MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 189, 12 May 1928, Page 25

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

POLICE AND SUMMONS CASES

Mr. E. Page, S.M., dealt with police and summons cases in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Clarence Barnes and John Edward Loris Burton, two labourers, both 18 years of age, pleaded guilty to stealing a cheque valued at £li 13s. 5d., the property of Antonio Mastelbone, a market gardener, of Lower Hutt. Chief-Detec-tive Ward stated that the two accused had kept a letter containing the cheque, which had been left in the letter box, while they were at Mastelbone's place. The cheque, which was from Laery ami Co., was cashed at a city hotel. Burton had been previously convicted for theft, and had also been an inmate of an Industrial School for unruly boys. Barnes, who was said by the detectives engaged in the case, to be the prime mover in the affair, had never previously been before the Court. Burton was sentenced to twelve months’ reformative detention, while Barnes (for whom Mr. A. B. Sievwrlght appeared) was admitted to probation for two years. He was ordered to make restitution of the amount stolen at the rate of Gs. per week. Annie Lund, a domestic, aged 54, was lined £1 for committing a breach of her prohibition order, and 10s. for her second offence of drunkenness. The alternative in each was fixed at three days’ imprisonment. SUMMONS CASES. An application made by the police for the estreatment of the sum of £250, bail entered by Thomas Weatherburn, who became bondsman for Arthur Hobbs, was adjourned for one week. Hobbs, who was bailed out by Weatherburn on April 2G, on a charge of faillug to account to Joseph Nathan and Co. for the sum of £6, has not since been seen by the police, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

The Rugby Timber Co., Ltd., was fined £3 for carrying on a company without having paid a stamp license for one year. A like penalty was imposed on U.F.A. Films, Ltd., for a similar offence. Makken Bala, a Hindu, was lined £1 and costs for cruelly ill-treating a horse by working it when it was lame. His Worship told Inspector Henry, of the S.P.C.A., to find out where the animal was kept, and to examine it, so that if lie thought necessary the horse could be destroyed. Delia Marv Josephine Hughes was fined 10s. for committing a breach of her prohibition order. For keeping their shops open for the sale of goods on Anzac Day, James Stuart Middleton, Clara Winstanley, and Jean Bertram were each ordered to pay 10s. costs.