MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 76, 23 December 1907, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Beforo Mr. W. G. Riddcll, S.M.)

DIGNITY IN THE DOCK.

A strong, able-bodied man named John Robert Colley was brought forward on a charge of being an idle and disqrderly person with insufficient lawful means of support When tho chargo was road out, defondaut brought all the dignity ho could muster to bear, and, addressing His Worship, said, "'l'm no. vagrant, sir, although I believo that's what ho (pointing his accusing finger at tho SubInspector) has got mo down as." Tho case for tho prosecution set out that defendant had boon found,at 2.30 on Saturday-morning sleeping on somo straw in a vacant section. It Avas stated that accused told tho constable who arrested him that ho had slopt on the straw for three nights as ho had no money to pay for a bed. Defendant admitted that ho had slopt in the open on Friday night, but denied having done so''more than this one time. One of the," coalies " — which being translated moans ono of tho coal-lumpers—had paid defendant a dobt of 55., and as ho " got pretty well full," ho went into the section to have a sleep. Defendant mentioned a number of plaoes at which.ho had been working of late, and said ho was ready to go to' work again, His Worship said ho was prepared to givo accused a chauco, and, in dismissing tho information, added a warning.

;-.,' '■' ALLEGED' FORGERY. A middle-aged woman, Adeline Lilian May Francis, remanded from Wednesday, -appeared in answer to a. charge of forging tho name of M.audo Ticrnoy to a receipt for £2 at AYellirigton'on November 19. ' .. Chief-Detective ; M'Grath conducted tho case for the prosecution, mid Mr. P. Jackson appoared for tho defence. Richard Ticrnoy," hairdresser, of Ongaonga, near • Waipawa, deposed that ho sent a money-order; telegram for £2 from Ongaonga on December 16 addressed to' his sister, Maude Tiemcy, caro of tho Post Office, Wellington. Tho requisition and telegram (produced) wero filled in by witness. ' Maudo Tierhey, domestic servant, sister of the previous witness, stated that sho expected to receive some money ' frorii her brother in November, atld called at the Post Offico -sovcral 1 times, but received no letter oontaining a money-order. Tho signature "fMaiido Ticrnoy "-on tho money-order telegram produced was not that of witness, and she had not authorised anyono to sign it for •her. Tho receipt for a registered letter produced was riot" signed b'y' witness. - v Arthur; F:.. Wimsett, clerk' in tho'G.P.O., stated that ho knew tho accused' by sight, and also know Miss Tiernoy by sight. On November -18 -.'accused called at tho Post Office. Miss Tierney also called, and was standing almost alongside of accused Miss Tiornoy asked if thoro was a money-order telegram -for her, . 'and, after giving' Jicr ,name," loft, ,-as tho-ordortwas not tlicro.' ,'ln. tho opinion of witness, ; 'accusal could licar what was said by,' Miss Tioniey. On the 19th accused called again and asked for. lotters. Witness said there wbro no letters, arid accused asked if thoro was a moneyorder tologram for Maudo Tierney. Witness asked tho woman if she was sure sho was Maudo Tiornoy, and accused replied, "Yes," and subsequently wont through tho formalities necessary beforo going on to tho registered letter counter. William J. Mountstophens, clerk in tho G.P.0., stated, -that accused called at the registered letter- counter on Novombor 19, and' produced, two cards for a money-order telegram. , Tho telegram was from Ongaonga, and was addressed to Maudo Tierney. Accused asked for the money-order, and. said her name was Maude Tierney. Ono< of tho clerks identified accused'as Mrs. Tierney,' and tho letter was subsequently handed oyer to accused, who gavo a receipt. Sho opened tho j letter, and took put a money-order for £2.'. Accused gavo her address as 17 Constablo Street. ' ..' William J. Gladding, clerk in tho monoyorder.offiee, stated that accused called at the office on November 19, and riroduced tlio money-order telograra previously handed in, and signed She order. On being told,that sho rnust'lw identified, accused produced two letters signed Tierney or Tiernan. Witness paid 'over tho £2. Deteetivo Lewis, who arrested accused on December 12, deposed that' when ho showed her tho money-order telegram in question sho denied that tho signaturo was hers. Sho mado a statoinent to tho offeot that when sho went'to the Post Offico sho was expecting a inohoyrordor telegram from her husband who was! up tho country. From inquiries witness had mado, ho found that accused did not live, nor had sho ever lived, at 17 Constablo Street.'' ' During cross-examination, witness stated that accused ' •\vas_ known as Mrs. Tiornoy to somo of her neighbours in North Street.' Mr.' Jackson argued that accused had mado a natural mistake. Sho was- expecting certain'money (£2), which she had written for, and called at tho Post Offioo several times to soo if it had come. When' she signed for tho order on November 19, sho did so belioving it'to.bo right. Accused, who pleaded "Not guilty," reserved her dofenco.'and.was committed to tho Supromo Court for trial.

MISCELLANEOUS. A charge of stealing a' case of whisky, valued at £3, tho property of Julius A. Liltis, was preferred against William Willis. The charge was not gono into, a remand being granted until Friday next. Bail was allowed in the sum of £10, and one snrety of '£10. Mr. Cook, appeared for tho dofence. Eight offenders for drunkenness were doalt with. Alfred Burneclo and John Golding were each convicted and fined 205., in default soven days' imprisonment; and Annio Cain and Joseph Barker woro convicted and fined 10s. each, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. Ono first offender was convicted and fined 55., in dofault 24 hours' imprisonment, and three were convicted and discharged; ono of tho.trio being ordered to pay medical oxpensos, 15s. 6d.