MAGISTRATE’S COURT MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ASSAULT CHARGE

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28182, 22 January 1957, Page 12

MAGISTRATE’S COURT MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ASSAULT CHARGE

Frederick Arthur Rumble, aged 50, a wood merchant, who appeared in the dock with both eyes black and his face bruised, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to a charge that on January 20 he assaulted Doris Tierney.

Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M.. remanded him on bail of £25 to January 24 for a Probation Officer’s report and for sentence. Inspector J. J. Halcrow said that the police were called to a house in Cashel street at 10.50 p.m.. and Sergeant Morrisey found Rumble there with a man Mulligan, who was drunk. The children had locked themselves in a bedroom because they were frightened of Rumble.

Sergeant Morrisey warned Rumble to leave the house and keep away, said Inspector Halcrow. At 12.45 a.m. Mrs Tierney arrived and found the children screaming and alarmed. She found that Rumble had tried to get in by the bedroom window. Rumble was still in the house and Mrs Tierney, knowing that Mrs Mulligan had previously told Rumble to keep away from the house, slapped his face. Rumble attacked her with fists, feet and knee and knocked her to the floor. A male member of the party came in and intervened with the result that Rumble was knocked about somewhat about the face and head. Rumble was previously known to the police. Mr B. J. Drake, who appeared for Rumble, asked for bail. He said that no proceedings had been taken against the man who assaulted Rumble and that was rather difficult to understand. The Magistrate said he might have something to say about that later on. SHOPLIFTING CHARGES Ellen Margaret Scales, aged 42. a housewife (Mr W. F. Brown), pleaded guilty to three charges of stealing goods from shops to a value of £8 15s 6d, and one charge of trespassing on the Ad-

dington racecourse while a race meeting was in progress. The charges were adjourned to January 28 for sentence pending a report by the Probation Officer.

Senior-Detective G. C. Urquhart said that at 1.45 p.m. on December 24 the police were called to the D.I.C. because two women were suspected of shoplifting. Detective Wallace went to the shop and watched the two women leave. He followed them into Beath’s shop where he saw Scales take a pair of earrings. He questioned her and she denied taking the earrings. She attempted to leave the shop but was taken to the manager's office. On the way she discarded her shopping bag which was recovered from under a display counter. The bag contained unwrapped articles. Scales was taken to the detective office where she admitted stealing articles that day from Woolworths in Sydenham, from the D.1.C., and from Beaths. Her friend also admitted shoplifting and would appear later. Senior-Detective Urquhart said that Scales had a previous conviction in October, 1956, and so was debarred from going on a racecourse. She was seen at the Addington racecourse on January 1 and warned off the course. She became abusive but left. She was a married woman with one child. ROGUE AND VAGABOND Rangi Hotchi Matakatfea, aged 42, a carpenter, appeared for sentence on a charge of being deemed to be a rogue and vagabond in that he was found by night wearing carpet slippers with felonious intent, and a charge of theft. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on the first charge and one month’s imprisonment on the second charge, the sentences to be concurrent.

The Magistrate said that Matakatea had been in trouble since 1937 for serious offences. “I am not so sure you do not lead something of a dual existence, Matakatea. One part of you may be honest but the other part is dishonest,” said the Magistrate. SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT John Conel Wilkie, aged 37, a labourer (Mr D. W. Russell), appeared for sentence on two charges of theft of bicycles. He was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on each charge, the terms to be concurrent. FINED £2O Robin Carlyle Johnston, aged 20, a painter (Mr J. B. Weir), appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing a bicycle. He was convicted and fined £2O. Mr Weir said that Johnston claimed that the bicycle was in very poor condition and appeared to have been abandoned when he took it. Johnston's employer was willing to keep him on. Johnston had reached the stage where he must be put back in Borstal or given a final chance, said the Magistrate. It was with some hesitation that he was giving him that chance. ABSENT FROM SHIP Stevenson Robertson Harper, aged 21, a ship’s fireman, pleaded guilty to being absent without leave from the overseas ship Fort Beauharnois at Wellington on November 18, 1956. He was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment.

