POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 53, 4 March 1925, Page 8

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M.)

REMANDED TO CHRISTCHURCH.

On a charge of stealing £50, the property of Angus Shaw, Alexander Thompson, who was arrested by Detective O'Brien yes.terday, was remanded to appelr at Christchurch on March 11. ALLEGED WIPE DESERTION. That he did unlawfully desert his wife at Henley Beach, South Australia, was the charge preferred against Edward Alexander Mummery (47), for whom Mr. Moody appeared. Chief Detective Cummings stated that Detective O'Brien yesterday arrested Mummery on a provisional warrant. He asked that accused be remanded for a week, pending the arrival of an escort from South Australia.

Mr. Moody, in asking for bail, said that Mummery was here on a holiday, and intended going back next week.

"Well, sir, my information is that he deserted his wife and that he is having a good time here," said the Chief Detective. The remand was granted, bail in the sum qf £200 being allowed. THEFT OF FRUIT SALTS. A coloured -man, Claremont Lawson Myers (48), a waterside worker, pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing a bottle of fruit salts, valued at 4/, the property of the New Zealand Shipping Company.

Mr. J. J. Sullivan appeared for accused.

Evidence was given 'by a Customs officer ihat a number of men who were working in the hold of the steamer Kent were searched by him at noon yesterday as they left the vessel. Accused had a bottle of fruit salts in hie hip pocket. • He explained that he brought .the bottle on board with, him when he started work, but later admitted tha.t he found it in the hold, and was going to give the salts to the third officer of the Kent.

Evidence as to sixteen bottles of fruit salts having been broached from one of the holds in the vessel was given by two other witnesses.

In a statement made to Sergeant Flanagan accused said.that he was making for the third officer's cabin with the bottle when stopped by the Customs officer. Mr. Sullivan submitted that the whole matter rested on the question of intent. Myers was actually on his way to see the third officer when he was detained.

Myers in evidence said that he wanted to bottle of salts to the third officer because that officer was responsible, and that he was also a good chap. Witness could have got over the side of the ship and on to the wharf had he wished to avoid being searched. He denied telling the Customs officer that he had taken the fruit salts on board in the morning. When asked by Sergeant Rowell as to why he put the bottle in hie pocket instead of carrying it openly, accused explained that he could not have held it in his hand owing to the fact that he had to climb several flights of ladders and get through a email manhole to the 'tween decks.

The foreman of the gang working in No. "5 hold and two other workmen each stated in evidence that they heard accused remark that he was going to give the bottle of salts to the third officer. Sergeant Rowell stated that accused had been previously convicted for theft, having received fourteen days. The application "by Mr. Sullivan that a fine should be inflicted was refused by Mr. Poynton, who sentenced Myers to three days' imprisonment. INSULTING BEHAVIOUR. Alfred Thomas Chappell (48), for whom Mr. Cahill appeared, was charged with, behaving in an insulting and offensive manner in Pitt Street.

iSergeant Rowell said that accused made certain overtures to several young boys in the street, with the result that one of the boys understood accused's meaning and promptly informed a policeman and C'happell was arrested. The sergeant said that accused's offence was obviously due to - drink.

Mr. Cahill said that accused had evidently taken too much liquor, for he had no recollection of the happening whatever.

.After warning accused that an improvement' in his 'behaviour would be the best tiling for him, the magistrate imposed a fine of £5, in default one month's imprisonment. BY-LAW CASES. Over a dozen motorists were charged with exceeding the speed limit of 20 miles per hour over a measured quartermile on the new concrete road at Takapuna. All with the exception of one defendant who travelled at 40 miles per hour, were fined £2 and costs. The 40 miles per hour motorist was fined £3 aiid costs. One of the defendants stated that it was most unfair for the traffic inspector to have the measured distance running down a hill, but he was told by Mr. Poynton that a good road was nb excuse for speeding.