlesex, returned to his ship "yesterday afternoon and commenced to make himself a nuisance. His spirits being irrepressible, the assistance of Constable Brown was obtained, and the storm of abuse which Francis was hurling at the heads of officers and crew was suddenly cut short as , the inebriated one disappeared stationwards. It cost him 45/. plus 3/6 for the cabman, with the option of 9even days matoing big ones into little ones. "LARRIKIN TRICKS WITH GIRLS.** Three lads, listed as juveniles, appeared on a charge of having stolen some cakes valued at 5/. After playing about in Victoria Park at larrikin tricks with young girls they had broken into a bakehouse one night recently, said SeniorDetective Hammond. One of the boys had previously ascertained where the key of the locker was secreted, so that their task was comparatively easy. Entering through a window, they turned on the electric light, opened the locker containing the cakes, and decamped to devour their "booty." This three-cornered friendship was said to constitute a dangerous juvenile gang, which wanted breaking up. "Well, break it up;" snapped Mr. Hunt, S.M. "'We can't have young fellows getting into this sort of trouble for want of something better to do at night. They must all go to the technical school at night. Education will be useful to them. If they don't go to 'tec they'll go to Invereargill—the Borstal. Adjourned for three months, to see if they do as I say.*'

The probation officer agreed that this was a wise course. He would see that they went to the Technical School. "Oh. I suppose you parade the town at night, Mr. Young? " queried the Magistrate of the Probation Officer. "Yes, sir, frequently." "Quite right, too. You can do a lot of good work that way," replied his Worship, adding that he would make these three boys regret it if they were "seen in each other's company again at night. MOTHER GOT ALL HIS MONEY. A much bigger and older boy pleaded guilty to having stolen 10/ from a girl working in a shop. "But I've paid her back," he said, smiling rather lamely. "Yes. when you were found out!" retorted the magistrate. The youth worked in a bakehouse, at the rear of a shop, said Senior-Detective Hammond. On the pretext that he had taken the wrong apron, accused had gone back to the shop one night recently and had found that one of the shop-girls had left her purse in a handy position. The youth abstracted 10/. "The point is that the poor girl didn't get nearly as much money in wages as tlie boy,"' said Mr. Hammond. Asked why he had been so mean, the boy said he didn't know. He was short of money, because he gave all his wages to his mother. The magistrate said this was a big mistake. Boys should not be kept too close. Rev. Jasper Calder said the boy was not so bad at heart, and if he were placed among some decent young Y.M.CA. fellows he would probably do very well. On the understanding that this course would be taken, his Worship discharged the youth with a warning. LITTLE BOYS IN TROUBLE. Two small boys, said to be 12 years of age. took the proceedings unconcernedly when charged with the theft of 4/6, but their facial expressions altered when .Mr. Hunt. S.M., hinted not too darkly at a thrashing to be administered by a policeman. ISenior-Detective Hammond stated that the boys had met another little fellow returning on an errand for his mother. They helped him to carry his basket. The little boy showed them the change which the storekeeper had given him. and one of the boys now charged took four shillings from him. Tlie other, who was charged with receiving the money, had helped the thief to spend the "proceeds." Both boys had been in trouble before, having attempted to rob a shopkeeper's till, but that matter was hushed up, said Mr. Young (probation officer). It having been stated that the boy chiefly concerned had been soundly thrashed by his mother, magistrate discharged both boys, ordering that 5/ expenses be paid.