NOT A COURT OF MORALS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 285, 2 December 1925, Page 9

NOT A COURT OF MORALS.

! A MAN AND SOME BLANKETS. | THEFT CHARGE DISMISSED. I 1 '"I would submit, your Worships, that i this Court is not a Court of morals, but a Court where human stories are Unfolded," said Mr. ,J. J. Sullivan, who appeared for Williafii Courtney (40), who pleaded not guilty at the Police Court this morning, when charged with the theft of four blankets, valued at £2, the property of Julia Maria Silver. Julia Maria Silver, who keeps a lodging house in Vincent Street, said that on the afternoon of November 24 last, accused called at her house and engaged a room. He stated that he only wanted a double bed for himself and his wife, and that they would both get their meals out. Later he returned 'with la woman, and witness showed them the bedroom. The bed was hot made, but the woman who was with accused said that she would make it up. Witness then went into the kitchen to prepare tea. Later she went into the bedroom which had been occupied by accused and the woman, and found that they had gone. The window was open, and the four blankets were missing. Witness then I reported the matter to the police. j William John Knowles, a boarder at

the house, then gave evidence. He said ' that he saw a woman whom he knew to be a stranger in the house: If either the accused or the woman, had left the room by the door he would have seen them. Constable Needham stated that he brought accused back to the house in Vincent Street. He was unable to give a satisfactory reply as to how he left the house. Mr. Sullivan then submitted that accused did not take the blankets, and there was no evidence before the Court to show that he did. There was only the inference that he took them. The Police Court was not a Court of morals, but a Court where human stories were told. The case before the Court' was one of theft, and he submitted that accused should have the benefit of the doubt. Accused then gave evidence. He said; that he met the woman. They both had drinks and went to the house in Vincent Street, at the woman's request. She later desired a drink, and he went and obtained it for her. "I later got that disgusted with the woman that I left her," said accused. "She was getting full of liquor." Senior Sergeant Edwards: What vas the name of the woman ? —I do not know her name. I had never seen her before. How many drinks did you have that day?—Oh, about half a dozen. You would not remember much about the matter then if you had six drinks? Well six drinks don't make any difference to a man. They don't to mc anyway. Mr. Sullivan: You did. not take the j blankets, Courtney, did youj-2sNb, what do I want with blankets, I have an income of £7 per week.. The presiding justices on the bench remarked that the evidence was too weak to warrant a conviction. The charge was therefore dismissed.