MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 273, 11 August 1908, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

POLICE CASES. (Before Mr. AV. P. James, S.M.) A WAREHOUSEMAN IN TROUBLE. THEFT OF GUNS. Herbert William M'Kay appeared on romand on eleven different charges, that, being tho servant of E. C. E. Mills and others, he did steal guns of a total valuo of £SB, the property or E. C. E. Mills and others. Chief Detective M'Grath conducted the case for tho prosecution, and Mr. Wilford appeared for the defence.

At the outset, on the implication of Chief Doteetivo M'Grath, Jtho first charge of theft of a gun valued at £11 was withdrawn.

John F. W. Mills, partner in the irnt of E. ;W. Mills and Co., deposed that accused was employed by tho firm as a warehouseman. Accused was employed in the department where the shot guns and sporting goods were kept. Ho was paid £2 10s. a woek at first, but the amount was raised to £2 15s.

Arthur D. Kerr, warehouseman and clerk employed by E. AV. Mills and Co., recognised tho guns produced as having been imported by the These guns had not been sold in the shop in the ordinary way of business. The valuo of the nine guns produced was about £72.

Johii Griffiths, pawnbroker, stated that accused called at his shop on June 15 to sell a gun which ho'said belonged to himself. Ho also said that ho was in tho trade. Witness paid £1 15s. for the gun ; and accused gave the name of. Jensen, Vivian Streot. On July 3 accused called with another gun, for which witness gave, him £2. On July 21, accused crM again, and sold a gun for £2. On July 2S accused sold witness another gun for £2 2s. Gd. On August 3 witness handed three of the guns over to Detective Williams;

Walter Smart, pawnbroker, stated that on June 12 accused took a new gun to his shop. Witness bought the gun for £2. Accused gave his namo is C. M'Lean, and his address as Adelaide Road. On July 9 accused called again and sold a gun for £3 10s. Joseph Mctz, pawnbroker, stated that accused pawned a gun with him on Juno 19, and got £1 10s. He gave the name of C. M'Lean, Vivian Street. On Juno 29 accused called again and pawned another gun for £1 10s.

Maurice Fruhauf, pawnbroker, remembered Atcuscd calling at his shop on June 23 and pawning a gun for £2. On July 16 he called again and pawned another guri for £2. Accused gar® the name of C. James, Adel&ido Road.

Detective Williams stated that, in company with Detective Kemp, ho interviewed accused at E. W. Mills and Co.'s warehouso, and asked him where ho had got tho guns ho had sold and pawned. Accused made a statement to tho effect that ho had stolen the guns. He said he had been out of work' for seventeen weelcs before joining E. W. Mills and Co.,- also that he had a sick wife, and was being pressed by creditors.

To Mr. Wilford: Tho whole amount owing to tho pawnbrokers was £13 7s. 6d., which lie (Mr. Wilford) had personally undertaken to pay. To Mr. M'Grath: This did not include tho two guns missing. -j Accused pleaded guilty, and wa3 committed to the Supremo Court for sentence. Bail was allowed in tho sum of £100, and two sureties of £50 each. ■ ' A CHARGE OF ASSAULT. A middlo-agcd man named Edward Bloomfield pleaded not guilty to a chargu of unlawfully assaulting ono John M'Coll. Evidence showed that complainant and two of his friends,had,just.-coiner-out of a supper room in Lambton Quay at 11.45 on Saturday night when .he. : ,was,struck,on.-.thcjside of tho face by ; defendant and_knocked clown on the, pavement. Threo witnesses deposed that there was no provocation for tlie assault. Accused, who_ was defended by Mr. D.' M. Findlay, admitted having struck Xt' Coll but pleaded His Worship, after. hearing evidence at length, remarked upon the seriousness of these assults. He aid not know that ho was doing right in not imposing "a term of imprisonment but defendant' had not been beforo tho Court before. A conviction and fins of £10 would be imposed, £2 out of the fine to go to informant and his witnesses. The defanlt was fixed at two months' imprisonment.

• A CHARGE DISMISSED.' Joseph Robinson appeared on remand on a charge of failing to provide for the maintenance of a certain illegitimate child. Defendant pleaded not guilty. After hearing evidence at length his Worship dismissed the information, allowing costs £2 2s. against complainant. Mr. J. J. M'Grath appeared for defendant and Mr. Wilford for complainant. Security for appeal was fixed in the sum of £10 10s. MISCELLANEOUS. A young woman named Mary Parker, alias Bond, appeared on a charge of being deemed an idle and disorderly person within the meaning of the Police Offences Act 1884 in that she has insufficient lawful means of support. On her own application accused was remanded until August 17. William Wallaco was convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment on a charge of drunkenness. John Shannon also charged with drunkenness was convicted and fined 105.,. in default 48 hours' imprisonment. Four first offenders were each convicted and fined ss.

A good deal of the afternoon was spent in hearing a charge against a young man of unlawfully selling two glasses of beer and one glass of whisky on July 22. After hearing the evidence of the first witness for the defence his Worship dismissed the information. Mr. Wilford appeared for defendant.A young woman named Lyall Masters pleaded guilty to a charge of importuning and was convicted and fined 205., in default /S hours' imprisonment. Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for tho defence. John Andrew Hardy was charged with having within tho State of New South Wales failed to obey an order for tho support of his child. On the application of Chief Detective M'Grath defendant was remanded until August 14.