MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 184, 2 May 1929, Page 9

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

POLICE CASES Mr. E. Page, S.M., dealt with the police cases in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. William Cox, a labourer, aged 47, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within twelve months for his fifth offence of drunkenness. Accused was ordered to stay at the Salvation Army Home during that time. For committing a breach of his probationary license, Arthur Leslie Fleury, a labourer, aged 23, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour. Accused, who had been convicted in 1927 for theft at Cromwell, had failed to report to the Probation Officer, with the result that the same year he was again before the Court in Dunedin for a breach of his probationary license. He was given a chance, but had cleared out and had not been seen until he was arrested at Johnsonville on Wednesday, where he was working under an assumed name. “I’ll go straight if you give me one more chance,” said the accused, who explained that the reason he had not reported to the Probation Officer was because he had been frightened to do so after running away. “I am working at Tawa Flat,” he added, “and I have a good j'ob which will last for four or five years.” Remarking that the accused had been given his chance before, the Magistrate imposed the sentence mentioned. A further remand until May 8 was granted in the case of Jbhn Edmund Thomas O’Sullivan, a surveyor, aged 27, who is charged with forging a Post Office Savings Bank withdrawal slip for £lOO. Five charges of theft involving the total sum of £2B ss. were admitted by Alfred Hubert Callaghan, a labourer, aged 29, who had several prior convictions. Chief-Detective Ward stated that the accused had committed the thefts between April 20 and April 26. He had _ called at the residence of his brother-in-law, who kept a boarding-house, and had stolen from one of the rooms. When arrested on April 26 he was found with a torch, boots, coat and camera in his possession, which he admitted having stolen. Accused was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour on the first charge and convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon on each of the remaining four charges. “I think he is worth giving a chance,” said the probation officer (Mr. T. P. Mills) when addressing the Magistrate in reference to Richard Haylock, a labourer, aged 35, who admitted stealing a quantity of copper wire valued at £l2 10s., the property of the City Council. Accused, who had never previously been before the Court, stated he had been out of work and had taken the wire to sell and pay his rent with the money. Haylock, who is a married man, with two children, was convicted and placed on probation for a period of two years. An order was made that the stolen wire be returned to the council, and that the accused make restitution of £9 6s. 3d., which sum he Obtained for the wire from a dealer. The money is to be paid as directed by the Probation Officer. Jean Evelyn Larsen, a domestic, aged 17, and Percy Clarke, alias Lamonte Henri Pierre, alias Clarke Archibald Percival, aged 25, were jointly charged with being found by night without lawful excuse, but in circumstances not disclosing the intent to commit any other offence in a house at 21 Moir Street. SeniorSergeant Butler stated that the case was a very sad one so far as the girl was concerned. She was living away from home and was in a certain condition. She had known the accused, who had previous convictions, for about ten days. The girl was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within two years. She was ordered to stay in the Salvation Army Home until her child is born. The man Clarke was sentenced to three months imprisonment, with hard labour.