MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2697, 17 February 1916, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

CORPORAL IN THE DOCK TfIEFT OF MONEYS ADMITTED f Mr. W. G. Biddell,' S.M., pre'siaed at yesterday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court, when .the cases for hearing included an information charging Corporal Mark J3arnett,i of the New Zealand Reinforcements, with theft of £206 7s. • 2d., th 3 moneys of tho Cycle and Motor Supplies, Ltd. The amount named comprised several sums of money taken between January, 1915, and January, 1916. The accused (Barnett) had been secretary to the Cycle and Motor Supplies Company until December last, when he was relieved of that position and retained as clerk. Defalcations were • discovered by the new secretary, and tho- company's auditor (Mr. E. W. Hunt) was called in to undertake a special audit. Tho accused (Barnett) went into camp at Trentham in the meantime, and,later admitted having misappropriated funds of tho company. Private proceedings wero then instituted, and yesterday Mr. A. H. Barnett appeared for the, prosecution, while Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for tho accused,

After evidence had been tendered. Corporal Barnett "pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court For sentence, bail being allowed. '

INFORMATION DISMISSED. Allen Gordon Reid, 16$ years of ago, was charged with theft of a motorbicycle valued at £40, and pleaded not guilty. The Magistrate adopted the view suggested by the youth' 6 counsel (Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh) that there was no intention to deprive the owner of the machine. The. information ,was dismissed,, but the youth was directed to pay the sum of 15s. for damage caused to the motor bicycle. A MILITARY MATTER.. ' On a charge of absenting himself from the New Zealand Forces without first having obtained leave, a young man, named Herbert Edward Garrett, was ordered to bo handed over to the military authorities. ■

IMPROPER LANGUAGE. Mary Turtin, who was convicted of using obscene language within bearing of the public, was fined 405., the alternative being seven days' imprisonment. May Tobin, appearing .on remand, pleaded not guilty to a charge of using .obscene language in Cuba Street, but, after hearing the evidence, the Magistrate recorded a conviction, and imposed.a fine of 20s. Mr. H. P. O'Leary defended the accused. OTHER CASES. . Susan Coulter, who did not appear to answer a charge of drunkenness, was ordered to forfeit her bail (£1). John Gouzier and John O'Neill, for drunkenness, were fined 20s. each, the alternative being three days' imprisonment. .'■ Mary Evans, SO years of age, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on a charge of vagrancy.