FINED £50.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 119, 21 May 1924, Page 7

FINED £50.

IMPERSONATING DETECTIVE, j YOTTNG SCAN'S OFFENCE. j INJUSTICE TO POLICE OFFICER, j —■*—■ I The Eeriousness of impersonating the I police was stressed by Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in the Police Court this morning, in inflicting a tine of £50 on a young man. George Norton (22) was charged with, at Auckland on April 28 and 20, nut being a member of tbe New Zealand Police Force, did unlawfully assume the designation of Detective Meiklejohn. Chief Detective Cumminga said that on April 28 accused called on a voting lady and informed her that lie was Detective Meiklejohn. He told her that ho wished to get a statement from her relative to a burglary. Later, at night time he saw her, and again told tier i that he was collecting evidence concerning a, burglary in Stanley Street. Accused showed the young lady a toy revolver, and when both were in a lonely , W.JOt he put an improper suggestion to her. At that time the police had the • burglary in hand, and the culprits were , arrested. Subsequently a complaint was , made to the police about Detective Meiklejohn going out with a girl, making , an improper suggestion and showing her a revolver. The chief detective said the , police looked upon the matter as a , serious one, while it was also most unfair to Detective Meiklejohn. Accused , had admitted the offence in a statement . which he gave to the police. !. Mr. Alan Moody, who appeared for ( Norton, said he fully appreciated the | seriousness of the offence and the pos-. sible injustice to Detective Meiklejohn. j However, with the utmost respect to the ] magistrate's judgment, counsel charac- . terised accused's offence as a piece of stupendous impudence. Accused wished to publicly offer his sincere regrets to the detective for making- use of his name. Mr. Moody mentioned that the police force was worthy of the greatest respect and consideration. Accused was j a married man with a young child, and | had never been before the Court before.'' It was to be regretted that he should, , bring disgrace upon his wife and his ' aged father and mother. Counsel knew | ( that the maximum penalty for such an | offence was a fine of £50, but urged j Mr. Poynton to give Norton a sharp; lesson by way of a small fine in j order to make him realise his positionIt was the first case of ita kind Chief Detective Commings: Oh, no; a man was charged only two years ago for impersonating a detective. Mr. Moody said further that accused was in a steady job, and he had a good, character, and if a heavy fine was in- j 1 dieted it would only fall on his father, ; ' who was willing to help his eon. ' The Chief Detectve: It is over three c weeks since it happened and by this time ' the complaint against Detective Meikle- j john may have been widely circulated. c , Mr. Poynton: We think it is a serious ! matter, that the public should know, and | that people like Norton should in future be restrained. As a warning to others j accused will be fined £50, or in default * three months' imprisonment. One month will be allowed in which to pay. Of j course, accused will have an opportunity. of applying to the Minister to have the j fine reduced. Mr. Moody: That will be done, your j Worship. j}