MAGISTRATES COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 54, 27 November 1907, Page 9

MAGISTRATES COURT.

(Before Mr. W. ,'G. Riddell,' S.M.j '

POLICE CASES.

CHARGES OF DRUNKENNESS.

Inebriates figured prominently '■ in the chargo sheet at the Magistrate's' Court yesterday morning. George William Jack'son for drunkenness in Willis Street was -convicted and lined 205., in default seven davs' imprisonment, and Catherine Thatcher, for a similar offence'in Taranpki Street, was convicted and fined ss'., iii default' fortv,eight hours' imprisonment. Of four firstoffendihfi inebriates dealt with, two wero convicted and fined 10s., in default fortyeight hours' imprisonment, ono was convicted and lined 55.; in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment, and ono was.convicted and discharged. THEFT OF A BICYCLE. A firemkn off the Shaw Savill steamer Maori, who'missed his passage to London, ■on Monday distinguished himself by getting ;nrccsted for the theft of a bicycle, valued at £10- a brief-bag, value 10s.; a fountain pell, valuo ! 155.; α-timo book, value us.; and a sum of G2 9s. 7d. in cash, the property of John Keen. The man, whoso name is John Ernest Watts, when charged with' the offence, said that he remembered nothing 'of having taken the bicyclo and-the otherarticles. -

; Sub-inspector O'Donovan stated that nothing outside of the present charge was known against accused, who- had 'only como out to New Zealand on the present trip of .the Maori. The sub-inspector remarked on the prevalence of the theft of bicycles, and pressed for a severe penalty to act as a deterrent to men belonging to foreign trade vessels who, it was known, were addicted to practices of this sort. In the present case, said the sub-inspector, accused; had he not been arrested, would'-have had the bicycle, : etc, on ' board his boat in a quarter of an hour, after which the goods would have been hopelessly beyond the reach 'of .the police. ,

Constable Jones stated that ho Arrested accused in Custom House Quay at 1 p.m. on Holiday. Accused was taking the bicycle .towards the Railway Wharf, and said it'belonged to a.friend of his, but did not know to whom the bag belonged. The Maori, on •which vessel accused served as a fireman,' was to leave the Glasgow Wharf at 2 p.m. Defendant was partly ■ under the influence of diquor., , ■ . The bicycle was left outside a building, ■whilst its owner went inside. to transact some business. The hand-bag and tho-other valuables were on the bicycle, i It appeared that accused came along and took' tlifl bicycle from where it had been left by its :Owner.

His Worship remanded accused for sentence until this mo^yiug.