MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 263, 30 July 1908, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

■i: ■ ■ ■ TOLICE QASES. , (Bcforo Mr. TV. G. jßiddell, S.M.) A MEAN THEFT. A young woman named Kate. M'Connachio ploaded guilty: to: on July 27, stolon ■ a £1 note, the property of Ethel Double. ■Chipf-Doteotiyo M'Qrijth informed the Court that -accused mot'iMrs. Double at a social ill' the Druids' Hall, and- told her that slip was destitute [and had 110 placo .to. go to.. , Mrs. Double took her to her homo in Mitcholltown, and whilst thp.ro accused stolo the £1 note off the kitchen mantplpiecp. Accused was barely twenty years of age, but she had two Previous convictions for theft. . . f Hi's Worship said accused had treated her benefactress very shabbily. Accused was not a first offonder, and leniency could not bo extended to her. Slio would bn cinvictod and fined 'IQs,, in !default fourteen days' imprisonment, £1 tq 'bo returned to Mrs. Double. i

AN UNUSUAL j CASE.. John Searle pleaded not guilty to a charge of having,'ou July 13, stolon a,garden hose, a rake, and a spado, of a total valuo of £'2, the property of Ellen i'L. Jenkins. Mr. Wilford appeared, for 7 tho prosecution, and Mr. He'rdman for the defence. The evidence showed that tho cliargo aroso out of a property transaction, '(defendant's wifo purchasing a house from complainant, who denied that she had giveii tho hose, rake, and snado in as part of the bargain. ' Mr. Herdman, for tho defence, said that when (iofendant inspected tho property ho was told by Miss Jenkins that- sho' would have 110 further uso for tho hose, etc., which would go with tho house if her prico was accepted. , After the dato oil! which Miss Jenkins was to leave the-house, Mr. Scarlo,

had gone up to the place, at night, and, being unable to got an answer to his knocks, concludcd that the house was then unoccupied. Acting oh tho understanding that tho hoso, etc., had been given over to him, ho removed tlicni to his own homo in order to prevent them being stolen by any persons who might conic around.tho place. This explanatipn would have been given to Miss Jenkins, who the evidence showed saw Seaylo taking thu goods away, if she had made inquiry before laying the information charging him with theft. \ Slio had not done this. Ilis Worship said that there had apparently been a misunderstanding between the parties. Defendant admitted - taking the articles, but the Court 'was not prepared, 011 the evidence, to say lie stole them.' lie took them away acting under an erroneous opinion. {The information would be dismissed, t|ic^goods to bo returned ,to Miss Jenkins. ' TI-lEFT AND RECEIVING. Rube May and John Adair were charged with liaviiig, on or 'about July 16, at Wellington, stolon a gold watch, a gold chain, a locket, pendant, medalj two rings, and ono waistcoat, of a_ total vriluo of £40 175., the property of VWalter Cattle* Walter Cattle, steward on the steamer Mararoa, stated that he know Adair, who liad also been employed on the\Mararoa up to June. On July 12 at Lyttelton witness put tho articles mentioned in tho information iii his box in the stewards' quarters oil the vessel and locked the box. He next went to tho box on July 16 at Wellington. The box "was still docked, but on opening it witness found tho articles 'mentioned'in'the charge were missing. ; ' Witness identified several articles produced as having been in the boxi ' Witness did not know accused May. '• : : Evidence was also given by William Shirley and Benjamin Smith, steward's on the Mararoa, James Wm. Benton, watchmaker iii thp' employ pf M. Frauliauf, pawnbroker Cuba'Street,'and Joseph Mptz, pawnbroker. Detective Lewis stated that oil July 21 he showed the cliaiii produced to accused Maj\ May 'said it ' was - his, and he"had' had it since ' the previous Sunday. Witness told liini the chain was one which was reported stolen, and that he would have to Account for having it in his possession. Accused made a-statement to tho effect that ho'had purchased a watch and chain frojn a man in t]ie street, and gave a dotaijed description of the man who had sold to hiih. After somo conversation accused said, "How much would I get if I told you where tho stuff is?" Accused subsequently made another statement to the effect ■ that a man -named Jack Adair gave him the articles, and Adair, according to Slay, got tho articles o/Y the Mararoa." On July 22 witness arrested accused Adair and "told him; he was . going to search- Ins effects for some jewellery missing from the Mararoa. Adair said lie knew nothing about it. He isaid lie had got the ring lie exchanged at Sir. Barhst's from a.mail in Taranakj Street. Adair subsequently signed a statement stating that he went oil to tho Mararoa and stole the articles mentioned in the information from a box of which lio had aliey. May was not with him when he went on board the Mararoa. Tho articles ho had not pawned had been destroyed. '.Adair pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. His Worship dismissed the charge of theft agaijist May. May pleaded guilty to a~ charge of receiving the goods, and was committed to the 'Supreme Court for- sentence ,on this charge.

ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING. James Madder ai\d Henry Mather were oharged that on July 20 they did bre&k and enter . the dwelling of Herbert James S. Rickards, Kelburne Parade, and steal therefrom plate and clothing valued at £25, the property of H. J. S. Riekards, also two silver match boxes and one gold medal, valued at £3, the property of Cecil Riekards. On tho application of Chief Deteotive M'Grath defendants were remanded until. August 5. . : THEFT OF REINS; ' Chas! Leigh was brought forward fori sentence for stealing a pair of leather reins, valued at 255., the. property-of Enoch E. Tonks. Sub-Inspector Pliair said accused had been hawking fruit about; town for four years. His Worship entered a conviction and fino of 405., and costs 155., in default seven days' imprisonment. - Defendant "was ordered to pay 7s, Gd. for the damage done to the reins. '■ . OBSCENE LANGUAGE. \ Guy 'Hill pleaded guilty to a charge of having ..used qbscono language ill a railway carriage .at Petcne 'oil Slarph 15j 1907.' Sinco the olronco was . committed accused had bceli to Tasmania; and hful only just, returned to New Zealand. ' His Worship 'imposed a conviction "and fine of £5, in do-' fault- 21 days' imprisonmpjifc. ' ... UNLAWFUL ASSAULT. ' Augustus Georgo. Thompson appeared in answer to'a charge of having) on July 20, done actual bodily harm to , one Robert Patterson. At the instance of the police tho charge' was reduced to one of common assault, after tho evidence of tho doctor .who attended Patterson li.ad been heard. Defendant 'pleaded guilty to. tho charge, iind admitting throwing- a bottle at Patterson, which cut his forehead. His Worship-said accused had only himself to blame for gettijig into this trouble, and could congratulate himself that the effects, of the assault mid' not been mfaro serious. Ho would, bo convicted ,and fined £5 and costs £3 Is. appeared for the defence. : ! MISCELLANEOUS.' Alphonsp" Treadwell was- . convicted .. and fined 40s. and costs 55., in default 7 days' imprisonment, ori a charge of disorderly conduct whilst drunk. A young .man .named. Albert Edward Sharp .was.convicted and.spntonped to,two months' ' imprisonment for - drunkenness. •. Three first offenders wore convicted and fined 55., in default 24 hours' imprisonment, - and one was convicted and discharged. ) . INSUFFICIENT'MEANS. Catherine Thatcher) : a middle-aged woman, pleaded , not guilty to a charge' of "having insufficient lawful ' means' Qf "support. ' After evidence by,'the police,- defendant was-con-■ricted and' sentenced. tp, six. .months'■ imprisonment. Tho samo 'defendant pleaded guilty to a charge -of stealing, a necklet valued'at 17s. Gd.,' and' was sentenced to 7 days' imprisonment, to run concurrently with the sentence on tho first charge. , BY-LAW CASES. James Robson pleaded guilty to a charge of having left a vehicle in iiigestro Streetwithout, looking tho wheel or leaving some competent person in charge. A conviction and line of 10s. and posts 7s; was imposed. For riding a bicycle in Willis Street without a light a youth named Frank Belcher was fined Is. and costs 7s.

David M'Gonaglo wap convicted and fined 10s. and costs 7s.' for driving a vehicle 111 Bunny Street without a liclit. ' / ' For allowing:horses and cattlo to wander lines wore imposed as under: —Samuel Bray, Michael Griffin, Koht. Hare, John Jacobson, Peter M'Donald, James J. Moore, Albort Neilsan, and George Smith, 10s. and costs 75.; James Cathcart and Thos! M'Gee f»s. and costs 75.; Henry Smith, costs only! 7s. ,