MAGISTRATE’S COURT Month’s Gaol For Second Bookmaking Offence

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31196, 21 October 1966, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Month’s Gaol For Second Bookmaking Offence

A man who committed his second offence of bookmaking because, he claimed, he needed the money to keep his children after his wife had died, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment by Mr E. A. Lee, S.M.. in the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

He is Thomas Francis Roach, aged 51. a storeman, who pleaded guilty to a charge of carrying on the business of a bookmaker on October 15, having once previously been convicted of bookmaking. Sergeant F. G. Mulcare said that when the police vice squad visited the Gladstone Hotel last Saturday morning, they found Roach taking bets in the public bar. He had accepted eight bets totalling £4 2s on horse races that were being held that day. Roach told the police that his normal turn-over was £l2 for a day’s racing. He had some betting cards, and admitted being an agent for their distribution. Roach said that since his wife had died at the end of last year, he had become involved in financial difficulties. Overtime at his place of employment had been cut down, and he had been trying to make a few extra shillings by taking an occasional bet. He frequently sold raffle tickets for charitable organisations, and was taking bets from those people who regularly purchased tickets from him. The whole thing was in a very small way. Roach said that he had two children in his care, and he assured the Court that he would not offend again. The Magistrate said that he was compelled to impose a sentence of at least one month’s imprisonment on a second conviction for bookmaking. ONE YEAR’S GAOL Taylor Mia Smith, aged 22, a truck driver (Mr D. H. Stringer) was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment when he appeared for sentence on four charges of theft from the Railways Department between August 14 and October 5 of eight lampstands, five wall heaters, two cartons of silverware and a television set, of a total value of £329 10s. He also pleaded guilty to a further charge of theft of a television set, valued at £79, the property of the Railways Department. The Magistrate said to Smith: “There may be a lot of good in you but there is certainly a lot of bad as well.” On each of the charges involving the silverware and the television sets Smith was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, and on each of the other two charges to six months’ imprisonment. AH terms are concurrent. GAOLED FOR THEFT “These two offences are consistent with your previous conduct as you have a long list of convictions for dishonesty. The only hope is that this country can get rid of you,” said the Magistrate to Karl Klaus Monschau, aged 35, electrical engineer, who was sentenced to four months and a half imprisonment on two charges of theft. Monschau had pleaded guilty to charges of steailing a wheel assembly and a car jack, valued at £8 10s, the property of Cecilia Bowman, and a watch, valued at £l5, the property of Adam Za sanski. Sergeant Mulcare said that Monschau had stolen the watch from a room at the Brian Boru Hotel in Greymouth. When he had been arrested on another matter the watch was found in hi's possession. Mr P. G. S. Penlington, for the accused, said that Monschau’s probation officer’s report was not a good one. He had arrived in New Zealand with a long list of convictions in Australia but he had offended only twice previously in this country. When he stole the wheel and the jack he was in financial difficulties as he had just come out of prison and when he took the watch he I was under the influence of liquor and yielded to temptation. FINED £5O Alexander Warren Duthie, aged 17, a washing machine mechanic (Mr M. J. Glue), appeared for sentence on a charge of unlawfully taking a motor-cycle valued at £65, on September 24, a charge of driving while disqualified in Victoria street on October 1, a charge of assault on October 7, and a charge of theft of sundry goods valued at 5s Bd, the property of the Railway Cafe on October 8. On the charges of taking the

motor-cycle and of theft, Duthie was put on probation for 18 months. On the charge of driving while disqualified he was fined £4O and disqualified for a further year, and he was fined £lO on the charge of assault. The Magistrate said he had very grave doubts about Dithie and that he had a strong feeling he would be in trouble again. Duthie was warned that one more mistake would send him to Borstal. FINED £l5

