POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 2, 3 January 1924, Page 4

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.) WATCHED BY THE POLICE. The two men arrested on Boxing Day, John Forbes (63) and Robert Holgate (39), charged with having attempted to steal from the person of some person unknown, appeared on remand, and Senior-Detective Hammond sought a further adjournment. Forbes objected to this, on the grounds that he and Holgate had been in custody for seven days. His Worship said that the police should tender some explanation •to show why. there should be a remand. Senior-Detective Hammond stated that the men had arrived on the Manuka ■about eight days before they were arrested. The police had kept them under observation at busy street corners, and had reason to believe that their actions were not above board. The alleged offence -with which they were now charged had been committed on a tramcar at the top of Symonds Street. The police had found it difficult to trace the witnesses, but would be prepared to continue with the case next week. Mr. Hunt, S.M. expressed himself as satisfied with this explanation, and granted a remand till January 7. The accused asked for' bail, and this was fixed at £200 each. It was stated that another charge was pending. FIRMLY ENTRENCHED. "He lives at Freeman's Bay, and you just can't drive him out," said SeniorDetective Hammond, when William Scarbroa. (37), was charged with trespassing on a racecourse, and also with being an idle and disorderly person. Scarbroa pleaded guilty "to the - first charge. "Only the other day he was. convicted and fined for trespassing, and he went straight back to the course a i day or so afterwards," said Mr. Hamimond, who added that Scarbroa was an 'incorrigible type of man, who would not get work or leave town. For trespassing, Scarbroa -was fined £10, in default one month in Mt Eden, and on the vagrancy charge he was remanded till to-morrow. " KEEP YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS." That was the advice which Mr. Hunt S.M., gave James Doyle (34), a recent arrival from Christchurch, who was convicted on a charge of having assaulted an unknown man, said to be v.ell up in years. Senior-Sergeant Eawle stated that a man had seen Doyle strike an old fellow, and was so incensed at the cowardliness of the action that he went for the police. Unfortunately, the old man , had escaped in the crowd. Doyle denied the imputation that the man he had struck was old and decrepit. "He wasn't more than -15 at the outside, and he struck mc first. He followed mc up, and eeemed to have a grudge against mc," said Doyle. "You—a boxer —you ought to be ashamed of yourself," said the Magistrate, imposing a fine of 40/, stating at the same time that accused could account himself fortunate that the old man had not come to court. If it had been proved that he was really old, Doyle would have gone to Mount Eden for 14 days. USED A BOTTLE. There is often trouble in Mitchelson Avenue, Ellerslie, after a race meeting, when the police have departed. There are free fights and melees, most of which, have their origin in some dispute over the little matter of "inside information" which, though promised, was never given. This was suggested by SeniorSergeant Rawle, in speaking of a case in which three men, Charles Henry Poulgrain (28), Thomas Jackson (44), and John Edward Jackson (50) were charged with having behaved in a threatening 1 manner, thereby occasioning a breach of the peace. It was stated in evidence that Poulgrain had been pummelled. Thereupon he started in to retaliate, which he did the more effectively per medium of a beer b ttie, whicii dangerous weapon he Jourished, and 6truck one of the others. All three were "bleeding profusely when the police arrived, and one man had been dragged along the ground. It was stated that Poulgrain had a list of previous convictions. Each was fined 40/, in default seven days, with cab-hire and -witness' expenses. ONLY THREE " DRUNKS." The list of "simple drunks" was surprisingly small for the third day of the i New Year. There were only three, two lof whom were women. Nellie Mills j (38), being a statutory eecoad offender, J was fined 10/, in default 4S hours. THEFT ALLEGED. A remand till Ja-.uary 10 was granted in the case of John Hurley (31), charged that, on Jan-u-ry 2, at Auckland, he did steal from the J welling of Patrick McGlone a pocket-book value 10/ and 2/7 in money. In a three-mile motor cycle race held at Ohaeawai on New Year's Day one of the competitors, H. Wilson, fouled one of the corner posts in the third heat, breaking his leg. First aid was rendered to the sufferer, and he was taken to the j Kawakawa ■ Hospital. Owing to thi3 [accident the race was abandoned.