Mr J. R. Woodward, who appeared for the informant, «.be British Admiralty, said that the ship was a Royal Navy auxiliary vessel. Only the officers were Navy personnel. The members of the crew were signed on under Merchant Marine articles and Harper signed on at Leith, Scotland. PROBATION FOR THEFT A young woman, whose name was ordered not to be published and who appeared for sentence on a charge of theft, was convicted and admitted to probation for two years, a special condition being that she makes restitution of £1 9s 3d. NAME SUPPRESSED A 49-year-old man, whose name was suppressed and who was represented by Mr D. H. Godfrey, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a woman. He was convicted and fined £lO. FINED £2 William Patrick Gerald O’Connell, aged 46, was fined £2, in default four days’ imprisonment, on a charge of being found drunk in Cashel street on January 20, having had one previous conviction for a similar offence within the last six months. CHARGE ADJOURNED William Wallace Oliver, aged 43, a fish merchant (Mr R. A. Young), pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving a car in Market street, Leeston, while he was under the influence of alcohol, on December 14. After hearing the evidence, the Magistrate adjourned the charge until this morning. The police case was that Constable G. P. Russell saw Oliver come out of Leeston Hotel at 6.10 p.m., get into his van and start to back it. When Constable Russell arrived, Oliver switched off the engine and got out. He was unsteady on his feet, his breath smelt of alcohol, and his speech was slurred. Constable Russell considered him unfit to drive and took him to the police station. Dr. S. R. Cattell, who examined him at 6.30 p.m., considered him unfit to drive.

I Evidence was given by Con- ; stable Russell. Traffic Officer A. J. 5 Archer, Dr. Cattell, and Richard I John Nairn, a linesman. : Oliver’s position was particu- ; larly serious, said Mr Young. He had been convicted of a similar : charge three and a half years ' ago. The defence would be that ; Oliver was not drunk, and that ;he did not drive his car in Mar- : ket street. He would say that ; he stopped at the hotel at 5.45 ; p.m. to ask a fisherman if there ; was any fish at Taumutu that • afternoon. He parked his car on : a section belonging to the hotel. : When he came out he got into i the van to wait for a man Freedman. but did not start the engine. : The licensee would say that i Oliver had only three drinks at •I the hotel, and that he did not see : | Oliver's car moved, said Mr : Young. Dr. Pilbeam, who exam- : ined Oliver at 7.30 p.m., would : say she considered him fit to ; drive then. ; Evidence was given by Dr. • Audrey Pilbeam, Leonard Kendall : O’Neill, licensee of the Leeston : Hotel. Philip Bernard Percasky, a ’ fisherman, Alan Robert Freeman,

a farmer, and Daniel Keith Coleman, a businessman. CHARGE DISMISSED John David Forsyth Fleming, aged 48, a farmer (Mr B. McClelland), pleaded not guilty to a charge that he drove a motorcar on the main highway at Domett on December 31 while he was under the influence of drink. The charge was dismissed. Constable L. A. Snowden said that Fleming drove up to the store at Domett about 10.30 p.m. on December 31, witness being in his car near the dance hall close by. When Fleming got out of his car and walked towards the store witness considered him unsteady on his feet. Witness spoke to him and considered him to be unfit to drive because of the effects of liquor. The doctor was out in the country and was not available until after 2 a.m. The defence was that Fleming had no more than eight medium beers with friends during the afternoon and evening and was quite fit to drive a car. The Magistrate said that a country constable, who was highly respected, arrested a man he knew. He was unable to get a doctor and there was no evidence to support him. Against him was the evidence of four men who knew Fleming well and were with him during the evening. The evidence was conflicting and it entitled Fleming to the benefit of the doubt. REMANDED Thomas Albert Young, aged 46. a motor salesman (Mr D. W. Russell) was remanded for a week on charges of driving on Main road, Redcliffs, while he was under the influence of alcohol, and driving without due care and attention, on January 2. William Charles Kidd, aged 30. a workman, was further remanded for a week on a charge of obtaining a binocular and 5s in money from Arthur Leslie Erehaut on January 11 by falsely representing that a cheque for £l7 was good and valid. Bail was renewed.

Arnold Leslie Burnett, aged 36. a workman (Mr K. S. Hadfield), charged with indecently assaulting a female on January 9, was further remanded to January 30. Asking for the remand, SeniorDetective G. C. Urquhart said that he understood Burnett would elect trial by jury. Garth Francis Muirson, aged 18. a labourer, was further remanded to January 28 on two charges of unlawful carnal knowledge of girls aged 15 and 14. Bail was renewed. NO PROSECUTION When a man was charged with assaulting his wife, counsel for the wife said she would not give evidence against her husband. The case was dismissed for want of prosecution and the Magistrate made ail order that the name be not published.