MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25080, 11 January 1947, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

THURSDAY (Before Mr F. F. Reid. S.M.) FALSE PRETENCES Stanley Frederick Moore (Mr J. K. Moloney) was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour when ne pleaded guilty to a charge that, with intent to defraud, he obtained from John Burns and Company, Ltd., the sum of £lO by falsely representing that a cheque for that amount and signed S. F. Moore, ’was a good and valid order. REMANDED William Darby McGill (Mr D. J. Hewitt), aged 24 years, was remanded to January 27 on charges of stealing a handbag and medical instruments of a total value of £l5, the property of John Davis Marks; with unlawfully interfering with a motor-car the property of John Davis Marks; with unlawfully interfering with a motor-car, the property of George Edward Hurrell; and with breaking and entering the premises of the Christchurch Clothing Company, Ltd., 244 St. Asaph street, and committing theft.

Bail was allowed in the sum of £lOO and one surety of £lOO. Maurice James Hogg (Mr J. K. Moloney) was remanded to January 23 on a charge of attempting -to break and enter the counting-house of J. Hammett and Son, 164 Colombo street, with intent to commit theft. Bail , was granted in the sum of £lOO and one surety of £lOO. Arnold Alexander Turnbull, aged 25 years, was remanded to January 20 on a charge of breaking and entering the counting-house of Coulls, Somerville, Wilkie, Ltd., at 211 Cashel street, and committing theft. Robert William Strongman, aged 34 years, was remanded to appear at Auckland on January 16 on a charge of carnally knowing a girl under the age of 16 years. CONVERSION OF TRUCK Donald Clark Neilson (Mr D. J. Hewitt), aged 21 years, pleaded not guilty to converting to his own use a motor-truck valued at £2OO, the property of Alexander Arthur Macfarlane, and guilty to driving without having a licence to do so. Alexander Arthur Macfarlane said that the accused, who haq beemployed by him at Rotherham, had taken the truck without his permission. To Mr Hewitt, witness said that twice previously he had lent the accused the truck, and that he had also lent it to other employees. , Giving evidence, Neilson said that about 12.45 a.m. on January 1 he had gone to Macfarlane’s house to ask for the loan of the truck. Macfarlane was not at home. He thought 1 that permission would have been granted. He was returning to the homestead when he was arrested. Mr Hewitt submitted that the case was not on all fours with others of conversion, and that there was a colour of right in the conversion of a truck, the use of which had been previously granted to accused and other employees. Accused did not have guilty intent, and there was every intention of returning the truck. The Magistrate said that the accused on his own admission knew that he had no right to take the truck, and he could not distinguish between this case and ordinary conversion. Neilson, who had been in custody for seven days, would be sentenced to a further 10 days’ imprisonment with hard labour. On the charge of driving without a licence, Neilson was convicted and discharged.