MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 275, 13 August 1908, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

POLICE' CASES,

(Before Dr. A. M'Arthiir, S.M.j FORGERY. Edward Thop. ; George Hughes, alias Saulc, was charged (1) with having, on July 30, at Wellington, forged the name of A, J, Dutoh to a cheque tor £6 drawn on the Bank of New Zealand, aiid having uttered same to George Lindsay, and (2) with lmvr ing, on August 1,-at Wellington, forged the niiine of A. J. Dutch to a cheque for £4 drawn on the National Bank and having uttered the same to Frank 11'. Dnkin.

Joseph Shand, bookseller and stationer, said a man called at his shop on July 30, and was given tho blank cheque produced. The man gave tho liapte of E- T. Hughes, and tlie address No, 9 Hopper Street. George Lindsay, clerk in tho employ of A, Lindssyi Ltd.,. boot importers, remembered accused calling at his shop on July 30 a lid presenting tho cheque for £6 produced and signed by A. J. Dutch. The cheque was put forward in payment far a pair of bootsi Accused was given £4 9s. Cd. change, and was to call back for the balanco of the change and the boots later, but lie did not return- The cheque was endorsed by accused, who said the cheque wiis drawn by Sir; Dutch, tho ironfounder. Tho chequo Was returned from bank with a note; ''signature unlike." Norman Green, ledger-keeper at the Bank of New Zealand; stated that Ml 1 , W. A. J, Dutch, ironfounder, had an account at the bail):. The signature on the cheque produced was not anything like tho signature of Mr. Dutch, -.There was no account at tho bank in the name of A. J. Dutch. Thos. Wm, A. Stringer, grocer,, deposed that accused called at llis shop on August 1 and asked for a blank cheque. Accused said his name wi»s T, builder, Hopper Street, and witness gave him tho cheque. Frank F. Dakiil, licensee of the Royal Tiger Hotel, said accused came-to his hotel on August 1 and presented the cheque produced,' and said it represented wages due from Mr. Dutch, ironfounder, for whom ho was working. Accused owed lialf-a-crown in the bar, and lyjtjiess cashed the cjieque. On sending it to the National Bank it-was returned marked, ''no account." Alfred H- Hobbs, ledger-keeper at the National Bank stated that there was no account in the name of Dutch at the bank, Win A, 'J, Dutch, brsssfouijdur, stated that he knew accused. He had never worked for witness, Neither of tho cheques produced wero signed by witness or or his authority. '■ Detcctiye Lewis (Jeposed that accused was arrested on August 5, Oil August 10 witness paw hini) Pnd explained the i)flturc of the charges, AedusecJ said: " You know I was drunk when I did it, and yon can see by the writing I was drunk when I wrote it," Accused pleaded guilty to both charges, and W«s committed to ths Supreme Court for ?f))tepee,

THEFT OF TRINKETS, Wm. Burns, alias Munro, alias Wilson, plcpded guilty to a charge of having, on August 11, stolen one gold-mounted greenstone brooch, valiid £2; 0110 gold and greenstone, lint trinket, value Bs,; and one coin . vulus Bs,, tho property of Hepry James Freeman- . , " ' , Sub-Inspoctor' Phair stated that accused went into Mr, Freeman's shop in Manners Street and asked to bo shown some trinkets. tVheii Mr. Freeman was turning to get some other things accuscd picked up a coin arid a couple of trinkets and put,them; _in bis mouth. When asked for the articles'accused gavo them up, but soon after lie left the shop a greenstone brooch was missed. Mr. Freeman followed the man, who denied taking tho brooch, but on his being searched the broocl) was fonnd on him. Accused had a list, of twentymo previous convictions against his name, eight of these being convictions for theft, "

His Worship remarked that accused appeared to'make a profession of this kind ot thing. . He would bo convicted and sentepocd to sis months' imprisonment.

OFFENSIVE RUBBISH. •' PROSECUTION BY THE CORPORATION. An elderly woman named Agnes M'Lean was charged with having, at Wellington, being tho occupier of certain premises in Taranaki Street, allowed offensive rubbish to remain on the premises. Defendant pleaded guilty, Jamas Doyle, Inspector of Nuisances, informed tho Court that'the case under notice was ono ho was conipelled to describe as extremely bad. Defendant was the keeper of « sort of lodging-house in Taranaki Street, and. tho class of people who went there, and tho manlier in which the place was kopt, gavo tlio city inspectors a great deal of trouble. Witness stated that'lie' had seen tho placo again that morning, so as he could make no mistake in describing its condition to the Court. The house was a large one, and tho interior was dirty in the extreme. The occupants of the house appeared to have that avebion to fresh air which makes people keep ovpry window-in a place shut. In the interests of the public, he must ask the Court to impose a severe penalty. Evidence was given by two Corporation inspectors, who had visited the placo. According to these, witnesses, there was rubbish lying about the yard, and an offensive smell pervaded the whole premises, which were alleged to be in a filthy state. . * Defendant informed the Court that she was very sorry. His Worship: "Why don't you show your sorrow by cleaning up tho place? You will bo convicted and fined 40s„ and costs 75., in default 48 hours' imprisonment."

A SERIOUS CHARGE. ■ William West, alias Westphal, was charged with having, nt Wellington, on April 20, attempted to commit a serjous. offence on a certain female. After the.evidcnco had been taken, accused .pleaded not guilty, and committed to the Supremo Court for trial. Chief Detective M'Grath conducted the case for tho prosecution, and Mr. Toogood appeared for defendant.

MISCELLANEOUS. Ernest Hall was remanded until 4-upust 13 on a charge of having used obscene language. Bail ivas allowed in the sum of £20, and one surety of £20. John Breslin ivas convicted and fined 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for insobriety. Two first offenders were convicted end fined 10s., and two others were convicted and discharged. Matthew Babich failed to appear in answer. to a charge of allowing a horse to wander in Tinnkori Road, and was convicted and fined os., and costs ss. JUVENILE COURT. A youth, 14} years of age, pleaded guilty before the Juvenile Court to a chargo of having, on August 8, committed theft of the sum of £1 7s. 9d. in money, the property of William. Hendry, tailor. Evidence showed that Mr. Hendry l had mado up the wages for his employees, and had hung the bag containing the money up on tlio wall in the back shop, where the manager of the factory was to get it and pay the men. Mr. Hondry loft the shop for a few minutesioaviug the boy in the shop. AVhen the manager came to pay the omployees ho found'£l 7s. 9d. missing. Tlio matter was then put in tho hands of tho police,, and accused admitted to Detective Cassells that he had taken the money. . • His Worship entered a conviction and discharge, the boy's father undertaking to replace tho money taken.