MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 218, 9 June 1921, Page 7

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

THEFT FROM A SHOP DOOR BIGAMY ADMITTED Mr. I. Salek and Captain Henn,ah, Justices of tho Peace, presided at the- Magistrate’s Court yesterday. For drunkenness, Patrick Doran was fined 205., witl: the option of forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. James Wilson, who claimed to be an American citizen, and who airived in Wellington some time in May, was seen on the 25th of that month to lift a pair of boots, value 355., that were hanging on a nail in front of C. J. Ward's shop in Manners Street. Ho then disappeared. and was not seen in Wellington again until Tuesday, when he was apprehended. Wilson pleaded guilty yesterday, and was sentenced to three days’ imprisonment.

TRIMMER CHARGED WITH THEFT. Albert Osman, a trimmer (for whom Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell appeared), was charged with stealing on May 31 a wallet and 4186 in money, the property of F. C. J. Olsen. Chief-Detective Ward appeared for tho police. The complainant, a photographer, stated that on May 31 he visited tho s.s Matatua, lying at the Glasgow ‘Wharf. Ho was on. the vessel for about an hour selling photographs. The sum of *£B6 was in a small wallet, the amount being made up of one <£so note, three «£lO notes, one *£s note, and one 411 note. He had this money in a pocket with some photographs, which latter ho had taken out of his pocket several times. On returning to his shop in Vivian Street he missed the money, and at once went back to the steamer, where he made inquiries. He believed he notified everyone on the ship of the loss, and also told them that he intended to advise tho police. Detective-Sergeant Andrews said that on .May 31 the accused was arrested for drunkenness, and a wallet with 4186 was found on him. Witness questioned accused the. next morning, when he mado a statement, which ho signed. In this statement he claimed, the money as his own, and said that it was part of his savings. When told by witness that there was doubt as to the money being his property, the amused made a second -statement, in which he declared that ho found the wallet and money on board tho Matatua.

To Mr. Treadwell: He was not aware that tho accused was arrested while on his way to Vivian Street. The accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supremo Court for trial. He was set free under the Act of last year, and is to report to the probation officer. GUILTY OF BIGAMY. . 1 Allan Raymond George, alias Rees (for whom Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell appeared), was charged with having committed bigamy. He was married at tho registrar’s office at Wellington on January 16, 1917, to Sarah A. A. M'Kelvey, under the name of James Henry Rees, and on November 2, 1920, at Napier, ho went through a form of marriage with Mary Ann Hafkte. thereby committing bigamy. Wilfred M. Cooke, Registrar-General, produced copies of the certificates of the two marriages contracted by the accused. Charlotte Esther Hamilton, sister of Sarah M’Kelvey, said that the accused and her sister stayed with her in 1917, and they were known as Air. and Mrs. Rees. The evidence of tho two women concerned was also taken, and at the conclusion the accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.