MAGISTRATE’S COURT Fine Of $60 And Probation For Stealing Boy’s Wallet

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31769, 28 August 1968, Page 10

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Fine Of $60 And Probation For Stealing Boy’s Wallet

Rex Malcolm Weir, aged 22, unemployed, was fined $6O, and was placed on probation for 18 months when he appeared before Mr W. F. Brown, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday for sentence on a charge of stealing a wallet and contents valued at $l3, the property of B. N. Hodder on August 3. Weir had pleaded not guilty to the charge but was conI victed.

Mr R. J. Allan, who appeared for Weir, said the accused had no convictions for dishonesty since March, 1965. “You are married with one child and have twice previously been convicted of theft,” the Magistrate said. ‘‘This was a very mean offence. You denied it at the time and persisted in lying during your trial. While at the go-karts at New Brighton you deprived a young boy of his wallet It was fortunate that he bad the presence of mind to go to the proprietor who got the police. “My first intention was to give you three months imprisonment but your marriage is unsettled and for the sake of your marriage I will not take this course,” said the Magistrate. Weir was ordered to live and work where directed. CHARGES ADMITTED

When he appeared for sentence on a charge of assaulting Hamish Stewart White on June 25, Dennis Malcolm Myall, aged 17, a machinist pleaded guilty to charges of stealing six road signs valued at $40.69, the property of the Automobile Association, and to harbouring two girls who had escaped from a Child Welfare institution. Myall was remanded on bail to August 29 for sentence on the three charges.

Detective Sergeant R. G. McMeeking said Myall and another youth picked the two girls up while driving to New Brighton and they spent the night with them. Six road signs were removed by the accused and his companion from the Summit Road. FINED $5O

A youth, whose name was suppressed, was fined $5O when he appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing car parts valued at $l6O.

Mr L. M. O’Reilly, for the accused, said the accused ap predated that he had commit ted a nasty, mean offence and was genuinely ashamed of his actions. The offence’ had weighed heavily on his mind. Those who knew him were very surprised that he should commit such an offence. He was taking steps to sell his car. The accused was immature and shy but was a good worker. He was a very sorry young man and had learned his lesson. CHARGE ADJOURNED

A charge against a youth, whose name was suppressed, of stealing car parts valued at $l6O, was adjourned to December 13 with a view to discharging the accused without conviction under section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act. He was ordered to pay $2O towards the cost of prosecution. Mr D. W. Russell, who appeared for the accused, said the youth had been led into the offence by a person who was two years older than he was. He made nothing from the crime. He was a stable youth from a good home and was willing to accept parental authority. The Magistrate said the accused was a first offender and had received a very favourable report from the probation officer.

(Before Mr H. J. Evans, S.M.)

ASSAULT Charged with assaulting a steward on the inter-island steamer Maori on August 26,

Theodora Miralaidls, aged 20, a fishmonger, was convicted and fined 120 and ordered to make restitution of *4. He pleaded guilty. The defendant had been talking to a girl outside her cabin when she asked a passing steward to get the defendant to leave her alone as she wanted to go to bed. said Sergeant J. D. Farrow. The defendant then ''shaped up” to the steward, hit him in the face, causing severe bruising to his eye, and damaged his jacket. The defendant was put in the ship’s brig for the rest of the night. The defendant said the steward had caused the trouble by interfering. He had not wanted to fight. TOOK BICYCLE

Charged with unlawfully taking a bicycle on Auguat 27, Bernard Thomas Hill aged 30. a barman, and Lealie Michael Ross, aged 23. a fishmonger, were each convicted and fined 213. They pleaded guilty. At 2.15 a.m. a police patrol spoke to the detendanta in a van on Gladstone Pier, Lyttelton. said Sergeant Farrow. In the back was a new child’s bicycle, still partly wrapped in paper. After questioning, the defendants said they had been on the Walnut and had found the bicycle In a bar. They eaid they had taken it aa a joke and Intended returning it. . Both defendants told the Court they were under the influence of drink and had taken the bicycle as a joke. FINED 120 Pleading guilty to charges of using obscene language and refusing to leave the Russley Hotel on August 26. Russell Godfrey Gutschlag, aged 33, a commercial pilot, was convicted and fined 310 on each charge. STOLE BATTERY Two youths Who stole a car battery from a city service station on June 20 were convicted and remanded on bail until September 0 for sentence. Keith James Harris, aged 17, a student, and Ronald Desmond Norton, aged 10, an apprentice baker, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing the battery, valued at 110.40, from Mullins and Wilson, Ltd. The youths admitted taking the battery from a rack at the service station when they pulled in for petrol, and later fitting it to Norton’s car, said Sergeant Farrow. THREE CHARGES Anthony Hawden Burnard, aged 18, a soldier, was convicted on two charges of theft and one charge of interfering with a motor car, and was remanded on bail until September 0 for sentence. Sergeant Farrow said the defendant had admitted interfering with a rental car, valued at 31500, which was parked overnight at Burnham Military Camp on July 21, and also removing from it tools valued at 314.50. He said he had committed the offences while under the influence of liquor. Burnard also pleaded guilty to. a charge of stealing 315 from a room mate’s wallet on June 25. He told police that at this time he was also affected by liquor. DROVE WHILE DISQUALIFIED Wilson Donald Hogg, aged 27, a textile pest controller, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving in Colombo Street when disqualified. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of wilful damage of a rattan blind to the value of 35, the property of Bartlett Ball. Hogg was convicted and was remanded on bail to today for sentence on both charges. Evidence was given that the blind was damaged after five men were refused admittance to the Taboo Night Club in Manchester street because they were under the influence of liquor. SHOPLIFTING Charged with stealing goods worth 32.08 from the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association of Canterbury, Ltd, on August 15, Mary Catherine Allen, aged 71 (Mr M. J. Glue), was convicted and ordered to appear for sentence in 12 months if called on. She pleaded guilty. Mr Glue said the defendant had been living in poor circumstances, her health was bad, and there! was an advanced degree of senility. She was now being looked after by younger relatives. He asked for suppression of her name. FIREARM CHARGES Pleading guilty to a charge of procuring a rifle without a permit on May 31, Joseph Riley Grace, aged 28, a workman, was convicted and fined 310. Grace had been cleaning the rifle when it went off and the bullet struck his wife on the wrist, said Sergeant Farrow. He had obtained the rifle the previous day as part payment for a vehicle. Kenneth Leslie Palmer, aged

