MAGISTRATE'S COURT Woman Gaoled For Six Weeks On Charge Of Theft

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31681, 17 May 1968, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S COURT Woman Gaoled For Six Weeks On Charge Of Theft

A term of imprisonment was the only way the Court could indicate that her behaviour was not acceptable to society, said Mr P. L. Molineaux, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday when he sentenced Susiana Goodwin, aged 26, unemployed, to six weeks imprisonment on a charge of theft of 542, the property of G. Costello. Mr D. H. P. Dawson, for the accused, said that although Goodwin's work record was poor she had worked throughout the tobacco season in Nelson. During a holiday in Christchurch she had got into trouble. She had spent a week in prison. The offence had been committed after she had been drinking for about nine hours. She had found the wallet containing the money on the floor.

The probation officer's report showed that for a number of years Goodwin had been in trouble, the Magistrate said. For a person of her age her performance had been shocking. She had been fined, placed on probation, sent to Borstal and imprisoned but she continued to offend. FINE AND PROBATION

Leonard Lancelot Wright, aged 36, a clerk, was fined a total of Sl5O and was admitted to probation for one year when he appeared for sentence on two charges of theft as a servant of a total of 5174 from the Post Office. Mr J. M. Wilson, for the accused, said Wright had given himself up and had admitted the offences. He had intended to repay the money. Because of his family and new home he had large financial commitments. It spoke highly for the accused, who had no previous convictions, that he had confessed, said the Magistrate. SUSPENDED SENTENCE Dimitro Szuldak. aged 30, unemployed, was convicted and was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months on a charge of obstructing Sergeant J. P. O'Kane in the execution of his duty. He pleaded guilty. Detective Sergeant N. J. Stokes said the offence occurred when Sergeant O’Kane went to take custody of Szuldak’s two children on behalf of the Child Welfare Department. The accused was separated from his wife. "This is distinct from the usual type of case where a policeman is obstructed,” the Magistrate said. "The defendant is a foreigner, and he let his emotions get the better of his judgment." THEFT AS A SERVANT Colin Wootton, aged 30, unemployed, was fined S2O and was ordered to pay Court costs of S 5 and witnesses' expenses of S 4 on a charge of theft as a servant of 201 b of scrap cable wire valued at *5.60, the property of Associated British Cables, Ltd, on March 20. He pleaded not guilty and was represented by Mr L. M. O’Reilly. Evidence was given that

■ Wootton was employed as a ’ general hand at the factory and that the copper wire was found in the boot of his car. STOLE $5 The defendant had opened an , envelope he found in the kitchen common to all residents of a house in Harewood Road, and had taken out five $1 notes, said Sergeant A. D. Stevenson, when Keith Raymond Munro, aged 21, an apprentice linesman. pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing $5 in money, the property of M. E. Phillipson, on March 29. Sergeant Stevenson said that the letter was from the landlord of the premises and was not addressed to anyone in particular. The Magistrate said that Munro could consider himself fortunate that he was to be fined, notwithstanding his record. Munro was fined $2O. MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES On miscellaneous charges brought by the police fines were imposed as follows with costs of $5 on each charge:— Failed to give way to the right: James Douglas Wigham, $lO and licence cancelled for two months: Henry Allan Wickes, $l2; Herbert Nathaniel Richard Deans, $l4, witnesses’ expenses $B. Failed to give way when turning right: James Thomas Gardiner, $l4. Failed to produce driver’s licence for endorsement: John Martin Holland, $lO. Minor purchased liquor: Richard Bertram Walton, $lO. (Before Mr W. F. Brown. S.M.) ILLEGAL PLUMBING “If this thing continues in Christchurch —people not qualified doing plumbing work — then there will be substantial penalties,’’ said the Magistrate, after he convicted two Dutch migrants of charges brought under the Plumbers’ and Gasfitters’ Act, 1961. Pictor Knaapen was convicted and ordered to pay Court costs of $5 and solicitor’s fees of $6.30 when he pleaded guilty to having fixed a water closet at 33 Melrose Street, when not holding a current licence as a registered plumber. Similar costs were ordered against Klauss Woudt who admitted having fixed a water closet, sink and bath at 60 Russley Road when not holding a current licence as a registered plumber. Mr E. J. Somers, for the Christchurch Drainage Board, said that the proceedings were the first prosecutions of this class for some years. MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES Convictions in miscellaneous prosecutions, with court costs of $5 and solicitors fees of $6.30 in each, were entered as follows: — Erected a building without having first obtained a permit: R. H. Adcock, $6.

Occupier of shop who failed to close shop: Ronald C. McCandish, $4; Francise Walton Overend, Court costs only; Kenneth John Waterman, $4; Raymond E. Wright, $6. Occupier who opened shop when shop should not be open for business: Edward W. Bradshaw, $4. Failed to furnish return of Income: Kenneth Charles King, $4, court costs $5, and solicitor's fees $6.30 on one charge; $4, and $3.15 solicitor’s fees on second charge; $3.15 solicitor’s fees on third charge. (Before Mr K. H. J. Headifen, S.M.) DISQUALIFIED John Francis O'Sullivan, aged 20, a company representative, was fined $3O and disqualified for a year when he was convicted of driving at a speed which might have been dangerous on New Brighton Road and Kingsford Street on January 13. Mr W. S. Smith appeared for O'Sullivan, who pleaded not guilty. Traffic Officer R. J. Dellow said that when he followed the defendant about 10.40 p.m. he checked him at speeds of up to 60 m.p.h. and he was unable to bridge the gap until the defendant stopped his car. FINED $4O “You are an exceedingly fortunate young man. If the charge had been driving In a manner which might have been dangerous you might have been off the road for a considerable time,’’ said the Magistrate when Christopher Francis Hoskins, aged 20, a student, appeared on a charge of driving at a speed which might have been dangerous in Cathedral Square and Oxford Terrace on January 8. Mr L. G. Holder appeared for Hoskins who pleaded not guilty. The Magistrate said that the evidence given by the prosecution related to the manner of the defendant’s driving rather than the speed, and although he was empowered to alter the charge to that effect, he would amend it to a lesser ojie. The charge was reduced to one of exceeding 30 m.p.h. and Hoskins was fined $4O. CHARGE REDUCED A charge of driving at a speed which might have been dangerous on January 6 against Keith Coakley, aged 22, a fitter and turner, was reduced to one of exceeding 30 m.p.h. Coakley, who was represented by Mr R. J. de Goldi, pleaded not guilty to the amended charge and was fined $4O. He was also fined $6 for having no warrant of fitness. The Magistrate said that the speed of 50 m.p.h. which the defendant had driven at was on a six lane highway, Moorhouse Avenue, at 10.05 on a fine morning and there was no other traffic. Careless use: Bessie McLean, $5.