Magistrate’s Court MAN GAOLED FOR 18 MONTHS ON THEFT CHARGE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29637, 6 October 1961, Page 16

Magistrate’s Court MAN GAOLED FOR 18 MONTHS ON THEFT CHARGE

“If you want to learn to be a useful and happy citizen then you must pay for what you have done,” Phillip Robert Neil was told when he was convicted and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment by Mr E. S. J. Crutohley, SM„ in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of theft of an aqualung valued at £52. “It is clear from your record that you are addicted to this sort of thing." the Magistrate said. The sentence imposed is to be cumulative with a sentence of 13 months’ imprisonment at present being served. On a charge of theft of a camera valued at £4B Neil was convicted and discharged. Sergeant E. S. Tuck said that Neil bought the aqualung and camera under a hire-purchase agreement, and sold them before they were paid for because be was short of money. INDECENT LETTER “In this country the sending of an indecent letter [through the post is regarded very seriously, and if it happens again you will go to prison,” said the Magistrate when fining Louis Jc«eph Niedrist, aged 26, a freezing ' worker, £4O. Niedrist pleaded guilty to a Charge brought under the Indecent Publications Act of sending an indecent letter through the post at Mataura on May 20. Sergeant Tuck said that Niedrist was an Austrian. Constable D. G. Ruunpit was worn in as an Interpreter. On June 23 a girl complained to the police that Niedrist had threatened to harm her or anyone who came to her assistance, Sergeant Tuck said. Niedrist had been very intimate with

the girl during October and November of last year and she became pregnant. In January the girl was admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital as a result of a miscarriage. After that the accused wrote to the girl letters couched in the most obscene term*.

Niedrist arrived in Christchurch from Mataura on holiday in June, and demanded that the girl return the letters. He showed het what he said was a firearm, but it was only the bolt from a .22 rifle. He warned her not to tell the police. The girl went to the police, and Niedrist was found outside the shop where she worked and was taken to the Central Police Station. His conduct was such that he was not fit to be in change of a firearm, and the rifle was confiscated. He admitted using the rifle bolt to bolster up his demands for the return of the letters. Niedrist had been in New Zealand for about five years, said Sergeant Tuck. Niedrist said the girl’s statement was wrong and that he had never threatened her. The women in this country were always right The letter was written in the most disgraceful language, the Magistrate said when imposing the fine. BROKE INTO OFFICE Robert Gerald Hirini, aged 23, pleaded guilty to a charge of counting-house breaking and theft at Christchurch on September 19. He was remanded in custody to October 12 for sentence.’ Sergeant V. F. Townshend said that Hirini broke into the office of Hillary and Baxter in Manchester street, and searched drawers and cupboards in the office for money. He forced open a desk, and did damage amounting to £5. CHARGES ADMITTED George Maurice (Mr B. J, Drake) pleaded guilty to charges of theft of a bun divider valued at £25 and attempted unlawful carnal knowledge, and was remanded in custody to October 16 for sentence. In applying for bail, Mr Drake said that Maurice had already been in custody for tome time and would be more useful working for his wife and the 10 children he was supporting than he would be in custody. THEFT A man whose name was suppressed, was fined £5 on i charge of theft of a tin of tobacco valued at 4s 6d. \n order for return of the stolen property was made. OBSTRUCTED FOOTPATH The Magistrate called for a probation officer's report when Mitchell Sloan, aged 17, pleaded guilty to a ■barge of obstructing the footpath in Cathedral, square on Wednesday.

Sergeant Townshend said r constable moved Sloan on when he was standing with i group of youths obstructing the temporary footpath outside the site of the Government Life Insurance Office building. He later warned him about the same offence jutide the Tivoli Theatre. He was a first offender. Sloan was remanded on bail to October 20. DANGEROUS DOG

On a charge of having a iangerous dog on August 10, Alfred de Laberbis, a school teacher, was fined £3 and was ordered to keep the dog under proper control. A plea jf guilty was entered by Mr D. H. Stringer.

Sergeant Tuck said the defendant owned a four-year-old dog of the boxer breed. George Fisher was riding his motor-cycle along Harris avenue at 11.45 a.m. when the dog rushed out and attempted to seize his foot. It then seized the exhaust pipe and was dragged for some distance.

In the excitement of the moment the motor-cycle got over to its wrong side of the road and narrowly missed colliding with an oncoming car. It was fortunate that the car driver saw Fisher’s predicament -and slowed down.

Mr Stringer said that, In spite of its size, the dog was very gentle. It was on the best of terms with about 20 children in the neighbourhood. LICENSING OFFENCES On a charge of purchasing liquor while under the age of 21, Peter Adrian Joseph Halliday was fined £3. On a charge of giving false particulars of age and name, he was fined £5. Halliday pleaded guilty to both charges. REMANDED

Bail was opposed by the police when Leslie John Keeley, aged 22, was remanded to October 12 on a charge of false presences involving £7 10s. Th' application for bail, made by Mr B. G. Dingwall, was refused. Sergeant Townshend said that numerous charges were pending against Keeley, who had no fixed abode and was about to go to the North Island when he was arrested. Peter John Joseph Turner, ager 17, was remanded .on bail to October 12 on a charge of unlawful carnal knowledge. Sergeant Townshend apposed bail and said that Turner was also about to leave for the North Island when he was arrested. Inquiries were to be made into charges regarding dishonesty. Mr Dingwall who appeared for Turner, said his mother lived in Christchurch and he was reporting to the probation officer. Colin John Hancock (Mr G. T. Mahon) and John Paki Porter were remanded in custody to October 17 on a charge of robbery involving £27. Sergeant Townshend said he very strongly opposed bail to Hancock as

violence had been used in the alleged offence against an elderly man.

