MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1035, 26 January 1911, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

;■ (Before Mr. W. G. ItiddcH, S.M.) CONVICTED OF THEFT. Arthur Doughty, alias Herbert Doughty, charged with having, on or about January 11 last, at Petoue, stolen a granny chain, n gold heart, a gold neck-chain, nud a pendant, belonging to Isabella Whyte, and valued at .£!), pleaded guilty, and was convicted and sentenced to six months' imprisonment. The stolen property was ordered to be returned to the owner. Hβ was also charged with having stolen a sovereign from the same person, on January f>; and with having, on January 13, stolen a .pair of trousers lielonging to Walter Cain, and valued at •255., and sold them in a second-hand-shop for ss. Ho was convicted on each of'., rho charges, and sentenced, in eachcase, to 3 months' imprisonment, the-term?-to bo concurrent, with tho six months' term imposed upon him on the first charge.' Doughty, explained Chief Detective Brnberg, was a married man, but no good to his wife. Ho was an old offender, there being seven . previous , convictions against his name, covering a period from' lS'Jli up till about a!year ago; "ALLEGED WILFUL DAMAGE.' James .Hes'sey (represented" by Mr. O'Leary), charged .with having, wilfully damaged two windows valued at £10, tue property of Gcorgo Howe, was remanded till February 1, on the application of Sub-Inspector Norwood, who explained that the principal witness in tho case was in the hospital. Bail was allowed in the sum of .£lO, on the accused's own recognisance'.',' . . . . .

' " CHARGE OF- ASSAULT. Henry Joseph Clements (Mr. Fitzgibbon) who was charged with.having attempted to do.grievous bodily hurnrto one.Vance Clifford- Hickok,"and. wounding him, was remanded-till to-day, bail being fixed at .£SO, and'-tho surety of. ■&>()... .. ... ~ CONCEALMENT OF"'BIRTH. Kato AValshe, a young 'woman recently arrived in Now Zealand frpni Ireland, was-charged with concealment ot the birth of her still-born chi d. Mr Fitzgibbon appeared for the accused. After hearing the evidence, hi? Worship said, that the facts ot the case did not disclose'guilty intent witlrre■spect to concealment of birth, pointing ■rather to the circumstance that tho accused's physical and mental condition at. the 'time contributed to her neglect ot ,tho. necessary formalities. Ho was no., prepared to commit tho accused to tne Supreme Court, and probably her experience of the present proceedings would act as a sufficient warning to-her. The accused was accordingly- discharged. ■'-'■■, PECULIAR ••'■' A- respectable, looking young man, was charged with indecency i" Mr. Herdman appeared for 'accused, who pleaded not "•"uter hearing evidence his Worship held that a 7 'prima facie case had been madoout. . ' • Mr. Herdman submitted that the caso should be dismissed.' It had been his intention to put his client into the Witness box. He had abundant evidence of gooil character-the police would bear him out on: that point—but it was no use wasting .time if it was proposed to commit for • trial. .The circumstances' of the . case were such as might easily conduce' to a charge of indecency, against the most.innocWnt person. He would reserve, his defence.. . ' ." ■-~-.. The accused was accordingly committed for trial, bail, being allowed in ths sum of one surety of.«C50:";-,''' ",/', - : "V---OTHER "-CASES. V" .'.-■■ . Frederick" Eollin,' charged, oh twoin ; formations with' having criminally assaulted two little girls of tender years, pleaded not guilty. After hearing tho evidence,'his'Worship held that thc-ro was not sufficient to jnake out a prima facie 'case for tho Supremo Court so far as tho. 'second information was concerned. There was,. however, sufficient .evidence on the first information to make out a case i'or .a, jury. The accused ; was 'accordingly committed' to the Suprem'e 'Court for trial. -~,„..,. .. ~:. , .... . , ... : ..'