MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 241, 4 July 1908, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

POLICE CASES,

(Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.)

' ' THEFT; OF COPPER WIRE.. .' : 'A young, man named Cecil Christopher apr peared in answer to a charge of having,. on June 25, stolen two cwt. of copper wire, valued:at £5, the property of the Welling- - ton City Corporation. Chief Detective M'Grath informed tho

Court that defendant went'with two other lads, who were before the' Court earlier in the week, and kept watch whilst his comrades removed a coil of copper wire.from the yard of the electric light powier house. Defendant saw someone, coming and gave the others a warning, tho wire being left outside the yard. Defendant had been before the Court before,bbu s not since 1904, from which timo up to the present he had'led a steady life'. After/the last offence defendant had gono on to a farm. "',-■' His Worship remarked that the offence" of. stealing'lead, copper, and such articles was becoming very,common. ■ "Defendant would be convicted, and ordered to pay. £1 expenses, in default 7 days' imprisonment. . MEN-OF r WARSMEN IN TROUBLE. v John Clivo Millhouse, a man-of-warsrnan, pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully damaging one pano of glass, valued at £4 10s., the property. of David Barry. Evidence showed that defendant threw a stone through a 'plate-glass window in Barry's boardinghouse, Taranaki Street; A conviction _ and fine of 205., in default 7. days' imprisonment was imposed. Defendant was ordered to pay for the amount of the damage. George John Chapman and Robert Hutchinson,. men-of-warsmeh,. belonging to H.M.S. Encounter, were each convicted and fined 205., and costs 45., in 7 days' imprisonment, for behaving in such a manner in Molesworth Street as to occasion-a breach of the peace.

SELLING CIGARETTES TO A YOUTH,

Chow Keo failed to appear in answer to a chargo of selling two cigarettes to a youth' under 15 years of age, and was convicted and fined 405., and costs lis., in, default 7 days' imprisonment. • THEFT OF DOORMATS. . ' John Wm. Walsh, remanded from Wednesday on four separate, charges of theft, of doormats,, was brought forward for sentence. Sub-Inspector Pliair said that inquiries which had beeu mado *Uy tho police showed that nothing was known against defendant previously, and the statements mado by his counsel that an accident had made him act peculiarly were verified. Tho mats had all been recovered.

His Worship, taking into consideration the fact that tho offence was a first one, that defendant had met with an accident which affedted his behaviour at' the time, and', that tho value of tho articles was not groat, Agreed to adopt the suggestion of Mr. Fair, counsel for defendant, and enter a conviction and order defendant to come up for son-, I teuco when called upon. MISCELLANEOUS. A seaman'named Robert Smith pleaded ■guilty,to a chargo of -disorderly conduct whilst drunk,' and was convicted- and fined • 205., with the alternative. of 7 days': im- . prisonnient. ; /. Soven first offenders for drunkenness wero brought forward, fivo being convicted and fined 55., in default 24 hours' imprisonment, and two being convicted and discharged. FAILURE TO REGISTER BIRTHS. For failing to register the birth, of children, Eliaaboth Ann Buckley, Percy Edgar . Cooze, Win. B. Hutchings, Frcdk. Jas. Kirby, and' Mary Louisa Smith; were, c.icli . convicted'and'fined ss. and.costs 75., andMichael John Hogan was convicted and Sued ss. without costs.