MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25994, 23 December 1949, Page 9

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

THURSDAY. (Before Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M.) REMANDED Charles William Vincent, aged 34, a truck-driver (Mr E. M. Hay) was further < remanded until January 19 on a charge of stealing, on December 12, a gold wristlet watch valued at £l3, the property of Doris Ariine Nancy Taylor. Bail was renewed. IMPRISONMENT FOR THEFT Sydney Thomas Brown, aged 28, a labourer, who pleaded guilty to three charges of stealing money, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour on the first charge, and 14 days’ imprisonment on each of the other charges, the sentences to be concurrent. The charges were that on December 15 he stole £2O, the property of Margaret Gallagher; on November 22 stole £5, the property of Daphne Gwendoline Burbery; and on December 6 stole £5, also the property of Burbery. Detective-Sergeant G. W. Alty said that accused was unable to work. The two sums of £5 were stolen from the purse of his sister-in-law. Accused had spent all the money, most of it on liquor, and some in playing cards. Thomas James Dyer, aged 27, a butcher and fishmonger (Mr J. K. Moloney) was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour on a charge of stealing, on December 10, a wristlet watch valued at £4 10s. the property of Honora Bridget Emmerson. FINED FOR THEFT Maurice Briggs, aged 21, a painter, pleaded guilty to a charge that on or about August 1 at Lower Hutt, he stole a set of lawn bowls valued at £B, the property of Modern Plastics (N.Z.) Ltd. Detective-Sergeant Alty said that accused had stolen the bowls .while he was employed by the firm, and had sold them. He was arrested in Christchurch on Wednesday. Accused said that the bowls had been rejected and would have been burned. The Magistrate imposed a fine of £5 anxL that restitution of £5 be Pa ’ CHARGE DISMISSED “I think Pannell had a great deal too much liquor and looked for this. Unfortunately he has suffered severely from it. These two young fellows Were not seeking trouble, and did thei j best to keep out of it, and were consichrably provoked ” These remarks were made by the Magistrate when he dismissed charges of assaulting Sydney Pannell against Leonard Fleming, aged 21, a furnace labourer, and Robert Fleming, aged 27, an iron moulder, for whom Mr A. N. Mackay appeared. Senior-Sergeant J. J. Kearns, who prosecuted, said that Pannell had suffered concussion and his recollection was not good. In evidence, Pannell said he could not remember being struck, and he did not know the accused. To Mr Mackay, he said he had spent the afternoon in a hotel, and had perhaps 10 or 12 beers. Thelma Olson, a friend of the accused, said that Pannell was insulting to her and a girl friend. The elder accused had remonstrated with Pannell. Pannell was swaying on Ms feet and had his fists clenched. She did not know who struck the first blow. Giving evidence, Robert Fleming said that Pannell had insulted the girls and had insulted himself and his brother, referring to the fact that they were Irish. Pannell eventually pushed him and accused then struck Pannell one blow and he fell to the ground. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE Lawrence James Kenny, aged 20. a cook (Mr E. M. Hay), who pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 16 years, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. IMPRISONMENT Leslie Henry Johnson (Mr J. K. Moloney) appeared for sentence on a charge of assaulting an eight-year-old girl, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. ADJOURNED A charge against Andrew Hugh Todd (Mr C. S. Thomas and Mr E. M. Hay), of assaulting Lesla Annie Todd, was adjourned until January 19, after the evidence of one witness had been heard. Todd pleaded not guilty. Douglas Gordon Radcliffe, a doctor, said he had examined Mrs Todd at Ms rooms. There was scattered bruising on several parts of her body, on the back of her right hand, and below her right eye, and abrasion of the upper gum ana small lacerations to both lips. The injuries were consistent with her having been struck.

OBSCENE LANGUAGE “You were provoked to some degree. You lost your head and your temper. Keep off liquor, because it might lead you into trouble," said the Magistrate, when Henry Charles Bennett appeared on a charge of using obscene language within the hearing of persons in Berry street, Christchurch, on November 11. Accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within the next six months if called upon. Senior-Sergeant J. J. Kearns said that accused had gone to a neighbour’s house to complain about a barking dog and had used the language complained of. FINE IMPOSED Henry Kyle was convicted and fined £3 on a charge of casting offensive matter in Tuam street on November 25. LIQUOR NEAR DANCE HALL On a charge of having liquor near a dance h'all at Christchurch on December 1, Patrick O’Connor was fined £2 10s. CIVIL CASE (Before Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M.) On a judgment summons, J. G. Kruse was ordered to pay Ashby, Bergh, and Company, Ltd., £l4 19s lid forthwith, in default 16 days’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended as long as £1 a fortnight is paid.