MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25955, 8 November 1949, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

MONDAY. (Before Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M.) CONVICTED AND DISCHARGED Thomas'John Pearson (Mr J t K. Moloney), aged 23, pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to observe the terms of his release on probation in failing to report to the probation officer as directed and making restitution of the sum of £l5 3s 9d. The probation officer explained that after making restitution of rhe sum of £3 accused had signed on on an overseas vessel and had --igned off at Dunedin. He had failed to report at Wellington as directed. The balance of the money had been paid into Court and no further penalty was asked for. Pearson was convicted and lischarged. REMANDED Horace Leonard Brown (Mr D. W. Russell), aged 50, was remanded until November 16 on a charge of oeing found in a state of intoxication when in charge of a motor-cycle in Colombo street on October 24. Bail was alloWed in the sum cf £2O. Rupert Terence Waring (Mr ■!. W. Hunter), aged 38, was remanded until November 21 on a charge that with intent to defraud Proctor Morris McFarlane of the sum of £3O, he falsely .'epresented that a substance he had sprayed on two buildings was a radio active substance and would prevent infection of borer, flies, fleas and other insects. DRUNKENNESS “I'm a pensioner and it's nearly time I cut out drink. If you’ll Rive me a change .I’ll go to the country to-day. Every time 1 touch drink I seem to get into trouble,” said Charles Jonn Hunter, aged 67, in pleading guilty to a charge of being found Irunk in a public place on November 6. “I was thinking of the country, too. But it was an island I was thinking of,” said the Magistrate, who referred to Hunter's 42 previous convictions, three of them within the last six months. Hunter was remanded for 24 hours for medical examination. Percy Edmonds, aged 65, with a record of 76 previous convictions, three of them in the last six months, was remanded for 24 hours for medical examination when charged with being found drunk in a public place. YOUTH FINED FOR ASSAULT “It seems you are determined to make a nuisance of yourself. If you c ome here again on any charge of the same kind, it is likely that you will go to prison. Do not come here again,’* said the Magistrate, when convicting Brian Bates, aged 18, on charges of assaulting Basil Augustus Johnson at New Brighton on November 5, of using indecent language in a public place, and of being found drunk in a public plaoe. Bates pleaded guilty to all charges and was fined £5 on the charge of assault and convicted and discharged m the other two charges. Sub-Inspector J. McKie said accused had approached the Returned Services’ Association dance hall, New BrightoA. in a drunken condition and was -.efused admission to the hall by Johnson because of previous bad behaviour at ihe dance hall. Later, accused struck Johnson and used the language complained cf in the presence of some women. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE Pleading guilty to a charge of stealing between January 15, 1949, and September 15. 1949, a quantity of electrical goods to a total value of £ 176, the property of Electrical Services (Canterbury), Ltd., Christchurch, Alfred Victor Smith, aged 55. an electrical wireman, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Detective-Sergeant R. Smith prosecuted and Mr D. Twyneham appeared for the accused.

Donald Charles Cameron, managing director of Electrical Services (Canterbury), Ltd., gave evidence that accused had been employed by his firm for four years. During the • last two vears, accused was foreman and had Keys to the storeroom. After stocktaking he had failed to account for some of Ihe equipment. Accused admitted using the materials for his own spare-time work, and was dismissed on October 13. Material valued at £l5l 10s had been used and equipment worth £24 10s had been recovered. The material used was similar to that used by the firm and in some cases the firm had the sole agency for the equipment.

Questioned by Mr Twyneham, Cameron said he had not known that accused had been doing extra work in his spare time. (Before Mr F. F. Reid, <5 M.) IMPRISONMENT FOR THEFT

William George Snell (Mr J. K. Moloney), aged 29, appeared for sentence on charges of stealing sums oi money. £3O and £l, the property of William Searle.

The Magistrate said a bold ffieft had been committed and he would be failing in his duty if he did not impose a sentence that would act as a deterrent.

On the charge of stealing £2O Snell was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. On the second charge he was convicted and discharged.