John William Carter, aged 29 (Mr A. B. Hannan), was remanded until August 12 to Sunnyside Mental Hospital for examination when he appeared for sentence on a charge of counting-house breaking with intent On a joint charge of attempted shop breaking and theft at New Brighton on September 20, John Arthur Adams, aged 19. Francis Edwin Wallace Hoveli, aged 20, and Douglas Richard Tranter, aged 17, were remanded on bail to October 11 (Before Mr A. P. Blair, S.M.) 10 DAYS’ IMPRISONMENT “Three times in the past you have been given probation and you have been convicted twice of offences involving dishonesty, so you will have to go to prison,” said the Magistrate to Mane Collins, aged 34. She was sent to gaol for 10 days when she appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing clothing valued at £1 6s lOd when a servant of Wool worths (N.Z.), Ltd. When Collins first took the goods she intended to pay for them, and it was only when she came to make out the docket that she succumbed to temptation, said Mr B. J. Drake. She was in financial difficulties and was working at two jobs. She also had to look after her children. YEAR’S PROBATION

“You have got the intelligence and courage to face this weakness, but if you offend again you will be dealt with severely to protect the community,” said the Magistrate when admitting Robert ’ Joseph Clarkson, aged 20, an engineering student, to one year’s probation on a charge of obscene exposure.

Clarkson pleaded guilty to the charge last week, and was appearing for sentence. This was a case where the accused could be given an opportunity to make something of his life, said Mr B. McClelland. He had an outstanding record both as a scholar and on the sports field.

DISQUALIFIED DRIVER Ronald John Beran, aged 28, a workman, had a disqualification from driving extended another three years when he apoeared for sentence on a charge of driving while disqualified. He was convicted and discharged on a charge of stealing two registration plates. Beran was unable to keep himself out of trouble, and he had been told when he lost his licence that if he offended again the consequences would be serious, said Mr B. J. Drake. It would appear that he was not of strong mental ability, but he was doing his best for his wife and three children. is a pity that you committed these offences after keeping out of trouble for so long except for the driving offence,” the Magistrate said. PROBATION

"You’ve been doing fairly well during the last few years, and it is a pity that you slipped back into crime again," said the Magistrate to William Norman Nicholson, aged 38. a workman. He was admitted to probation for one year and was ordered to pay £lO towards the cost of the prosecution when he appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing groceries

valued at £3 Is 10d. DANGEROUS SPEED

Charged with driving at a dangerous speed along Riccarton road on August 12, Robert Dudley Judd, aged 17, an airman, was fined £2O and his licence was cancelled for 18 months.

Prosecuting for. the Transport Department, Traffic Officer L. B. Bolton said he first noticed Judd at the Sockburn roundabout travelling towards Church corner at high speed. He followed Judd, who travelled at speeds up to 55 miles an hour along Riccarton road where there was heavy traffic in both directions. Judd overtook up to 15 cars at a time and went through the Riccarton shopping area at 35 to 45 miles an hour.

The Magistrate told Judd that he was a menace to himself and others, and that he considered the offence as very serious. OTHER TRAFFIC CHARGES

Other traffic offenders were dealt with as follows: Exceeding 30 miles an hour: lan George Begbie, £4; John McKinnon Blake, £3 (no warrant of fitness. £2); . George Alexander Templeton, £3; Shirley Frances < McLeod, £3; John Trengrove, I £3; Raymond Britten, £3; j Bruce James Burgess, £5; < Raymond Leslie Calvert, £5: 1 Roger Frank Carson, £8 (no , warrant of fitness. £2. no < driver’s licence, £3); Lind- ’ say Colin Comber, £6; Ray- J mond Douglas Dreaver, £4; < Bruce Lewis Giddens, £4;.J Ronald Jenkins. £3; John ] Keith Lanley. £5: Desmond.' Joseph Lyons. £4; Joseph |* Albert Manson, £2; John i Henry Mclntoch, £3; Paul ■ Gurney Norris, £2: Edgar Allan Piesse. £4; Norman , Clarence Reid. £4: George'Arthur Scadden. £3; David? Frederick Stokes, £3: Rich- < ard Livingston Tapley, £3;r Michael William Trolove, £6; ' David Ward, £2; Gordon < Harold Wat.es, £3; Edward 1 Holden Wright. £3. Failing to stop at stop sign: i Katherine Hutton WanklynJ; £5; Gerald Thompson, £3. I No driver’s licence: Bruce? Anthony Briggs. £5. Failing to stop for lights: Ralph Martin Coe, £5. I' Exceeding 40 miles an, hour with learner’s plate:] Gary Edwin Shearer, £3. I' No light on bicycle: I, Arthur Frederick Houghton, t £2. I’m looking for a lot of men with an infinite capacity for not knowing what can’t be done.—Henry Ford.