POLICE COURT.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12499, 9 May 1906, Page 8

POLICE COURT.

Mr H. W. Bishop. S.M., presided the Police- Court yesterday. George Luinsden was charged -with receiving a gold watch, <a filver watch, and a gold ring «?t with stones, from Edward Homo, knowing the same, to have l>ppn dishonestly obtained. Mr Rufwell appeared for the accused, and pleaded '-Not guilty." Edward Homo stated that he took tho articles to tho accused, who wae a jeweller. Ho told him that, he had had tho articles in hie pcr-.sessio'n a lon.g time. Aecur-ed informed him that he was nor'in the hahit of buying jewellory, hut he would take them. Witness received a 3s fid liroocli in payment. Sydney Stubberfield ."-tatcd that he received tho jewellery from the accused to molt down. lie often had dealings with accused, and found him honest. The accused said he had been in Ohristc.hurch off .and en for 28 years. It was quite a common practice for people to bring in old jewellery, which wae then handed, over to a working jeweller to melt down. He thought- Home was perfectly honest. Home did not tell him the jewellery was stolen. He did not read the shop notice, as he did not think it referred to this jewolle-ry. He had no idea that he was dealing wii.i a theft. The Magistrate, addressing accused, said that it showed great carelessness on his part, and he had only to thank himself for the position in which he was placed. To his mind the gro«s carelessness almost auounted to criminality. He must have known that a person in the position of Home could not honestly obtain the jewellery. He did not think that he would be justified in convicting accused, but preferred to believe, that he was not actually awa.ro that the jewellery had been etolen. Ho hoped it would be a 10-on to accused in tlii , future to be more careful in buying article*?. Ho would dismiss the case. Three first offenders for drunkennees were each fined 5s or in default 24 hours'. David Duncan was charged with entering licensed premises during the currency of a prohibition order; al.-o" with procuring liquor. Evidence wan given by the licensee of the Prince of 'NVak*; Hotel that the accused was on his premises in company with another man. -Accused was then under the influenoe of liquor, and the barmaid would not porve him. They both went out shortly afterwards, and his companion returned and purchased sixpence worth of liquor in a bottle. The Ma girt rate imposed a fine of 20s on the tiivt charge, and dismissed the second.