Magistrate’s Court Man Tracked By Police Dog Gaoled For 14 Months

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30058, 16 February 1963, Page 14

Magistrate’s Court Man Tracked By Police Dog Gaoled For 14 Months

Appearing for sentence on charges of unlawfully taking a car, driving in a dangerous manner, and failing to stop after an accident, Albert Thomas Day. aged 30, a labourer, was sent to gaol for 14 months by Mr E. A. Lee, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Evidence was given last week that Day failed to stop after being involved in an accident in Humphreys drive on February 1. A police dog later tracked Day across the Estuary and found him hiding in a bush. Mir R. G. Blunt said Day realised he would have to go to gaol and was extremely sorry for what he had done. “You have had four previous convictions for unlawful conversion—-the last being a .fortnight before this offence,” the Magistrate told Day. He sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment on the change of conversion, and one month on each of the other two charges. The sentences are-to be cumulative. • STOLE SUITCASES

"You have a lot to learn—mainly, if you offend again, that you will go back to Borstal. You have had a very narrow shave,” said the Magistrate, fining Colin James Davey, aged 19, £2O when he appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing a suitcase and contents valued at £3O. For Davey, Mir Pi G. Penlington submitted that a sentence of Borstal training would be harsh. The offence was a momentary lapse, rather than an intentional crime. SHOPLIFTER GAOLED Doris Armstrong, aged 155, a housewife, was sentenced to two months imprisonment on a charge of stealing a dress pattern valued at 5s 6d from Beath and Company, Ltd., New Brighton, on December 8. For the accused, Mr W. A. Wilson said there was a medical background to the offence. “This is your ninth conviction for shoplifting but you still have not been deterred. Although it was only a minor amount, the principle is the same,” said the Magistrate. STOLE BICYCLES Appearing for sentence on charges of unlawfully taking bicycles on November 10 ana December 9, and unlawfully getting on a bicycle on January 3. David John Frlsken, aged 17, a panel beater, was fined £2O and placed on probation for 18 months. FINED £lO Arthur Edward Lyes, aged 51, a joinery manufacturer, was fined £lO on a charge of carrying a firearm without lawful purpose on October 7. Lyes originally appeared on November 16, but the Magistrate deferred the proceedings to enable the police to take action under the Arms Act if they saw fit. NAME SUPPRESSED A 25-year-old woman who appeared for sentence on a charge of burglary was released on probation for 18 months. Her name was suppressed. TWO MONTHS’ GAOL "You are already in debt, and there appears to be no prospect of your making restitution,” said the Magistrate, sentencing Raymond Lester Murray, aged 21, a driver, to two months' ' imprisonment.

Murray appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing a piano accordion valued at £4O on November 8. PROBATION Raymond Gerald Watts, aged 18, was placed on probation for 18 months when he appeared for sentence on a charge of theft to the value of £4 DOMESTIC’S THEFT A 19-year-old domestic, Colleen Sylvia Stretch, was fined £7 when she appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing articles valued at £ll 13s 6d from a flat in Peterborough street on September 26. Mr M. J. Glue said his client had a very poor home life and had committed the offence as a revenge against the complainant. FINED £lO Appearing for sentence on a charge of stealing a coat valued at £l4 19s 6d, Grace Edith Douglas, aged 60, was fined £lO. TOOK BICYCLE Robert Gordon Huffadlne, aged 37, a plasterer, was fined £3 when he appeared for sentence on a charge of unlawfully taking a bicycle on January 12. INDECENT ACT Appearing for sentence on a charge of committing an indecent act in Woolston Park on February 1. a. 19-year-old man, whose name was suppressed, was fined £l5 and placed on probation for a period of 12 months. (Before Mr A. P. Blair, S.M.) THREATENED WITH RIFLE He was convinced the defendant had taken the rifle out to intimidate the complainants, and not to adjust the sights as he claimed in court, said the Magistrate when he convicted Alan Leslie Wootton, aged 34, an aircraft engineer (Mr A. R. Cottrell), for being in possession of a firearm without lawful purpose at Christchurch on November 22. Wootton, Who pleaded not guilty, was fined £lO. Edgar William Gosset said that he and another man went to flails in Worcester street to catch a rabbit which the owner of the property wanted disposed of. They arrived about 7.30 pun. As they hunted about the yard a man called from an upstairs window: “Get out of there. If you don’t leave the rabbit alone Hl fix you.” Gosset said he thought it was ust a joke. He went round the back of the property and was startled to see a rifle being aimed at Mm through the window of a porch. He warned his friend. They left and informed the police. NINE MONTHS’ GAOL Nine months’ gaol was imposed on Gustave Hegedus. aged 33 (Mr L. H. Mtoore). when he appeared for senteaice on charges of threatening to kill on December 14 and assault on November 9. Hegedus pleaded not guilty last week to the charges which arose when he threatened his de facto wife's brother with a knife. Mr Moot* sa id liquor seemed to have been the cause of most of the accused’s troubles and his attachment to Ms children was partly responsible for the last episode. MAN PRODUCED KNIFE George John Bryenton, aged 10. charged wMb assaulting the police and using obscene language to Springfield road on February 12. wag convicted and remanded tn custody to February 22 for sentence. Bryenton (Mr G. T. Mahon) pleaded guilty to both charges. Sergeant V. F. Townshend ■aid Constable L. R- W. Nesbitt went to 240 Sprinffield road with a warrant tor Bcyeoton to pay fines and costs. Bryenton said ho could not pay and he reftaaad to aeoompeny bias to

