MAGISTRATE’S COURT Nine Months Imprisonment For Theft Of 138 Watches

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31783, 13 September 1968, Page 18

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Nine Months Imprisonment For Theft Of 138 Watches

A term of nine months imprisonment was imposed on Billy Mummery, aged 42, a shop proprietor (Mr A. P. C. Tipping), when he appeared for sentence before Mr P. L. MOUneaux, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of theft Of 138 watches of various brands of a total value of 84691.09, the property of Throwers jewellers, Ltd, between August 7 and August 9. He had previously been convicted. Mr Tipping said the defendant's life until nOw bad been one of steady and honest endeavour. He was prominent as a participator and administrator in sporting fields. The Magistrate said that the defendant realised the watches were “ifify” after they came into his possession. After realising their value he appropriated them to his own use.

“An honest man would have informed the police, but he did not. The question of penalty must be related to the value of the watches, but I will take into consideration that he has lost $5OO out of this.” An appeal has been lodged. SIX MONTHS GOAL A term of six months imprisonment was imposed on Edward Halligan, aged 48, an unemployed workman, when he appeared for sentence on a charge of burglary of a room in the Grosvenor Hotel on September 4. He had previously been convicted. The Magistrate said the defendant had been found by the wife of the licensee in the hotel room. He had a key in bis possession and was looking for money. The defendant had had five convictons for offences this year, and there was nothing the probation service could do for him. THREE MONTHS PRISON Mervyn John Harkness, aged 22, unemployed, was sentenced to three months Imprisonment, to be followed by a year’s probation, on eight charges of false pretences and one of car conversion. He had pleaded guilty to the charges. The Court was told that the defendant had cashed a series of cheques at various places In the South Island knowing that he had nothing In his account. He had also converted a rental car for his own use by keeping it longer than the contracted hire period. The Magistrate said the defendant had been before the Court several times over the last few years on charges of dishonesty, but because the defendant was a young man he did not consider a long term of imprisonment necessary.

FINED $2OO Victor Maxwell Hudson, aged 29, an orderman (Mr P. F. Temper o). was placed on probation for one year and fined a total of 2200 on charges of theft by failing to account for $166 between April 27, 1007. and April 21, 1968, and forgery of a trustees: Post Office order form tor SlO on or about, November 8. 1967. He appeared for sentence, having been previously convicted.

Mr Tempero said the defendant bad made restitution of 1166 before bls conviction. It appeared from the circumstances of the offences and bis previous good record that a deterrent penalty was not necessary. The Magistrate said the defendant had failed to deposit 1166 In a Post Office account while he was secretary-trea-surer of a hotel darts dub. He had later withdrawn $l9 without the authority of the trustees. REMANDED Robin Terence Maguire, aged 17, a machinist, was remanded on bail to September 23 for a medical and x-ray examination with a view to bls being sentenced to detention when he appeared for sentence on charges of failing to stop after an accident, falling to ascertain it a person was injured, falling to report damage (two charges), driving in a manner which might have been dangerous, and driving while disqualified. The Magistrate said it was an exceptionally bad and dangerous piece of driving accompanied by callous and criminal conduct.

The detention proposed would be coupled with a long period of disqualification, be said, PERIODIC DETENTION

A term of six months periodic detention was imposed on Bruce Douglas Chalmers, aged 23, a storeman, on a charge of driving while disqualified, and his period of disquaJfilcatlon was extended for another year. The Magistrate said it was the fourth time the defendant had appeared on this type of charge and be was eminently qualified for a term of imprisonment. However, he would not Impose this because of the defendant’s domestic circumstances. BORSTAL TRAINING A term of borstal training was imposed on a youth who struck a night security man over the head with a heavy spanner when caught stealing car fittings from the premises of Safi Motors. Ltd, on August 29. The Magistrate told Maxwell Major Dyhrberg. aged 18, a labourer, who was appearing for sentence on a charge of aggravated assault and theft, that be could go to prison for three years on the major charge. He said it was a serious assault and the sentence should really be prison but because of his youth he would not Impose this. Defendant’s counsel, Mr E. Higgins, said the assault was the impulsive act of an Immature youth and asked that the defendant be given a chance to prove himself in society. FINED 325 Raymond Farrell Sykes, aged 38, a truck driver (Mr R. F. Powell), was fined $25 ighen he was sentenced on a charge of theft of a floor heater valued at $6 on July 8. He had previously been convicted. Mr Powell said the defendant’s record Indicated he was capable of working well, but his wife had been the basis of his present trouble. The defendant paid a crippling maintenance of $2O a week from his wage of $35. and paid Into a creditors' pool for his debts. It appeared his wife was always ready to ring the police when he was in trouble, and had done so on this occasion. She was described in one of the reports as a ’'vindictive woman.

