POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 54, 5 March 1926, Page 9

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M.) A MEAN THEFT. A term of probation, another of reformative detention, followed by hard labour in gaol, had not caused Albert Foster Smelt (21), to deviate from the crooked path to the straight one, for he appeared j this morning to plead guilty to stealing £1 10/ the property of Linda Owens. Chief Detective Cummings said that the theft was a mean and contemptible one, for accused had gone to a room in a hotel and had stolen the money. He had money and there was no necessity for him to steal. Smelt had, in 1922, been admitted to probation for theft, while he was afterwards sentenced to one month's imprisonment, to be followed by reformative detention. Subsequent to that he was given twelve months' hard labour for theft and breaking and entering. Accused, who had not a word to say for himself, was consigned to Mount Eden for two months. NOT TO NORFOLK ISLAND. Arrested while going on board the steamer Hinemoa, which left for Norfolk Island yesterday, Albert Edward Clarke (47) was charged with attempting to leave New Zealand while money was payable under a maintenance order without the permission of a magistrate in writing. Instead of Norfolk Island, Clarke will now steer a course for Whangarei, where ' he was remanded to appear on March 12. RACECOURSE TRESPASSERS. Because he was a person excluded from attending the "sport of kings," and went on the Alexandra Park trotting course on January 30 of last year, George Tucker trespassed. He did not appear this morning when his name was called. However, Mr. Holmden watched matters for him, and stated that accused was a married man and had been out of work for some time. Only yesterday he left on a ship, and would not be back for a fortnight. Counsel hoped that a small fine would be imposed, as a heavy one would fall hard on Tucker's wife, who was at present ill. The chief detective produced Tucker's list and stated that he had been convicted of assault and robbery, and robbery with violence in Australia, receiving three years the first time and four years on the second occasion. He hael also been fined £5 some time ago for trespassing on a racecourse. Provided Tucker contributes £20 to the consolidated fund within a month he will not have to go to gaol. Alexander Reid, who was also charged with trespassing on a racecourse, having been twice previously been convicted of theft, said that he was unaware that he could not attend the races as he had not been in gaol. "This man. works well, and the case is not as bad as the last one," said the chief detective. A fine of £2 and costs was imposed. TOOK A SHIP OCCASIONALLY. "He occasionally takes a ship, but more often he hangs ahout the waterfront and goes into hotels, where he cadges beer," was Constable Chalcraft'a description of Charles McDermott, a middle-aged seafaring -man, who was charged with drunkenness and also with being an idle and disorderly person with no means of support. The constable added that he had known accused for the past fifteen months. He frequented the waterfront a good deal, and was in a dirty condition. Witness had warned him several times, but these, warnings went unheeded. Accused had twopence halfpenny on him when searched after his arrest. "Give mc a chance and I will get a ship as soon as possible," said McDermott appealingly. The magistrate told accused that he had a fair list. However, he did not want to send him to gaol. . The case wejuld be adjourned. until March 12, aud if did not get away on a ship by that time he would be brought up again and sentenced, to imprisonment. INDECENT ACT ON TRAIN. Gerald Lavery, who committed an indecent act on the platform of a railway carriage while under the influence of liquor and against whom nothing was previously known, was fined £1 and costs.