PECULIAR COURT CASES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 410, 20 January 1909, Page 8

PECULIAR COURT CASES.

"THE LITTLE BACK PAGES OF LIFE." (BY TEMOBAPH-SPECUI, COBEE3POIDEST J ' , Christohurch, January 18. , A William' Blunt was charged +fc O{ T Q ™* this »?-g with the theft of a bwycle from outside'a city hotel Accused pleaded that'the bicycle had .been left oili Jus Bister's' property and he had sue Trf at * e 3 *' oll of stealing it. Th« chief detective stated that accused'had taken the machine home and thrown it over the fence after removing the tyres,' pedals, and other parts of it. His conduct might have incriminated tho person next door had his action not been observed. 'The magistrate remarked that,, as far as the plea of charactel was concerned, he could not understand how a man who was supposed to have led an exemplary lifei for many years could suddenly turn a thief If tho truth were known it woud probably be< found'that th'ero we™ many little'turned-down pages , in his history that would remove him from" tbo category of a first offender. Ho had no 'belief in . the theory that a man who apparently hail a long-record of respectability could suddenly be converted into a thief. He would trj the matter as a first offence, and would inflict a fine of £5 and order accused to pay a further £5 for damages to the machine MAGISTRATE CENSURES THE POLICE. A wry young lad was before tho Juvemle Court on Saturday charged with'a breach of the new city by-law in that he, being under the age of sixteen years,'had driven a tradesman s cart in the city. He explained to the iiench that he was engaged to drive tho grocer's cart after school hours, 1 and was paid for his Eervices. The* magistrate said I that the case was one that the police might I very well havo left alone. Aftercautiomng I I? 0 ?? y 'J b T S absurd te brui e km kforo the Court. >o penalty would be inflicted, ; and it did the boy no good to bo at the Court! Mr. Day then cautioned tho boy ' not to break tho by-law again, and discharged him, stating- at the same timo that tho police ought' to inform the Labour Department of tho matter.'