MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 2, 27 September 1917, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

■' - ' THEFT - OF '■■ POSTAL PACKET. -At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr. D G. A. Coorier, S.M., was on the Bench. James Glenn, a youth of about 18 years of age, pleaded guilty to fraudulently retaining a postal packet containing one hand-worked silk camisole valued at 255., which ought to have been delivered to one MiBS K. Corßon. ' ''.';■• Chief Detective B'oddam, who appeared for the prosecution, stated that the accused was on the date in question (August 29) a porter at the New Commercial Hotel, and it was part of his duty to get-the letters ifrom the Post Office and see to their distribution. -He received among other letters' and' packets a registered postal packet addressed to Miss Kate Corson, New Commercial,." Hotel,',. Wellington... This .: packet :contained-the camisole, and was retained ■by-the'accused.''■';-, --' ~. '■ . Evidence -was:-given 1 by-'Mary Motham i'.that the camisole was.•'posted by-her at ~Ohutnii,->,nd.!the receipt for the registrationwas .produced.' ■'..'■ . William Betty, clerk in tho Postal De- ;■ partment, testified to delivering a registered packet tor accused, for. which he gave a receipt as i produced. i Detective Sergeant Cox said that ho interviewed accused at the Shanirook Hotel, where he 'was employe'd l as a porter. He taxed him.about the theft of the packet and contents, when he made a full confession, and signed a statement acknowledging his guilt. . Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, and was ordered to be kept apart from other prisoners meanwhile.. On a further charge of stealing the sum of 255'., the. property of Albert Rowland Durrant, proprietor of tho New Commercial Hotel, to which he also pleaded guilty, tie .was ordered" to come up . for sentence when called upon." Chief. Detective Boddam said the young man deserved a certain amount of pity. He was only 18 years of age, and did not\ know who his father and mother were.) He was brought up by an old lady on the West Coast.' ■ A man 80 years of age named James Rhodes was'charged with being an idle and disorderly pirson, in that he possess■ed insufficient lawful means of support. Ho was; remanded for a week to see if he could be admitted' to the' Ohiro Old Men's Home.: .-'■.'.■. For insobriety a-first offender was convicted, and discharged.