POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 303, 22 December 1926, Page 9

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.) "CONSTABLE, I'M NUDEf" "You are charged with being drunk and disorderly in Belgium Street' last night," the clerk of the Court said to Phyllis Boyle (28). "Well, that's not so," said the woman defiantly. < •A constable stated that there was a dispute between accused and a man in a Belgium Street house. Accused ran out into the street with very little clothing on. She kept on calling out, "Constable, I'm nude, you cannot arrest mc." However, he had to arrest her, stating that finally he had to handcuff her. - "My husband and I had an argument and the landlord told us to stop or he would get a policeman," said accused. "Wβ were' going to stop, but he, got the policeman. A woman pulled mc out of bed_and threw mc into the- street." Senior Sergeant Edwards put in her list' of convictions,", showing that she was previously convicted for assault, assaulting .a policeman, and' for using obscene language. Mr. Hunt then disposed of the case by fining Boyle £1 or three days' imprisonment.. "HOVERED LIKE A HAWK." Alfred James Potter (44) pleaded not guilty when charged with being an idle and disorderly pefson with insufficient means of support. • • ~- ' As accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence oil it similar "charge some time ago, he. had. to answer that charge . also.. . V' < -Constable Butler stated that.lie knew, accused very well. Potter had been responsible for. dragging a woman to the gutter. As soon as she. wad sentenced to six months' imprisonment Potter picked up with another -woritan. He had •no money when arrested, ■ and he lived on the earnings of women with whom he associated. On being arrested a cutting from the Auckland "Star" describing the Police Court hearing of the charge against the woman who was sentenced to six months, was found upon him. Mr. Hunt: So he keeps a record of his lady friends' appearances at Court, eh ? Constable Buckley also had* something to say as the result of his observations of Potter. "He is an absolute pest and a waster about the town. He ctawls about the city, and if he sees a drunk he is always there," he said. "When I was sitting in the dark in •Vincent Street recently and dressed in mufti, he hovered round mc like a hawk, until he saw who I was. I have warned him on several occasions and told him .what sott of a man he was." Accused told Mr. Hunt that a woman had risked him to #put her up for a couple of nights," and he had assisted her. "You were the man I had before mc for maintenance the other day?" —Yes, sir. Potter was sentenced to three months' imprisonment on each of two charges, the sentences to be cumulative. CADGED- FROM SEAFARING MEN. Three wharf constables all stated that Charles McDermott (42), charged with being a rogue" a.nd vagabond, with insufficient lawful means of support, had not done any work for several weeks and that he frequented the waterfront, cadging from drunken firemen and seamen. He was also in a filthy condition. McDermott denied what had been said, stating that he had been out of town for six months working in the country. It was his 27th appearance before the Court. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. PRACTICALLY INCORRIGIBLE. "She is practically incorrigible and has a bad record," said Senior Sergeant Edwards about Margaret Creech (39), •who followed on a charged of being a rogue and vagabond, who corieorted with reputed thieves and other undesirables. Constable Buckley recited to the magistrate the names of persons with whom accused had associated. Six months' imprisonment was the sentence- imposed. BORSTAL FOR ESCAPEE. Douglas George Weavers (16), the youth who escaped from the Children's Court last Saturday morning, was arrested by Detective Knight last evening: He appeared charged with stealing a wallet .containing £4 10/. Chief Detective Cummings said that Weaver first appeared at the Police Court, where he pleaded guilty to breaking, entering and theft and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. However, he had been referred to the Children's Court, whence lie escaped on Saturday. Since his escape, he had visited the City Market? where he saw a coaT hanging up. The wallet was s£olen from the- coat. Weavers had been before the Court on several occasions previously. Mr. Campbell, the probation officer, recommended that Weavers should be given a- long term in. the Borstal Institution. Mr. Hunt consigned him thithet for a term not exceeding three years.