the police station. Constable Nesbitt went tor assistance, and when he returned Bryenton was fixing his car. He had a Piece of window frame in his Sand. Constable Nesbitt tried to reason with him. but when two more constables arrived Bryenton made remarks about retaforcements and produced a knife and threatened to use tt. More police were called, said Sergeant Townshend. Bryenton swung toe window frame in front of him and toe police rushed him and overpowered him. He was handcuffed and bis feet had to be tied to restrain him.

.FINE AND PROBATION "I considered sending you to Bostal, but have decided on releasing you on probation and fining you.” said toe Magistrate when Peter Lloyd Machirus, aged 17, a labourer (Mr G. R. Lascelles), appeared, for sentence on three charges of theft and one of receiving. For receiving stolen property on December 28, Machfrus was fined £3O and placed on probation for two years. On toe theft charges -he was convicted and discharged.

STOLE FROM CARS Stewart Peter Leslie, aged 19, and William Milford Guthrie, aged 22, both cooks in toe Royal New Zealand Air Force, were convicted and remanded in toe custody of toe Air Force on several charges. Leslie pleaded guilty to theft of a driver's licence and theft of sunglasses and a clock. Guthrie pleaded guilty to theft of parking meter money and both accused pleaded guilty to joint charges of unlawfully Interfering with a car and unlawfully taking a car. All the offences were conunlttted on February 7. FALSE PRETENCE CHARGES DISMISSED “The accused must be given the benefit of the doubt,!’ the Magistrate said when dismissing five charges of false pretences against Graeme Lindsay Morgan, aged 29, a watchmaker (Mr L. H. Moore). Morgan pleaded not guilty to all charges. Evidence was brought by the police of Morgan overdrawing his banking account. Four of the cheques for which Morgan received goods and change in cash were for small amounts. The fifth charge involved a cheque for £5O. Morgan said he came to Christchurch from Westport intending to make a new start. He intended starting a watch repairing business. He thought that by the time the cheques were presented at toe bank he would have earned enough money to meet them. The Magistrate said Morgans story sounded very thin, but he gave his own name on the cheques and they could be easily traced to him. He said if Morgan really thought the cheques could be met he must be acquitted.

THEFT AS A SERVANT Pleading guilty to charges of theft as a servant between February 6. 1961, and April 30, 1962, and on or about October 30, Jack Radcliffe, aged 45, a workman (Mr R. G. Blunt), was convicted and remanded on ball to February 22 for sentence.

ADMITTED thefts Pleading guilty to a charge of stealing £lO between September 1 and January 5 and a charge of stealing £5 on January 31, a woman, whose name was suppressed, was convicted and remanded on bail to February 22 for sentence.

CHARGES ADJOURNED Four licensing charges against the Rlccarton Workingmens Club on November 24 were adjourned to February 22.

LICENSING CHARGES Charged with purchasing liquor while a minor on December 22, a youth, whose name was suppressed (Mr M. J. Glue) and Denis Raymond Pockson, aged 17, were each fined £3. On charges of being minors on licensed premises they were convicted and discharged. Both defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. Pleading guilty by letter to a charge of being a minor procuring liquor on November 2, Arthur Ernest James Vince was fll Warren Douglas Smith, aged 18, was fined £3 when he pleaded guilty to a charge of being unlawfully on toe licensed premises of the New Zealander Hotel on December 16 ’ FIREARM CHARGE Charged with procuring possession of a firearm without a permit on or about December 14. Allan Shadbolt (Mr R. G. Blunt), was convicted and fined £l. Shadbolt pleaded guilty. DISCHARGED On. a charge of theft of a radiogram valued at .£66 IDs, a 39-year-old housewife, whose name was suppressed (Mr G. D. Bailey) was discharged under section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act. She pleaded guilty. This was a civil rather than a criminal matter, said the Magistrate. The defendant was ordered to pay restitution of £73 16s lOd.

