MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27367, 4 June 1954, Page 13

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

THURSDAY (Before Mr F. F. Reid, S.M.) PRISON FOR THEFTS Clarence Burnaby, aged 47, a labourer, who appeared for sentence on four charges of theft and one of forgery, was sentenced to a total of 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labour. The Magistrate said that Burnaby had a long list of convictions for various types of offences. He seemed to be a drifter without any idea of going straight. PROBATION FOR ASSAULT Thomas Albert Anthony Jones, aged 22, a truck driver (Mr H. S. Thomas), who had previously pleaded guilty to a charge that he assaulted Ivan Donald Walker, a taxi driver, on May 21, w*as admitted to probation for two years. A special condition was that he take out a prohibition order and keep it in force during the period of probation. Mr Thomas said that Jones appeared to be a man like Walter Mitty but, unfortunately, he. drank liquor and through that he got the courage to commit the offence. His job was waiting for him and he was willing to take out a prohibition order. The Magistrate said that, on the face of it, what Jones did might have been a very serious matter. The report of the Probation Officer and of a psychiatrist confirmed the view the Court had taken that it was a stupid act, due to drink and that Jones’s mentality was that of a child. “You have not been in trouble before, Jones, and under supervision you may turn out to be a decent citizen. I propose to give you that chance,” said the Magistrate. (Before Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M.) THEFT OF WATCH

lan Robson, aged 23, a porter, ’ pleaded guilty to charges that, on May < 1 he stole a wrist watch and strap, i valued at £8 10s, the property of Paul Seumanutafa, and that on May 5 he * obtained £1 from Frederick Norton J Semb by falsely representing that a £ pawn ticket for a watch was his own < property. Robson was remanded to June 10 for s sentence, pending a report by the Pro- ] bation Officer. { Detective-Sergeant G. S. Urquhart I said that Robson stole the watch from a bedroom in a boardinghouse and ] pawned it. He later sold the pawn s ticket to Semb, whom he knew, and 1 told him the watch was his own. When Robson was interviewed by Constable ; Swan, he admitted the offences. USED OBSCENE LANGUAGE e William Alexander Gill, aged 19, an t, apprentice cabinetmaker (Mr R. S. D. 5 Twyneham), pleaded not guilty to a i charge that he used obscene language 8 in Colombo street on May 9. He was convicted and fined £3. THEFTS FROM SHOPS J Daphne Clara Manhire, aged 50, a 1 domestic, pleaded guilty to eight charges of shop-lifting, and was re- ‘ manaed to June 10 for sentence. She ( was allowed bail in her own recog- , nisance of £5O, with one surety of j £5O, on condition that she reports daily to the police. An order was* made for the return of the stolen pro- i perty. i The charges were that on May 22 < she stole a clock, valued at £7 19s ' 6d, the property of Harjey’s, Ltd., New ; Brighton; that on May 24 she stole stockings, valued at 28s 6d, the pro- < perty of B. G. Masson, Ltd.; that on May 20 she stole a scarf, valued at 8s 1 lid, the property of Ivy Chapple; that ' on May 18 she stole two skirts, valued , at £ 10 2s 6d, the property of the Drapery and General Importing Company, Ltd.; that on May 21 she stole two jerseys, valued at 9s lid, the property of the same firm; that on March 24 she stole cosmetics, valued at £1 16s, the property of the same firm! that on March 3, at Wellington, she stole a travel case, valued at £6 10s, the property of W. H. Nash, Ltd.; and that on December 23, at Wellington, she stole a toilet set, valued at £lO 10s, the property of James Smith, Ltd. Detective-Sergeant G. C. Urquhart said that Mr Harley saw a woman on the footpath with a travelling clock which had a price tag on it. He had had one in his shop exactly the same and knew he had not sold it. He stopped the woman and asked her where she got the clock. He then learned that she had stolen it and also had two pairs of stockings, stolen from another shop in New Brighton. The police were notified, and when Manhire’s house was searched a quantity of new and expensive nylon underwear, cosmetics and perfume “was found. At first Manhire said she had bought the goods, but later she admitted shop-lifting them. She was known to the Court, said DetectiveSergeant Urquhart. “I can only say I’m most terribly ashamed. I have suffered tortures,” said Manhire when asked if she had anything to say. YOUTHS ADMITTED TO PROBATION John Bruce Hayes, aged 19, and Graham Ramsay Davidson, aged 17, both apprentice carpenters, for whom Dr. A. L. Haslam appeared, pleaded guilty to a charge that on May 15 at Seargill they stole a wheel, a tyre and a torch, of a total value of £l3 14s 6d, the property of Jack Avon Carl Beaumont. Each was admitted to probation for one year, a special condition being that neither owns a motor vehicle, nor drives one, except in the course of his employment. Detective-Sergeant G. C. Urquhart said that the two youths drove from Christchurch to Scargill in an old model car owned by Davidson. On the way they bought bottles of beer at a

