POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 135, 9 June 1926, Page 10

POLICE COURT.

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

A STOLEN VIOLIN.

Making his first appearance in any Court, William Hunia, a Maori of 19 years, admitted stealing a violin, valued at £5, the property of Thomas Hunia. It was stated by Chief Detective Cumminge that complainant and accused were cousins, and stayed at the same boardinghouse. Accused took the violin, belonging to his cousin, and pledged it at a pawnshop for £1 5/. Hunia was fined £5 or 14 days, and was ordered by the magistrate to refund 25/ to the pawnbroker. He was allowed 14 days in which to pay the fine. FOR FURTHER INQUIRIES. In order that the police might make some further inquiries, Charles Leslie Ling (27) was remanded until June 17 on a charge of stealing £10 in money, the property of the Papatoetoe Sash and Door Factory. COULD NOT GET WORE. "For the past five weeks accused has been about the town, doing no work. In February last he was sent to gaol for three months for vagrancy," said the chief detective about William Postlewaite (57), who admitted that he was an idle and disorderly person with insufficient means of support. The magistrate told Postlewaite that he had a long list. Accused replied that he could not get any work to do. Accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. ASSAULTED A CUSTOMS OFFICER. Charges of assaulting Norman Glanfield, stealing a ship's curtain valued at 10/6, and using indecent language ■were preferred against a middle-aged man, Hugh Diamond, for whom Mr. J. J. Sullivan appeared. Counsel pleaded not guilty in order that the facts might be disclosed.

Norman Glanfield, a customs officer, told the magistrate that on the night of June 2 he was standing near the gates on Prince's Wharf, when he observed accused coming away from the s.s. Waiotapu with a bag. Witness questioned Diamond <as to vchat he had in the bag, and accused replied that all he had was a dirty shirt. Witness was not satisfied, and examined the bag. He found a ship's curtain in the bag. As witness was goinp aboard the vessel to see one of the officers, accused struck him on the face and caught hold of him by the throat. knocking his cap into the harbour, and at the same time stating: "Now, your cap of authority has gone, I'm going to do for you." Accused also used the indecent language en"--plained of.

Another witness called gave corroborative evidence. Both witnesses, questioned by JMr. Sullivan, considered that accused was under the influence of liquor at the time.

Counsel then altered the plea to one of guilty on all three charges. Accused has been for two years employed aa donkeyman on a whip, and had received a good discharge. Prior to the offences, he had been working for 24 hours and had had some liquor. He was a married man with two children, and had never been in court charged ■with any offence before. Accused had no recollection of any of the offences. In view of his excellent record in the past, also that Diamond had been in Auckland for 33 years. Mr. Sullivan nsked that the magistrate should treat the offences, which arose through liquor, in a lenient manner.

Mr. Poynton fined Diamond £3 for the assault, £2 on the theft charge, and ' convicted and discharged accused on the other count.