20. ■ shepherd, iris fined 010 en a charge of procuring a rifle on June (, 1060. without a permit. and on a charge of deliverlng a rifle without a permit he was ordered to pay costs only. He pleaded guilty to both charges. TRAFFIC CASES In traffic cases brought by the police, convictions were entered and fines imposed as follows, with coots 35 in each case. Careless use: Mary Margaret Walsh, 312 (no warrant of fitness, costs): William Marshall Jarvie. SIS; Robert Wayno Cook, •20: Lindsay Alexander Maunaell, 320. Failed to give way: Rodger Mlnhinnlck, 320. No warrant of fitness: lan George Bailey, *lO. (Boforo Mr K. H. J. Hesdifen S.M.) DANGEROUS DRIVING “This is a case of reckless driving let alone dangerous driving,” said the Magistrate when convicting Alan Terence Walsh, aged 25, on a charge of driving a motor-cycle in a manner which might have been dangerous in Cathedral Square on June 2». Walsh <Mr K. N Hampton), who is .at present serving a three month prison sentence on a charge arising from the same incident, was fined *2O and disqualified from driving for a year. Traffic Sergeant J. E. S. Drain said that while seated in a traffic car outside the Government Life building about 8.27 p.m. on June 21, he had observed a motor-cycle driven by the defendant travelling in a circular direction round Godley plot at a speed of about 35 to 40 miles an hour, only inches from the kerb. The motor-cycle also carried a pillion passenger. After he had overtaken two lines of traffic still travelling at a high speed. Walsh had proceeded to overtake a line of traffic stopped to give way to pedestrians on a crossing. He had then travelled about 10ft in front of a bus. crossed the path of cars entering the Square from the north and afterwards crossed another pedestrian crossing between the safety island and kerb in the northeast corner of the Square. Walsh had then driven Straight towards a queue of about 100 persons extending on to the roadway tn front of the Savoy Theatre. About 6ft to Oft from the end of the queue he had made (a sudden movement to the left' and had travelled the length of the queue about 2ft away from the people. At the end he had made a left turn and the passenger had got off. When approached by Traffic Sergeant Drain, the defendant had agreed with an account of his actions, but when supported by friends he had disagreed with the officer. Lator at the traffic department he had agreed. FAILED TO STOP For failing to comply with the traffic lights at the intersection of Hereford Street and High Street on May 5, Anthony Kenneth Martin, aged 13, a driver, was convicted and fined *2O and was disqualified from driving for three months from September 10. On a further charge of having an inappropriate driver's licence for a powercycle Martin (Mr M. J. Giue>. was fined *B. He pleaded not guilty to the first charge and guilty to the second. CARELESS USE For the careless use of a motor-vehicle in Cathedral Square on May 10, Margaret Shaw, aged 56. an accountant, was convicted and fined *lO. Mrs Shaw (Mr P. D. A. Hlnchcliff) pleaded not guilty to the charge. REDUCED CHARGE A charge against Robert Frederick Griffith, aged 24, a farmhand. of driving at a speed which might have been dangerous in Pages Road on May 19. was reduced to a charge of exceeding 30 miles an hour. Griffiths (Mr M. J. Glue) pleaded guilty to the reduced charge and was convicted and fined *25. TRAFFIC OFFENCES In other traffic prosecutions brought by the Christchurch City Council traffic department convictions were entered and fines imposed as follows: No driver’s licence: Neville William Hamilton. *lO, and disqualified from driving for six months. No safety chain on trailer: John Edward Adams, *5.

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