MAGISTRATE’S COURT Woman stole clothing from dry-cleaner

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32634, 16 June 1971, Page 11

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Woman stole clothing from dry-cleaner

A woman who pleaded guilty to nine charges of stealing clothing worth $l9l from Taylors Drycleaning and Laundry Services, Ltd, between February 11 and May 20, and to one charge of receiving sheets worth $5 in the same period, was convicted and remanded on bail to June 23 for sentence in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. She was Mary Eder, aged 53, married. Sergeant W. J. Nicholl told Mr H. J. Evans, S.M., that the manager of Taylors, Ltd, had become concerned because of the large number of losses of customers’ clothing. In six months the company had paid $2OOO in compensation.

On May 20 the police set a trap by having a woman’s twin set worth $4O forwarded from one of its depots. It was missing from the factory when a check was made at 11.15 a.m. that day. The defendant, a depot hand, was given a description of the missing clothing, but she denied having seen it. It was later found wrapped up in a cupboard used by members of the staff. The defendant then admitted taking the clothing. She said she took it as a joke because so many articles had been misdirected recently. The defendant’s house was then searched and numerous items of clothing were found which were identified as the property of customers. She admitted stealing them all with the exception of the sheets, which she had received from another employee. FINES TOTAL $l2O Fines totalling 5120 were Imposed on a British seaman as a result of incidents at Lyttelton on June 12 and June 14. He was Peter Elliott, aged 21. Elliott pleaded guilty to charges of behaving In an offensive manner on June 12 and behaving in a disorderly manner In view of Gladstone Pier, using obscene language, and using insulting words on June 14. An order was made for immediate payment of the fines, in default 60 days imprisonment Sergeant NlchoU said that Elliott was seen by a customs officer to take down his trousers and expose his bare buttocks in the direction of an overseas vessel leaving No. 3 wharf about 3.30 p.m. on June 12. On June 14 the police were called to the British Hotel to help to round up a group of seamen about to sail In the m.v. Hobart Star. The defendant was one of the seamen. He was

being taken on board aa a distressed British seaman. During a disturbance In the Cellar Bar Elliott used the insulting language to the police. After being escorted on board the vessel, Elliott sprayed persons on the wharf with a powerful deck hose, threw a box of nails, cans of garbage, and numerous beer cans off the deck, and yelled abuse at those on the' wharf. Other seamen joined In and raised the gangway before officials had left the vessel. As a result the departure was delayed for three-quarters of an hour. Elliott was put off the vessel because of his behaviour and was now to be deported. He told the police he had had too much to drink. He had no money and no prospect of getting a job. STRAY BULLET A man who shot a goose with a .22 rifle said through his counsel that he had not realised he had also shot his neighbour in the leg until the ponce Inter-

: viewed him. Garry Kelvin Roberts, aged 22. a shop manager, was convicted 1 and fined $4O after pleading guilty to a charge of discharging a rifle in a manner likely to injure or endanger the safety of any person. He was represented by Mr M. P. Boyce. Sergeant Nicholl said that about 9.15 a.m. on April 14 Roberts fired a .22 rifle at the head of a goose. The bullet went through two fences and struck the left leg of his neighbour, who was using a water hose at the time. The man required hospital treatment. When hit, the man called out but there was no reply from the defendant Mr Boyce said that the goose was Intended to be the sublect of a family function the following week-end. Roberts was not strong enough to control the goose by killing It "In the timehonoured way, so he put it Into the fowlhouse, then shot It in the head. Roberts tried to alm the rifle toward the ground so that the bullet would pass through the goose’s head Into the earth. But here was not enough angle, and the bullet went through a corrugated iron fence and a paling fence before striking the complainant’s leg, said Mr Boyce. Roberts had offered to recoup the complainant's medical expenses. THEFT BY FINDING Alan Douglas Flanagan, aged 24, a driver (Mr J. M. Wilson), was convicted and lined $2O when he pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a purse and money amounting to $23.14 on June 10. He was ordered to pay full restitution. Sergeant NlchoU said that the complainant lost her purse In Moorhouse Avenue about 1 p.m. on June 10. Soon after this a van driver was seen to stop and pick up an object from the roadway. When interviewed by the police Flanagan said he decided to keep the money in the purse to help to pay a bill. “He said he thought it was a fair find and that he could get away with it," Sergeant NlchoU said. Mr Wilson said that Flanagan succumbed to temptation and was now full of remorse and anxious to make restitution. PERIODIC DETENTION Mathew Max Figure, aged 20, an unemployed shearer, was sentenced to nine months detention at the Adult Periodic Detention Centre when he appeared for sentence on a charge of robbing a 16-year-old youth of 40c. Figure had-pleaded guilty to the charge. He and an accomplice approached the complainant in Oxford Terace on May 30, held him against a wall and removed two Me pieces from his pockets. ASSAULT Richard Thomas Carrodus, aged 18, an apprentice mechanic, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Philip Aliiter Burgess on May L He was convicted and fined $75, $3O of which is to be paid to the complainant. Sergeant NlchoU said that at 3 p.m. on May 1 the complainant and four friends were looking at a tractor in a sales yard. The defendant told them to leave. When they refused, he walked over and punched the complainant on his nose. Carrodus had no authority to order anyone from the yard. Carrodus said that he was employed by the sales firm, and that the yard was not open on Saturdays. A number of items had disappeared from the yard every week-end.

