MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3189, 13 September 1917, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

PETTY THEFTS Bl r A SWEDE. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr. S. E. M'Oarthy. S.M., presided, and heard the police cases, Axel Martin Persson was charged that between July 18 and August 31 he did steal stationery, brushwaro, etc., valued at £7 lis. 4d.: also with tho theft of 15 dictionaries, 35 dozen memo, books, 71 dozen cash receipt forms, and a quantity of other stationery and books valued at £12; theft of a quantity of playing cants aud stationery valued at £16. and theft,of a further quantity of stationery and playing cards, valued at £M, all tho stolen goods being tho property of Collins Bros, and Co., Ltd. Chief Dctcctivo Boddam prosecuted,, and Mr. E. M. Becchcy appeared for accused. Chief Detective Boddam asked pcrniis : sion to withdraw the first charge. To tho other three charges Mr. Becchcy, on behalf of accused, pleaded guilty. According to the police, the aroused, who is a Swede. 1!) years old. arrived in tho Dominion in tho latter part, of last, year. On July 18 last ho secured employment as a paokcr with Collins Bros, and Co., Ltd.. whero ho remained until August 31, allosother about six weeks, ifo stole tho goods during that period, and sold them to another slatiouer. The goods had all been recovered. ' .Chief Detective Boddam further stated that- it was imperative tha police should havo surveillance over tho accused for tho next two or throo weeks in conscqucnco of somo correspondence found on him.

Mr. E. M. Beechey suggested that the three charges should bo taken ag one, as all tho goods stolon wero taken within comparatively short pcriodß. It was not tho oftonco of a hardened criminal, but the, folly of a youth, and ho therefore suggested the lad should' be admitted to probation. On the last charge the accused was sentenced to two years' reformative treatment, and on tho remaining charges ho was convicted and discharged.

William Seymour Eaton, a soldier .on final leave, was convicted of being drunk, of using obscene language, and of stealing two bottles of wino and two bottles of beer, valued at 125.. the property of Mary M'Guiro (Whito Swan Hotel). The accused admitted that he was very much under tho intluence of liquor, and did not know what he was doing. It was stated that the stolon liquor had been recovered. Eaton was ordered to ho handed over lo tho military authorities.

' An old offender named Emma Crawford was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for using obscene language, and on a charge of drunkenness sho was convicted aud discharged.

For insobriety, William Conrick was sent to gaol for a month, and Charles Harvey was fined £3, in default seven days' imprisonment, and a prohibition order, to ho current for twelve months, was issued against him. Two first offenders wore each fined 10s., in default <I 8 hours' imprisonment.