CASE ADJOURNED Proceedings against David William Lawson, aged 17, a sheet metal worker (Mr I. R. Kerr), appearing on charges of unlawfully taking bicycles at Christchurch between October 20 and January 3, were adjourned to February 22 pending a probation officer’s report ana sentence. Lawson pleaded guilty to three of four charges brought against him. The charge he denied was dismissed.

DOG BIT MAN An order to keep her dog under proper control was made against Mary Amelia Roberts, aged 69, a widow (Mr G. T. Mahon). Roberts pleaded guilty to owning a dog which attacked a man on the road on February 14. The dog had not torn toe man’s clothes or broken his skin, said Sergeant Townshend. Police had found the dog docile and friendly. The defendant, who worked as a nurse, had not been home at the time of the incident, he said. WILFUL DAMAGE In forcing entry to toe house occupied by his former wife, toe defendant, Edward Ralph Wood, aged 38, a pastry cook, broke a glass pane in the door, and when she .threatened to telephone toe police he tore the telephone cord from the wall, said Sergeant Townshend. Wood, who said he had wanted to get some of his clothes from the house, was fined £5 on each of two charges of causing wilful damage. INSULTING LANGUAGE - For using insulting language in the public bar of the Excelsior Hotel on February 14. James Henry McCarthy, a barman and porter at the hotel, was fined £5. McCarthy was drunk at the time, said Sergeant Townshend. BURGLAR REMANDED Pleading guilty to two charges of burglary and one of conversion of a bicycle. Dave Henry, aged 38, unemployed, was remanded in custody to February 22 pending a probation officer’s report and sentence. Henry had 21 previous convictions. said Sergeant Townshend. hX^TU 1 ■Me a suitcase and caotbtag worth £3O. Ftve daye tatwhj broke into a house at Christchureii and took £M in money. On the same day he unlawfully took a woman's bicycle to get from New Brighton to toe efiy. STOLE SWEETS A 17-year-oU apprsnttae. Denote Cundell, who admitted ateafing a packet at eweete wkted a* fit from a Step at

Rakaia on December 37, bad acted co an tawulee, said his counM, Mr G. f. Mateu. "You will never get a ctenoe like this again," toe Magistrate ted. discharging Cundell under Section 42. of the Criminal Justice Act. THEFT OF BOOTS Pleading guilty to a charge of stealing a pair of boots vetoed at £4 17s 6d, John Henatre. aged 20, was fined £6. REMANDED William Robert Aitken, aged 22 (Mr G. T. Mahon), was remanded on bail to February 22 on a Charge of attempted robbery at Christchurch on February 7. Kathleen Sbeard. aged 32, was remanded on bail to February 22 on six charges of burglary and one of being to posreowton of housebreaking taMements. John Joseph Staoe. aged 22. was remanded to custody to February 22 on a charge of burglary on February 15. Charged with unlawfully taking a station waggon valued ait £lOOO on February 14, a youth, whose name was suppressed, was remanded on bail to February 22. James Dennis Scott, charged with false pretences to the value of £lO at Dunedin on September 21, was remanded on bail to February 22. An 18-year-old girl, whose name was suppressed, waa remanded on bail to March 1, on a change of theft at a servant. Charged with indecent assault on.a male at Dunedin on August 31, Mervyn Arnold, aged 19, an underpresser was remanded on renewed ball, to February 22. John Melvin Mason, aged 44, charged with assaulting Alma Mason at Christchurch on February 14, was remanded to February 22. Ball was fixed at £5O. Harold Joseph Oakes, aged 27 a carpenter, on a charge of burglary of premises at 48 Fitzgerald avenue on February 4, was remanded to February 22. Ball was allowed at £2OO.

Charged with unlawfully taking a car at Christchurch on February 10, Frederick Carl Rosel, aged 18, and lan Ronald Julius, aged 17. were remanded to February 22. Ball was renewed for Julius. Rosel, who was last remanded in custody, was allowed ball at £25. COULD NOT REMEMBER

“I admit being drunk, but I can remember nothing of the other incidents.” said Charles Robert Fairbairn aged 49. a company manager charged with failing to pay taxi hire, assault, using obscene language, and being found drunk in a public place. The offences occurred at Christchurch on February 7. Fairbairn, who pleaded not guilty to all charges except that of drunkenness, was remanded to February 22 on ball of £lOO. (Before Mr E. S. J. Crutehley. S.M.) BRAKES FAILED

A charge against Nell Roderick Holland, a car dealer (Mr P. 'M. Joyce), of driving without due care and attention in Durham street on November 12, was dismissed after brake failure was established as the cause of a collision which occurred between the car driven by Holland and another vehicle on the corner of Durham and Wordsworth streets.

Holland pleaded not guilty. Evidence was heard on Thursday and decision was adjourned till yesterday pending the calling of another witness—an officer at the City Council’s vehicle-testing station—to give evidence on the braking system of the type of car driven by Holland and the condition of that particular vehicle.