MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2502, 1 July 1915, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

, alleged theft of letters LETTER-CARRIER COMMITTED ' FOR TRIAL' A young letter-carrier named George Albert 'Ward appeared. before Mr. 5. G. A. Cooper, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer two .chaTges of stealing postal packets the property of the Postmaster-General. The first charge_ was "that being a postal official, did steal on June 2 a postal packet containing money, the property of the Postmaster-General," wjjilo the second, charge read, "being a servant of the Government did, on June 22, commit the theft of £3, the property of the Postmaster-General.", Chief Detective Boddim appeared for the police, and Mr. J. C. Peacock for the defenco. The evidence in .respect to the first charge showed that .a letter containing £3 and a postal note was posted from the Government Building to N. L.' Ward, Brooklyn. The letter never reached its destination, and when arrested accused admitted having stolon the letter and spent the money it contained. Later, on' June 22, a "test" letter, containing £3 in notes and addressed to a fictitious person, was placed by postal officials among the letters accused was to deliver. As accused failed to return tlip letter lie was questioned about it. 'At first he denied any knowledge of the same, but later, the notes were found in his possession. • Detective-Sergeant Lewis" said l'n his evidence that he had arrested accused on June 22. On the way to t'lie station accused said the envelope in question was torn and -lie could see the notes and was tempted to take ,them. This concluded tlie evidence, and accused -.pleading not guilty to both charges, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in £25,' with two sureties of £15 10s. each, as previously • fixed. A YOUNG MAN'S LAPSE. A young man named Henry , H. B. Tunnicliffe, who was arrested by Detective Abbott, admitted stealing a watch valued at 30s. from a. room mate of his named James Jlarsden. Chief Detective Boddam explained that this was accused's first apeparance in Court. He had pawned the stolen watch for ss. Accused was convicted and fined £2 in default seven days' imprisonment, and..

ordered to refund the ss. to the pawnbroker. AN OLD OFFENDER. A perennial offender for theft, John Power, admitted entering a shop kept liy a Chinese named Joe Tos and appropriating ten sticks of tobacco. After casting his eye over Power's rather lengthy record, the Magistrate sentenced him to a month's imprisonment. OTHER OASES. George Harley wa's fined' .£2, in default seven days' gaol, for indecency in Clyde Quay. Robert Neillv was fined £5, in default 14 days' imprisonment, on a charge of being drunk while in chargo of a horse and cab. ( Minnie Nelson was sent to .the Salvation/ Army Reformatory Home for a period of six months on a charge of being idle and disorderly with' insufficient means of support. For using obscene language in Frederick Street, Hester Collier' was sent to gaol for a month. Charles Herbert, on a charge of being idle and disorderly, in that he was found begging in Willis Street, was discharged as there was no direct evidence of his having committed the offence, James Even son, charged with assault ing David Bertie, so as to cause him actual bodily harm, was remanded for a weok. For drunkenness Mary Turtin was fined 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment, A CIVIL D.ISPUTE. A conclusion was reached in the civil dispute commenced the previous day in whioh Michael David sued Joseph Peters for £26 2s. sd. for goods supplied. After hearing further evidence the Magistrate (Mr. D. 6. A. Cooper, S.M.) gave judgment for plaintiff.for tho amount claimed, with costs, less £2 10s. expenses allowed defendant. Mr. Douglas Jackson appeared for plaintiff and Mr. I*. W. Jackson for defendant.