Magistrate’s Court SIX MONTHS’ GAOL FOR THEFT OF MONEY FROM CHURCH

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29792, 7 April 1962, Page 14

Magistrate’s Court SIX MONTHS’ GAOL FOR THEFT OF MONEY FROM CHURCH

“It doesn’t seem possible for you to leave other persons’ property alone. You have not responded to training and it must be impressed on you that crime does not pay," said Mr E. A. Lee, S.M., when sentencing David Francis White, aged 25, to six months’ imprisonment in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. White appeared for sentence on a charge of theft of £lO 10s 9d from a church at Lyttelton and two charges of entering with intent. Mr G. R. Lascelles, who appeared for White, said his client had had an unfortunate background but with his marriage a year ago he had shown some signs of stability. The Magistrate said White had 20 convictions for dishonesty and the latest offences had been committed while he was an parole. He obviously needed a sharp lesson.

THEFT OF £52

Pleading guilty to a charge of stealing £52 from Herman David Kappus between February 3 and 14. William Douglas Hill, aged 27 (Mr G. R. Lascelles), was fined £lO. Sergeant E. S. Tuck said Hill had stolen the money from his room mate who was a pensioner.

Mr Lascelles said Hill had never been in trouble before. Part of the money he had stolen was given to his landlady who was in financial difficulties. THEFT CHARGE

Charged with theft as a servant by fraudulently converting a cheque of £lOOO from Rose Dorothy Ford which was to have been paid to Seafox Marine, Ltd., on September 1, Oswald Oliver .Wahrlich, aged. 43, was remanded to April 13. Sergeant Tuck asked for substantial bail. The Magistrate granted bail of £5OO and a surety of £5OO. THEFTS ADMITTED

Pleading guilty to charges of theft of a razor, valued at £B, between November 1 and November 30 and theft of a wallet and 5s in money on January 22, Henry Pene, aged 24, a workman, was convicted and remanded on bail until April 13 for sentence. Sergeant Tuck said the accused took the razor when he noticed it in a vacant cabin in the Hinemoa. The wallet and the money were left in a telephone box and found by the accused. The wallet contained the owner’s name and address. ON LICENSED PREMISES When Sergeant A. A. McRae entered the back door of the Woolston Hotel ab<sut 8.40 p.m. on March 6 Leslie James Whittaker, aged 40. rushed past him. grabbed a broom and said he was a cleaner according to evidence given by the sergeant. Sergeant Mcßae said he told the man- his statement would require verification. Whittaker and another man found in the hotel later admitted they were unlawfully on the premises, said Sergeant Mcßae.

On charges of being unlawfully on licensed premises on March 6. Reginald Douglas McNaughton, aged 47. and Whittaker were each fined £3 They did not appear. LIQUOR NEAR DANCE Frank van der Veen was fined £3 on a charge of having liquor near a dance hall while a dance was in progress on March 9. He' did not appear FINED £3

On a charge of keening an unregistered dog on March 9 Dennis Austin Quirke. aged 20. was fined £3 He did not appear. UNREGISTERED FIREARM Pleading guilty by letter to a charge of possessing an unregistered firearm on February 14. Doudas George Willis was fined £3. REMANDED FOR SENTENCE

Ronald Alfred Caldwell aged 25. was remanded on bail until April 13 for sentence when he pleaded guilty to charges of theft of 7s 5d in monev on March 13 and unlawfully getting into a car. valued at £6OO. on the same date

Sergeant Tuck said that at 825 p.m. a garage attendant noticed the accused near a vacant van in a car park. The man approached the van and found the accused lying in some long grass behind the vehicle. The accused said “it would not happen again” and

the police were called, said Sergeant Tuck. He said the accused told the police he was in debt and had entered the van looking for money. He had taken a cigarette tin which contained 7>s 5d parking meter money from the van and hidden some of tiie money in the long grass. INDECENT ASSAULT

John Stuart Weir Pegg, aged 45, a footwear operator (Mr G R. Lascelles) was convicted on four charges of indecently assaulting boys under the age of 16. He was remanded to April 13 for a probation officer’s report and sentence. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Tuck told the Court that Pegg had numerous convictions for indecency. REMANDED Pleading not guilty to a charge of indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 12. Roy Arthur Read, aged 35, was remanded on bail to April 13. Ronald George Symons, aged 25. was remanded to April 9 on a charge of committing an indecent act in a public place. Charged with toe theft of women's clothing valued at £8 2s 2d, a man whose name was suppressed was remanded to Sunnyside Hospital for treatment.

Appearing for sentence on a charge of theft of goods valued at £lB 75s 6d, Leo Patrick Prendergast was further remanded to Sunnyside Hospital for observation On a charge of theft as a servant of £lOO from Scrimgeour Motors, between February 12 and March 30, Reginald James O’Do-nnell, aaed 21, was remanded on bail until April 13. Pleading not guilty. Thomas Fred, a workman, was remanded until May 2 for the taking of depositions on a charge of countinghouse breaking and theft at Christchurch on November 6. (Before Mr E. S. J. Crutch-ley. S.M.) “VICIOUS ASSAULT”

“A very bad and vicious assault on your wife when she should have been able to expect the utmost consideration.” said the Magistrate to Charles Karen-a, aged 34. a slaughterman, who appeared for sentence on a charge of assaulting his wife on March 28. Karena was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. IDLE AND DISORDERLY Appearing tor sentence on a charge of being idle and disorderly on March 29, Phillip John Rawlinson, aged 32. was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within six months if called upon.

ATTEMPTED THEFT

James Findlay Elder, aged 21. and Richard Frank Flyger. aged 19, were each fined £lO when appearing for sentence: on a charge of attempted i theft on March 28. CHARGE DENIED

A 36-year-old man was remanded to Sunnyside Hospital until April 13 after he had been convicted of being ! an idle and disorderly person.] in that he had insufficient 1 lawful means of support on March 10, The man. whose name was suppressed, pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was not represented by counsel.

Constable R. S. Morgan gave evidence of finding the accused wandering aimlessly in Cathedral square at 1 a.m.(Before Mr A. P. Blair, S.M.) FALSE PRETENCES

Nine months’ imprisonmen'. was imposed on Charles j John Morrison, aged 30, a' freezing worker, when he: appeared for sentence on a charge of false pretences to the value of £27 on March 19. “You haven’t been much! use to the country for the: last few months and you i don't deserve another! chance.” the Magistrate told Morrison. Morrison asked for another chance so he could go home to Ireland. WILFUL DAMAGE

Herbert Scobie Gilmour, aged 57, was remanded in custody until April 13 for sentence on a charge of wilful damage on March 24 and a charge of being idle and disorderly on April 3. Gilmour pleaded not guilty to the first charge and guilty to the second. Constable J. J. Coleman said he rent to the Revels Restaurant, 156 High street, where the proprietor, Kenneth Carl Brown, was watching the accused. A large plate glass window had been broken and the accused kept saying “he did the dirty on me.” On the idle and disorderly charge, Senior-Sergeant G. W. Cleary said the accused was found sleeping in Hagley Park. He had not been working for 10 days and he had only IJd in his possession. THEFT CHARGE Kenneth Andrew Martin, aged 21, a workman (Mr P. M. Joyce) was fined £lO and placed on probation for one year when he appeared for sentence on a charge of the theft of a van valued at £l5O on March 5. Martin was also ordered to make restitution of £25.

Mr Joyce said it was an isolated case committed in a period of depression.