The Magistrate said the defendant's misplaced chivalrous gesture la giving his wife the stolen beater for an anniversary present came to an untimely end. DETENTION

Detention In the Waikerla detention centra was ordered for Warren John Hobson, aged 18, an unemployed workman,

when he was sentenced on charges of burglary of a shop in Christchurch and a shop In Kalapol in August. He had previously been convicted. A sentence of three months periodic detention at the Bris-

bane Street Work Centre was imptosed on Michael Richard Green, aged 22, a machinist (Mr w. s. Smith), when hk was sentenced on a charge of assaulting Traffic Officer Jason Bevan Mlddlet6n, on August 3. He had previously been convicted. (Before Mr H. J. Evans. S.M.) STOLE $1157 A girl who had been given a SOMtlOn of responsibility In the rm where she was employed, wit remanded to September 20 tor sentence when she pleaded guilty to stealing $1157, between June 7 and August 27, from her employers. Her nime was suppressed. Sergeant J. P. Downes said the gid was responsible for collecting money from the firm’s cash registers and depositing that money in the bank. On one occasion, takings of about 3900 had been kept by the defendant.

The girl’s Conduct was filscovered when the manager of the firm noticed that a personal deposit of his. given to the defendant to deposit, had not been credited to his account.

Sergeant Downes said the defendant claimed she wanted to use the money to buy Clothes and expensive jewellery with which to impress her boyfriend. Mr J. E. Rysn for the girl, submitted.that there were some aspects of the mode of his client’s living which reflected no credit on her, but that there was a background to the offence. STOLE TICKETS WarrOn Alexander Duffle, aged 18. unemployed, was convicted and remanded on ball until September 20 for sentence on two charges of theft. He pleaded guilty to both. The Court was told that the defendant, with two other youths, had stolen a case containing $ll3 and lottery tickets from a lottery ticket seller In Cathedral Square on August 28. The money had been divided up and the case and tickets thrown Into the Avon River. The defendant had also admitted stealing a child's money box containing $l3 from a home where he had been boarding some time in July, said Sergeant Downes. 3100 FINE On a charge of driving under the influence of drink or drugs. James Robeson Galloway, aged 42, a technical field officer, was convicted and fined $lOO. and disqualified from driving for three years. Two further charges of falling to stop for a traffic officer and of careless use were dismissed. Galloway fMr A. P. C. Tipping), pleaded not guilty to all charges. Dr C. Sheppard who examined the defendant half an hour after his arrest said he felt Galloway was fit to drive and said he was surprised to find that a blood-alcohol count revealed an alcohol content of 215 per cent.

CRASH IN SQUARE A man who. while driving his car round Cathedral Square on August 8. crashed into a pole, causing his car to roll over, was fined $l5 and disqualified from driving for three months on a charge of careless use. Barrv Douglas Timlin, aged 22 a baker’s labourer, pleaded guilty and was represented by Mr E. T. Higgins. Counsel said the car was a wreck after the accident and that the defendant had received $lO for the remains of the vehicle.

DISCHARGED GUN For discharging a shotgun in a public place, namely the Waimakariri riverbed, on June 22. Robert Edgar Lobb, aged 17, a labourer, was fined $2O. He pleaded guilty. On a further charge of being a minor in possession of a which he also pleaded guilty, he was ordered to pay costs. The gun was ordered to be confiscated. DISCHARGED

A 32-year-old married man, whose name was suppressed, was discharged under section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act on a charge of stealing a pantie girdle, valued at $5.50, from a city shop. , „ The defendant’s counsel, Mr M. J. Glue, said the action was “Impulsive, unpremeditated and instantly regretted.” He said the defendant had gone into the shop to buy a present for his wife, but had taken the girdle without paying for it. When he arrived home he had burnt the article before his wife had seen It. The Magistrate recommended the defendant to take medical and psychiatric treatment.