DISCHARGED Russell William Stevenson, aged 17, a woolciasser, was convicted and discharged after he had pleaded guilty to a charge of using obscene language on Norwich Quay on June 11. Sergeant Nicholl said that the obscene language was used by Stevenson when he was trying to Interfere with the police after they had arrested a woman for drunkenness. Stevenson said he was interfering with the police because he resented the manner in which they put the woman, who was his companion, into the police car. He used one obscene word, and had been in custody for a number of hours, he said. FOUND ON PORCH Stewart Andrew Barnes, aged 18, a machine operator, was convicted and fined $lO after he had pleaded guilty to a charge of being found without lawful excuse on a building in Lincoln Road. Sergeant Nicholl said that Barnes was found on a porch of a private house at 1.15 a.m. on June 12. He was intoxicated and said he felt sleepy. MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES In miscellaneous police prosecutions convictions were entered and fines imposed as follows, with costs of $5 In each case: Excessive alcohol: Charles Robert Edward Hinga, $75, disSualified for six months, ordered > pay $10.50 medical expenses (no driver's licence, $l5, disqualified for three months, cumulative with other disqualification). Failed to give way to the right. Maurice McEntree, $3O, disqualified for two months. Drove carelessly: Arthur Gifford Irvine Rodgers, $25. Found In public bar after hours: Mannlx Horan, $4; Lindsay John Tiaaftna, $4. Person under 20 found In public bar: Valencia Christine Lester, $7 (gave false particulars, $7). (Before Mr W. F. Brown, S.M.) OFFENCE WITH GIRL Dennis William Jackson, aged 18, a textile worker' (Mr D. M. Palmer), appeared for sentence on a charge of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl aged 13 years. He was released on probation for one year, with the condition that he takes medical treatment as directed, and was fined $lOO and ordered to pay witnesses’ expenses of $14.75. Jackson had pleaded not guilty and been convicted. EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL Douglas Winston-Wade, aged 28, a bus driver, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving in the Lyttelton road tunnel when the alcohol in his blood exceeded the permitted level. He was convicted and fined $125, disqualified for nine months from June 29, and ordered to pay $10.50 medl< cal expenses and $6.30 solicitor’s fees. MISCELLANEOUS CASES In miscellaneous prosecutions, convictions were entered and lines imposed as follows, with court costs of $5 on each charge: Drove heavy motor-vehicle with unsafe load on approaches to Lyttelton road tunnel: Daniel Kyran McKendry, $6. Exceeded 55 miles an hour on approach to Lyttelton road tunnel: Mervyn Sherard Thompson, $lO. Threw rubbish Into waitercourse: Lawrence Govan, $5; Graham Hobbs $4. Failed to furnish return of In-

come: Blogg Brothers, Ltd, $8; Binkies Food Bar, Ltd, $4; John Burnlp Photography, Ltd, $5; Alexander Lalnchbury, $4; Chemical Specialities, Ltd, $10; Reginald William Curtin, $5; Hare* wood Produce Ltd, $5; William Francis Nelson, $4; Graham Rennie Hughes, $25; Arnold Arthur Little, $8; John Ogilvie MacLeod, $10; Desmond Alexander McCaskey, $3O; Ross McClelland Mathers, $5; Archie Richard Mathers, $2O; Donald Edward Moore, $5; William Leonard James Newell, $5; Purewa Fishing, Ltd, $10; C.J.M., Ltd, $10; Triggs and Denton (St Martins) Ltd $5; Holmes and Sons, Ltd, $10; C. S. Benton and Sons, Ltd, $10; Lynette Anne Leggett, $4. . _______