hotel. At Scargill they stopped and joined men working for the same construction company as Davidson. While they were waiting for a meal, Davidson caught a fowl, killed it, and threw it into the back of his car. They later spoke of looking for a car to take some parts. They saw Beaumont’s truck, jacked it up, took off one wheel and tyre, put it in Davidson’s car, and tried to take off another one. Beaumont arrived and saw that the

wheel was missing. - He found it in the back of Davidson’s car, taxed the two youths with taking it and, under his direction, they put the wheel back on the truck. The matter was reported to .the police and the two youths were interviewed. They did not seem to realise the seriousness of their position. Dr. Haslam said they were now two very penitent young men. They probably started off in a light-hearted way but drank liquor and then thought they could do as they pleased. Hitherto, their conduct had been good and they were well thought of as employees. This was an isolated lapse and was not likely to occur again. The Magistrate said that the youths’ irresponsible and criminal conduct had been investigated and the Court was encouraged to take the view that it was a foolish escapade due to liquor. The Probation Officer recommended that they be given the opportunity to have the benefits of probation and the Court would adopt the recommendation. NO PERMIT FOR RIFLE John Campion was fined £1 for procuring possession of a .22 rifle at Springston on March 28 when he did not have a permit. ON LICENSED PREMISES Stanley George Williams and Stuart Russell Duff were each fined £1 for being found on licensed premises, the Black Horse Hotel, after hours on May 1. LICENSING CHARGES DEFENDED Desmond Hurford Hancock, licensee of the Central Hotel, pleaded not guilty to charges of selling liquor, exposing liquor for sale, and opening his premises for the sale of liquor after hours on March 5.

Kathleen Mary Hancock, his wife pleaded not guilty to a Charge that, helm a person other than the licensee of th< Central Hotel, she supplied liquor afte hours on March 5. Trevor Barber, a barman at the hotel also pleaded not guilty to a charge that being a person other than the licensee, h< supplied liquor after hours on March 5. Mr B. McClelland appeared for thesi three defendants.

Mr J. G. Leggat appeared for Ivan Russell Switalla, Fay Patricia Switalla, and lan Anthony Davidson, who pleaded not guilty to being found unlawfully on licensed premises, the Central Hotel, after hours on March 5.

Evidence was given by Sergeant R. E. Marriott and Constable G. W. Cruickshank on finding persons in the hotel at 12.25 a.m. on March 5. The defence was that the persons were the guests of the licensee, of his wife, and of a lodger. The charges against all the defendants except the licensee were dismissed. The Magistrate said that the licensee would be convicted on one charge, but he would adjourn the case until the morning, when he would hear the prosecutor and counsel on the matter. REMANDED Leslie David Shead, aged 21, a seaman,

was remanded to June 8 on a charge that he deserted from the Rangitiki at Wellington on May 8. Mr P. G. Hill appeared for the shipping company. P<er Ghermenis, aged 26, a painter (Mr H. S. Thomas), was remanded for one day on five charges of obtaining money by false pretences. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

John Thomas O’Grady, aged 30, a barman (Mr E. B. E. Taylor), pleaded not guilty to three charges of breaking and entering, one of false pretences, and one of attempted false pretences. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial on each charge. Detective-Sergeant G. W. Alty prosecuted. The charges were that on May 3 he broke and entered the counting-house of the Crystal Mirror and Glass Co., 283 Tuam street, and committed a crime; that on May 4 he attempted to obtain £lO 4s from. John James Coffey, licensee of the King George Hotel, by an invalid cheque; that on May 4, he obtained £l4 Ils 2d from Charles Raymond Hartshorne, licensee of the Star Hotel, by an invalid cheque; that between April 15 and April 17 he broke and entered the countinghouse of E. M. Russell (a coal and wood merchant), 42 Stanmore road, and committed a crime; and that on May 3 he broke and entered the Southern Cross Bottle Exchange, 122 Ferry road, and committed a crime. O’Grady was allowed bail in his own recognisance of £2OO and one surety of £2OO, or two of £lOO, on condition that he reports daily to the police. The police alleged that O’Grady broke into premises and stole cheque books, one with several cheques signed by ohe name, but requiring a second signature, and that he cashed or attempted to cash two of these cheques. (Before Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M.) ATTEMPTED FALSE PRETENCE George Richard Williams, aged 25, a driver, appeared for sentence on a charge that on May 19 he attempted to obtain £4 3s from the Railways Department by falsely representing that a return railway ticket, Christchurch to Woodlands, was his own property. He was convicted and discharged. The Magistrate said that, in view of the Probation Officer’s report and what the police had said, he proposed to treat the matter lightly; It seemed to have been a confused business. CIVIL CASES (Before Mr F. F. Reid, S.M.) CLAIM FOR POSSESSION. D. Doyle, a plumber, claimed possession of a tenement at 112 Domain terrace from V. Dale, a labourer. An order was made for posesssion forthwith, and judgment was given for the plaintiff for the balance of rent due (£18). JUDGMENT SUMMONSES