Jack Henry Preston, aged 28, a truck driver, was fined £l5 when he appeared for sentence on a charge of attempted false pretences. Last week Preston admitted attempting to sell a portable record player which was subject to a hire-purchase agreement to Hughes Radio, Ltd. Mr L. M. O’Reilly, for the accused, said it was a stupid thing for Preston to do as he was going to lose a lot on the deal. He was ahead with his payments for the record player and he intended to keep them up. He needed the money to pay his rent. Preston had got himself badly into debt a few years ago and he was making an effort to clear himself. He had permitted an unlicenced driver to sit behind the v’heel of a car while he attempted to start it by pushing it. The car “took - off” and caused extensive damage. “1 don’t know by what process of reasoning you thought this transaction was going to help you,” the Magistrate said. “You have spent a year in gaol for dishonesty.” INDECENT ASSAULT “You have committed two very grave offences, and the need to deter others in positions of responsibility such as you occupied must play an important part in determining punishment,” said the Magistrate when he imposed a fine of £3O and two years’ probation on Geoffrey Graham HiJll, aged 18, a student school teacher (Mr J. H. M. Dawson). Hill was appearing for sentence on a charge of indecent assault on a girl aged 11 years 4 months on September 27, and a simlar charge involving a girl aged 12 years and 2 months on September 29. A special condition of the probation is that Hill takes such treatment as is recommended by the probation officer. Mr Dawson said that Hill was very sorry for the offences. There was nothing in his background to indicate that he might commit offences of this nature, and his standards were very much higher than his conduct showed. There was little likelihood of Hill being involved in any trouble in the future. Mr Dawson said. The Magistrate said that Hill had been in a position of trust as far as the children were concerned. He had abused that trust, and subjected the two children to the most disgraceful behaviour. HIM had ruined his career, and but for his being 18 years of age, he would have gone to prison, the Magistrate said. PROBATION FOR BURGLARY

Elizabeth Anne Smith, aged 18, a laundry hand, was admitted to probation for two years and was ordered to live and work where directed and to make restitution of £56 15s on a charge of breaking and entering the house of Albert John Windsor at 24 Hopkins street on August 16. Sergeant Mulcare said that on August 16 women’s clothing, valued at £lll 3s 6d was stolen from the house by Smith who had escaped from Kings-lea Home at Burwood. She wanted the clothing to disguise herself. Clothing valued at £55 8s 6d had been recovered. FINED £l5 Philip Keith Elliot, aged 21, a refrigeration engineer (Mr L. M. O’Reilly), was convicted and fined £l5 and disqualified for three months when he pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to stop when signalled to do so by a uniformed constable in Cathedral square on October 15. Sergeant Mulcare said that the defendant was seen by two constables about 12.40 a.m. in Cathedral square on October 15 and as his speed seemed excessive one of the constables signalled him to stop. The defendant kept going and went into an uncontrolled skid, stopping hard against the kerb. The constables ran towards him waving their torches and calling on him to stop. The defendant, however, moved off, ignoring the shouts of the constables. FINED £lO FOR THEFT A man, whose name was suppressed, was fined £lO on a charge of theft as a servant of 20 cartons of sweets, valued at £2B, between June 2 and September 6. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Mulcare said that the accused had given the sweets to a woman, who was employed at the factory, for her grandchildren. Mr J. A. Bretherton, for the accused, said that this was a pathetic case. The accused got nothing from the offence and he had lost his job.

A woman whose name was suppressed (Mr L. M. O’Reilly) was convicted and remanded on bail to October 31 for a report and sentence when she pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving the cartons of sweets between June 2 and September 6. Sergeant Mulcare said that 16 cartons of sweets had been found in the defendant’s locker at her place of employment, and four cartons in her home. She admitted making an agreement with another employee that he would take the sweets and she would remove them from the building. ROGUE AND VAGABOND Charged with being a rogue and vagabond on August 3 in that he was found by night without lawful excuse on the premises of Motorways Tyre Factory, Main South road. Sockburn, Brian Edward Samuels, aged 21, a soldier (Mr L. M. O’Reilly), was convicted and fined £lO. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Mulcare said that about 10 p.m. on August 3, Samuels had been disturbed in the tyre changing bay in an enclosed yard of the factory. Mr O’Reilly said that the case appeared far more sinister than it really was. Samuels had been told that there was a heap of reject tyres at the factory, and these were being given away. The defendant had foolishly gone to get some of these tyres without asking first. The night shift at the factory was working at the time. The offence was completely out of character, Mr O'Reilly said. IDLE AND DISORDERLY Three teen-age girls, appearing for sentences on charges of being idle and disorderly In Christchurch on October 13, in that they had insufficient lawful means of support, were warned by the Magistrate that if within two months their conduct did not improve he would send them to Borstal. Each was given a suspended sentence to December 15 pending a report on their behaviour. Valerie Ruth Gallon, aged 17 (Mr K. M. Hampton). Carol Mavis Labes, aged 17, and Jennifer Margaret Waghorn, aged 18, all unemployed, pleaded guilty to the charges. Appearing for sentence on a charge of being idle and disorderly on October 3 in that he had insufficient lawful means of support, Michael Bramwell Geddes, aged 18, unemployed, was placed on probation for one year, with the condition that he live and work as directed.