TWO CHARGES On a charge of falling to stop after an accident on June 12 Teot! Josephine McClutchle, aged 20, a trainee nurse, was convicted end fined $25 and disqualified from driving for four months. On another charge of driving without a licence, a fine of $lO and a further period of disqualification of two months was Imposed. The defendant was also convicted and fined $5 on a charge of careless driving on the same date. _ « For the defendant. Mr S. G. Erber explained that »he was driving a friend’s car because he was a stranger to Christchurch. While driving along Fitigerald Avenue she- had a moment’s Inattention and grazed a parked car. No-one was hurt, he said. The defendant panicked and did not stop as she should have done. THEFT Two youths who stole rear vision mirrors and windscreen wipers from car sales yards In Christchurch in August were each fined $4O on two charges of theft.

The youths, W,yn« Samuel Nash, aged is, and Anthony Melville Taylor, aged 19. both linesmen, pleaded guilty. Nash was also ordered to make restitution of $2O. OBSCENE LANGUAGE

Edward John Buckley, aged 26, a harbour board employee, wks ftnkd $l5 when he pleaded guilty to using obscene language In Canterbury Street, Lyttelton, on September 11. TRAFFIC CASES Traffic offenders were penalised as follows:

careless use: Elliot Jphn Hudson, 312, and disqualified from driving fOr one month; John Stewart McCormick, $10; Peter Simon Palmer, 310 and disqualified from driving for three months. Falling to give way: Eva Anne Young, $l5: Dennis Patrick Marsh, $l5 and disqualified from driving for two months. No driver’s licence: Raymond Douglas McMillan, 37. MINOR IN BAR Minor found in public bar of hotel: John Raymond Russell, $5. (Before Mr E. S. J. Crutchley, S.M.) DROVE WHILE DISQUALIFIED Clinton Joseph McGrath, iged 18, an unemployed workman, was convicted and remanded on bail to September 17 for sentence on a charge of driving while disqualified In Pages Road on September 2. He pleaded guilty. The Magistrate ordered a medical and X-ray examination fpr consideration of a detention centre Or periodic detention sentence. The defendant pleaded guilty to X charge Of exceeding 30 miles an hour in Pages Road on the same date, and was convicted and fined $lO. FINED $25 On a charge of aiding and abetting Clinton Joseph McGrath In the commission of the offence Of driving while disqualified on September 2, Stephen John Sheppard, aged 17, a workman, was convicted and fined $25 and disqualified from driving for six months. He pleaded guilty. WARRANT ISSUED A Bench warrant was Issued for the arrest of Robert John Baillie, aged 37, a driver. Traffic Sergeant H. J. McMorran said difficulty had been experienced In attempting to serve a summons on Balllie for a traffic offence of driving in Seaview Road and Beresford. Street on July 27 while disqualified. TRAFFIC OFFENCES In other City Council traffic prosecutions, convictions were entered as fines were imposed as follows:Exceeded 30 miles an hour: George Sydney Heyrlck, 310; Henry Donald Matson, $10; William Fisher Pate, $7. Overloaded goods service vehicle: Rapid Dispatch Carriers. Ltd (three charges), $lO, $lO, $5. Parking offence: John Popee, $6. (Before Mr W. F. Brown, S.M.) CARELESS DRIVING John Lawrence Murray, a truck driver, was ordered to pay witnesses’ expenses of $33 and Court costs of $5 on a charge of careless driving on the northern motorway on July 1. He pleaded not guilty and was represented by Mr R. S. D. Twyneham.

The charge arose from an accident on July 1 when a truck driven by Murray ran into the rear of a truck driven at a slow speed by Bruce Lloyd Eunson. The truck was engaged in road maintenance work. MISCELLANEOUS PROSECUTIONS

Failed to furnish return of income: Belmont Builders, Ltd, $4 and ordered to pay solicitor’s fees of $6.30; Hano Davis, two charges, $4 and $6 and to pay solicitor's fees of $9.45: Mary Ann Hulme, $4, and to pay solicitor’s fee of 36.30; Road Constructions (Canty), Ltd, $4 and to pay solicitor s fee of $6.30; Road Constructions (Contractors), Ltd, $4 and to pay solicitor’s fee of $6.30; Victor Bernard Wilkinson. $4 and to pay solicitor’s fee of $6.30; Jack Wilson, Ltd. $4 and to pay solicitor’s fee of $6.30. Failed to clear noxious weeds: Richard Patrick. $6 and to pay solicitor’s fee of $6.30.