MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 244, 9 July 1921, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

THEFT OF GOVERNMENT BENZINE A fairly long list of police cases came Wore Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Charles W. Hanning was charged with the theft of two cases of benzine valued at 655., the property of the New Zealand Government. He pleaded guilty, and was remanded until Monday for sentence. Alfred Rawson pleaded guilty to two charges of theft. On July i he stole a lady’s overcoat valued at «£5, and on the following day he stole a lady’s woollen jacket valued at a£3 16s. As Rawson s police record was a ba<l one, he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on each charge the terms to be cumulative. Ernest J. Smyth was remanded to July 15 on a charge of stealing three dozen pairs of socks valued at £5 55., the property of George Fowlds Ltd. William Howie was charged with stealing a ring on February 26, the value of the ring being .£2. The evidence showed that the retention of the ring by the accused was due to a mistake, and that there was no guilty intention on his part. The case was adjourned for a week to enable Howie to pay expenses incurred by the prosecution, amounting to 375. 6d. Michael O’Brien was charged with being an incorrigible rogue in that ho habitually consorted with reputed thieves, nnd had been previously convicted of being a rogue and a vagabond. O’Brien claimed that he had been working recently, and asked for a chance. He was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Henry H. Lewis was fined 10b;, ■with the option of 48 hours’ imprisonment, for drunkenness. While two Chinamen were getting a motor-car into position, the car bumped against Frederick S. Hill, who,' fancying that the car was pushed against him, struck a blow- at one of the Chinamen. Hill was convicted on a charge of assault, and ordered to pay 21s. costs. George Doyle admitted being the owner oi a dog that was dangerous, and undertook to keep tho dog muzzled in future. He was ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution. Alfred Brown, while driving a motorcar at Potone, got in front of a train, and, putting on speed, tried to get over the crossing before the engine; ho succeeded in this, but the driver of the locomotive had to apply the emergency brakes to avoid an accident. For foiling to stop at the railway crossing, Brown was fined 20b., and ordered to pay 51a. costs.

For failing to cloio his shop at 1 p.m on June 2, Thomas Messenger was fined 10s. and costa. Symons Bros., butchers, Courtenay Place, were fined 20a. end costa for failing to register their shop in tho name of one of the partners. For falling to attend drill a» required by the Defence Act. W. C. Buckmaster, D. E. F. Gallichan, and B. Mothes were each fined 10s. and costs; J. Murdock and J. M'Glinshoy were each fined 40s. nnd costs, and William Hickling, against whom th©ro worn six previous con victions, was fined -£5 and costa. The eftso against Albert W. Broe was adjourned for three months to give him a chance to attend drill regularly.