PROBATION FOR FORGERY Kathleen Thorne, aged 41. a domestic (Mr M. G. L. Loughnan), was placed on probation for one year, and was fined £lO

and ordered to pay restitution of £l4. When she appeared for sentence on two charges of forging Social Security Department postal warrants for £7. on July 4 and on or about July 17. The Magistrate said that Thorne had put herself tn a very serious position by committing the offences. Forgery postal warrants for £7, on July 4 and on or about July 17. JOINT CHARGE Appearing on a joint charge of breaking and entering the United Fisheries. IS Sandyford street, on October 14, Kevin William Dale, aged 20, a fish splitter, and Ernest William Hammil, aged 19. a fish splitter, were convicted and remanded on bail to October 31 for a report and sentence. They pleaded guilty. Sergeant Mulcare said ’ ,la t fish and oysters valued at £5 17s had been taken when the premises were entered. INDECENT ASSAULT Rex Rossiter, aged 52. a retired airman was convicted and remanded on bail to October 31 for senfence when he pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault on a male on September 16. UNLAWFULLY TOOK CYCLE Charles Lawrence Gardiner, aged 32, unemployed, was fined £7 10s on a charge of unlawfully taking a cycle, valued at £l6. the property of Sandra Diana Simcox. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Mulcare said that Gardiner was employed part-time in the kitchen of a restaurant. There was a woman's cycle lying abandoned out the back and he asked the proprietor If he could have it. His employer told him to take It to the police but Gardiner took it for his own use. £5O RESTITUTION ORDERED A man whose name was suppressed (Mr G. R. Lascelles), was placed on probation for 12 months, and ordered to pay restitution of £5O and £lO towards the cost of the prosecution, when he appeared for sentence on two charges of false pretences on October 3. ROGUE AND VAGABOND Derek Raymond Carson, aged 33, a brush factory hand, was remanded to October 31 on a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond in that being a suspected person he frequented Hagley Park with felonious intent. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Mulcare said that a constable observed Carson acting in a suspicious manner at the toilets in south Hagley Park. He admitted that he was a homosexual and had been meeting high school boys there. STOLE £5 Louis Peter Iti, aged 21, a foundry workman, was convicted and remanded on bail to October 31 for sentence when he pleaded guilty to a charge

.of theft of £5. the property of Michael William Debcn. Sergeant Mulcare said Iti had been boarding with Deben and I had taken the money from the | other s duchesse. NAME SUPPRESSED A youth, whose name was suppressed, was remanded on bail to October 31 for sentence on a charge of receiving £5 from his sister when he knew it had been dishonestly obtained. He pleaded guilty. NO PERMIT FOR RIFLE Arthur John Butcher, aged 4«. an engine driver, was fined £4 and his son, Peter William Butcher, aged 18. a student, were each fined £2 on charges of procuring a .22 rifle without a permit. They pleaded guilty by letter. (Before Mr E. S. J. Crutchley.) S.M.) FINED £25 lan McLeod, aged 21 and Rodney Keith Toter. aged 20. both soldiers <Mr A. P. C. Tipping) were convicted and fined £25 and disqualified from driving for a period of one year on a charge of converting a car from Chester street on August 21. REMANDED FOR SENTENCE I Patrick Bruce Stenhouse. I aged 37. a salesman (Mr R. |G. Blunt) was convicted and remanded for sentence for a (week on a charge that being an undischarged bankrupt he obtained credit to the extent of £1350 from F. H. James without informing him that he was an undischarged bankrupt. on April 17. 1965. Mr T. A. F. Withers, the official assignee told the Court that the defendant had been adjudged a bankrupt on October 8. 1958. James said in evidence that in April, 1965, he was going away on a trip overseas. He had a launch and a car to sell before he left. The defendant who had a bach at Double Bay. Picton. near witness's bach, offered to buy the car and boat. After discussion the defendant paid witness £650 deposit. He said that Stenhouse had not indicated that he was an undischarged bankrupt. The defendant told the Court that he was sure that James had known he was a bankrupt. He said everyone in Double Bay knew. Stenhouse, w-ho pleaded not guilty, was convicted and remanded for a week for a probation officers report and sentence. CHARGE DISMISSED A charge of assault against Brian Lawrence Chaston, aged 22. a workman (Mr K. M. Hampton) was dismissed on the ground of conflicting evidence. The alleged offence occurred on August 25, in Hereford street.