WOMAN’S LAPSE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 151, 21 March 1936, Page 4

WOMAN’S LAPSE

Money by False Pretence MAGISTRATE’S COURT CASES Pleading guilty to three charges of obtaining in all £3/4/- by false pretence, Elizabeth Ellen Jones, alias O’Regan, was admitted to probation for 12 months by Mr., E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday. She was also ordered to make restitution and to take out a prohibition order. Detective-Sergeant L. Revell said that on January 1 accused went to a shop owned by a man named Kennedy, where she used to buy groceries, and told Mrs. Kennedy that her husband bad met with an accident and needed money urgently. Believing her story, Mrs. Kennedy gave her 4/-, and the same afternoon accused returned and told the same story to Mr. Kennedy, who advanced her £2. On the following day accused asked for a further loan, and Mr. Kennedy gave her £l. Accused’s explanation to Detective G. Hogan was that at Christmas time she went on a drinking bout and exhausted her savings. It was while on the bout that she had obtained the money. Mr. W. P. Rollings, who appeared for accused, said she had not been in any trouble since 1930, and sue had substantially kept away from liquor in the interveninc; period. She had been making a little money by sewing and fancy work, but unfortunately O’Regan, the' man she had been living with, brought a little wine home at Christmas time, and that led her to indulge in liquor. There was a substance of truth in her story, because O’Regan did crush his toe, but it did not necessitate his going to hospital. “Nowhere To Go” “She has no hope, no money, and nowhere to go,” said Senior-Sergeant Dempsey, when Louisa Findlay, domestic, aged 50, was charged with being found without lawful excuse in enclosed premises, and with being an idle and disorderly person. At her own request she was committed to Pakatoa Island for two years on the second charge, and was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months on the first. Senior-Sergeant Dempsey said that at 8.15 p.m. on Thursday night accused was found at No. 5 Frederick Street lying on a sack at the rear of the premises. She was very much under the influence, of liquor, and smelled strongly of methylated spirits. There were three empty bottles near her, and a bottle half-full of methylated spirits was In her handbag. Restauranteurs Fined A Greek restaurauteur, Avanglielos Alexatos, of the “Hot Dog” Restaurant, came before the court charged with failing to notify that he sold smoking requisites, and with failing to close his shop at the required time. He pleaded guilty, and was convicted and discharged on the first count, while on the second he was fined £2 and ordered to pay costs. ' tc.ifia Alexatos, who was stated to be unable to make himself plainly understood in English, pleaded through counsel that if dealt with leniently he would cease to stock smoking requisites. It was stated that a number of complaints had been received from legitimate tobacconists, protesting against the sale of cigarettes by restauranteurs. A fine of £2 was also imposed on Steve Hlrstich, of the "Night Bird” Cafe, who was convicted on two similar charges. Other Cases Two charges of making false statements for the purpose of gaining benefit under'the Unemployment Act were brought against Gordon Thomas Wilkie. It was stated that the department regarded the case as a serious one. Wilkie was lined £2 find costs on the first charge, and on the second was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on within 12 months. He was ordered to make restitution of the sum of £lO/16/-, which he had obtained as a result of his false statements, at the rate of 5/- a week. Benjamin Bailey, who pleaded guilty to a similar charge, was convicted and ordered to pay costs. Charged with indecently assaulting a girl, 9| years, George Armitage, alias McLeod, alias McLean, cook and labourer, aged 41, was remanded until March 25. For being found on licensed premises after hours, Leonard Clifford Jacobsen was fined £1 and costs.