MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2466, 20 May 1915, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

SHOP THIEVES

IMPRISONED FOR TWO MONTHS

Forty-one previous appearances before the Court was the combined record of James M'Michael and James M'Gowan, who appeared before Mr. W. G. Biddell, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The pair, who were both middleaged men'of rough-looking character, pleaded guilty to a joint charge of the theft of an overcoat, valued at £3, the property of U. Hough, while M'Michael pleaded to a separate charge of theft of an overcoat, also valued at £3, and stolen from the same man. Chief-De-tective Boddam said that M'Michael lad entered Mr. Hough's shop, stolen the overcoat, and then sold it to a secondhand dealer. No doubt encouraged by this ho roturned to the same shop ana lifted another coal; This one was sold by the other accused, who was with M'Michael, and the Bs. which was received for the coat was found on him. M'Michael's sh|are of the combined record of appearances before a Magistrate was t\ven,ty-six. On the first charge he was convicted and fined £3, in default one month's imprisonment, and on the second charge the pair were sent to prison for a period of two month 6, with hard labour.. .

AN ITALIAN SEAMAN'S LUCK. Because nobody tool: any more interest in the case, an Italian seaman named Indico Dorino, who deserted from the Italian ship Eurasia last year, was simply convicted and discharged when he pleaded guilty to the charge. Inspector Hendrey said that the position was that the ship had left Now Zealand waters. The agent for the ship had no more interest in it now, and apparently the Italian Consul was the only one who could have any interest in it. Defendant siid that he had work to go to on a farm near Lerin, where, he had been working for some time. Inspector Hendrey: ' He lias borne a. good character since he deserted. He was only arrested bec-iuso the warrant was issued." A conviction was recorded and defendant smilingly departed.