MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27303, 20 March 1954, Page 10

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

FRIDAY (Before Mr F. F. Reid, S.M.) REMANDED Kenneth Charles King, aged 18, a fowl plucker, was remanded to March 26 on a charge that on March 18, when he was under the influence of drink to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of a motor vehicle, he was in charge of a car in Moorhouse avenue. He was also charged with having no warrant of fitness. Bail in his own recognisance of £25 was allowed. Stanley Douglas Jamieson, aged 24, a seaman (Mr B. A, Newlove), was remanded to March 22 on a charge that on May 30, 1953, at Wellington, he deserted from the Rangitata. Bail in the sum of £5O, with one surety of £soj was allowed. He was ordered to report daily to the police.

IMPRISONMENT FOR THEFT On a charge that on March 18 he stole a wristlet watch valued at £9 12s 6d, the property of B. O. Brooker, Ltd., John Laird Taylor, aged 31, a salesman, pleaded ’ guilty and was sentenced to three « months’ imprisonment with hard labour. For the theft of a wristlet watch valued at £ll, the property of West Ende Jewellers, the accused was sentenced to a similar term of imprisonment, the sentences to be concurrent. Detective-Sergeant G. W. Alty said that the accused went into the shop of B. O. Brooker, Ltd., and asked to see some watches. A pad of watches was put tn front of him. He asked to see some others, and as an assistant went to get them a second assistant saw the accused take a watch off the pad and put it in , his pocket. The aid ®f a man from a farage was enlisted, and he followed the ccused and accosted him. The accused was taken back to the shop protesting his innocence, but he later admitted the of-, fence and produced the watch. He told the police he had a sudden impulse and he took the watch. He did intend to buy a watch when he went, into the shop. He had £7 in his possession. “There are 33 convictions against you, Taylor. It is quite obvious that you are not trying to lead an honest life,” said the Magistrate. The second charge was heard later in the morning. Detective-Sergeant Alty said the offence took place at 8.35 p.m. on January 29. The accused had asked to see some watches. When the woman assistant turned to get another watch, the accused had stolen one off the counter. He denied all knowledge of it when taxed by the woman and had then bought a watch for £3 10s. The accused said he had volunteered the information to the police after his earlier conviction. BREACH OF PROBATION John Rangihuna pleaded guilty to a charge that oh February 18, being a person released on probation, he committed a. breach of his probationary licence m that he committed a further offence and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour. He was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour, cumulative to the sentence he is at present serving. TRAFFIC BREACHES In cases brought by the police, offenders against • the traffic regulations were dealt with as follows: No warrant of fitness: William Evan Bates, 10s; Bruce C. Byrnes, 10s; Robert Stannard Hempstalk, costs. . Failed to give way to right: Eileen Lucy Buxton, £1 10s; William Brown, £2; Elsie Derisley Christie, £3: Francis William Go wing. £2; Tom Sabine Pasley, £2. Driving without due care and attention: Archibald Currie, £2; Ronald Allan Sylvester, £2. No lights on motor-cycle: Graham R. Fechney, 30s (no warrant of fitness, 10s); Robert Gilbert Trevor Houghton, £l. No light on cycle: Gabriel Nesbit, £2. CHARGES DISMISSED A charge of failing to give way, against Devereaux Raymond Williams, was dismissed, as was a charge against Ronald Clarence Mathewson of driving without due care.