MAGISTRATES COURT

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23882, 26 February 1943, Page 7

MAGISTRATES COURT

THURSDAY (Before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M.) THEFT FROM MOTOR-CAR

John Louis Stalker, aged 43, a labourer, pleaded guilty to a charge of having at Christchurch on February 24. stolen a man’s overcoat, a woman’s overcoat, stockings, a pattern, also bread, buns, and fruit cake, valued at £2 19s, the property of Emily Coleman. The police evidence showed that Stalker had gone to the motor-car of the complainant, and had been seen removing the goods. The accused said that he had been discharged from the Army, after serving overseas, because of ill-health. "I must have lost control of myself,” he said. The Magistrate: A little medical treatment for three months will help you. MISSED PARADES Henry William Gourlay, a teacher at the Christchurch Boys' High School, appeared on a charge that, between January 10 and September 5, 1942, he failed to attend parades called by the Home Guard.

Lieutenant A. J. Campbell, former adjutant in the Home Guard, said that the defendant had been warned by him, and also that at first Gourlay had declined to attest. Gourlay had given as his excuse that he was too busy with his school work to attend the parades. Mr J. K. Moloney, for the defendant, said that Gourlay was not a conscientious objector, but he had been exceedingly busy with his work. "He is now most anxious to attend parades,” said counsel. The Magistrate: I will adjourn the case for two months to see if he will Carry out his obligations. The case will again be called on April 22. As Stanley Baird, a labourer, was now attending Home Guard parades, a former charge against him was adjourned sine die. Mr Moloney appeared for the defendant. Failure to Enrol Percival David Scrimgeour, aged 32, a commercial traveller, was charged with not having enrolled in the General Reserve. Mr F. D. Sargent, for the accused, entered a plea of not guilty though, he said, an application had actually been forwarded. However, it had not been acknowledged. and the accused had not followed the matter up. , He was ready to go into camp, he added, and was not a conscientious objector. Scrimgeour was fined £l, with costs. THEFT ALLEGED Leonard Frederick Martin, aged 31, a labourer, again appeared on a charge of having attempted to obtain by fraud from Thomas Joseph Sleeman the sum of £l3 ids by means of falsely representing that an order drawn on the Department of Industries and Commerce was valid.

He was also charged with stealing two motor-car tyres and tubes, valued at £B, the property of Morris Sears; with stealing a motor-car battery, valued at £2 10s, the property of Sears; and with stealing a lawnmower valued at *£4 15s, the property of Baden Powell Vine. On the application of the police, he was' remanded to March 1. Bail was renewed. CHARGE ADJOURNED

A charge of having assaulted a young girl, against William John Hornby, aged 17, was adjourned until March. The Magistrate declined to agree to the request of the accused’s counsel (Mr A. C. Brasslngton) that his name should be suppressed and the matter dealt with in the Children's Court. ARMS ACT OFFENCE

For failing to produce a certificate under the Anns Act, 1920, in connexion with a rifle, when requested to do so by a constable, Arthur Remmington Duthle, a labourer, was ordered to pay costs only. Mr A. T. Bell appeared for the defendant. ■

LIQUOR' OFFENCES James Strathlnu aged 22, a soldier, was fined £1 and oiflered to pay costs for having taken liquor into a dance hall on February 5. For having been found on the premises of the Southern Cross Hotel, Addington, after legal trading hours, on February 6, the following were fined 10s and ordered to pay costs;—Fred.Hampton, Henry John Lamport, James Summers, Richard Whittington. ____________

Extra Permits The committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club has been endeavouring to secure an extra day’s racing in the Otago district, but has now received a reply from the Racing Conference that no extra permits are available, says the "Evening Star.” Referring to the transfer of the Vincent Jockey Club's permit to the South Canterbury Hunt, the secretary to the conference explains that the South Canterbury district lost more days of racing than any other district in the Dominion through the restriction of racing, and was therefore entitled to the first permit that became available through a club not racing thls»season. The West Coast district was second on the list in the matter of lost dates, and therefore was granted the Nelson Jockey Club’s permit when that club decided not to hold a meeting this seascn !