RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 40, 18 February 1881, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

This Dat. (Before Messrs. Edward Shaw, E.M., and J. Moore, J.P.) ALt.EOKD FALSE FBCTBNCKS. Ada Bell, on remand, appeared to answer six separate charges of having on different occasions, extending from April last to the present time, obtained, by means of certain false pretences, sundry goods, of the total value of about JBS, from various city tradesmen. Mr. Stafford defended. From the evidence for the prosecution, it appeared the prisoner visited the establishment of Mr. J. W. Kirby, Cuba-street, on th-; 14th iast.,and obtained from Misrffl. E. i Mitchison, an employe*, tiro straw bata, value 10a 3d, which she said she wanted for . "Mm. J. Williams, College-street." She

did not pay for them at the moment, but promised to bring the hats back if Mrs. Williams did not approve them. The prisoner failed to return, and it was subsequently ascertained that no Buoh person as Mrs. Williams resided in College-street. The hats were, however, recovered the following day. The evidence concluded, the Bench held that there could be no conviction in th« present case. The false pretences must evidently be that the prisoner induced Mr. Kirby's assistant to part with the goods by falsely representing that they would be paid for by someone else ; and it appeared the assistant had trusted partly to the girl's appearance and partly to some supposed householder. The present information must therefore be dismissed. Sergeant Anderson wanted to know who was to retain possession of the hats. Mr. Stafford— There need be no difficulty about the hats. The credit has been rescinded, and we give the hats back again. (Laughter.) The charge next entered into was one in which the prisoner was accused of obtaining a chemise and pair of drawers from Eleanor Jane Neville, on the 10th instant, by means of false representations. Bell, it was alleged, said the goods were for her mamma— Mrs. Williams— wholivedin Vivianatreet. fine took them away without paying for them, and being met in Vivian-street by Mrs. Neville next day, who demanded her good* back or their value, she pointed to a house where aha said her mother resided, and afterwards ran away. The story was soon proved to be false. The prisoner was convicted of the offence, sentence being deferred till the conclusion of the other cases. Bell was then charged with obtaining two pairs of ladies' boots and two pairs of children's boots, valne 30a, from John Lett, on the 2nd Deoember, by false pretences. The informant said he allowed the prisoner to have the goods on the strength that they would be paid for by her mamma— Mrs. Shewbridge, living at the corner of Cuba and Ingeetre streets. Two days passed, and the money not being forthcoming, Mrs. Shewbridge was interviewed, and that lady denied bavin? authorised the proceeding. In this case alto there was a oonviction. The prisoner was . then charged with having by the same means obtained two pairs o* boots and one pair of slippers, value £1 Us, from Lindsay and Watson on the 15th April last. His Worship pointed out that the law provided that an information for an offence to be dealt with summarily must be laid within six months of the committal of the alleged offence. The information was therefore withdrawn. On the information of John Birell, Bell was next charged with obtaining a ohild's pelisse and snnbonnet, value 14s, by representing that they were for the approbation of Mrs. Edward Smith, who lived in Courtenay Place. The evidence adduced did not justify the. Bench in convicting the prisoner, and the information was dismissed. The final charge against the prisoner was one in which Charles M'lntyre appealed as informant, Bell being charged with having on the 12th instant, obtained biscuits, Sweets, and gingerbeer, value Is 6d, by false representations. Molntyre deposed that the girl entered his shop on the day named and aaked him to tend "Mrs J. C. Cooper, on the terrace, £owt. of potatoes." At the same time she asked for the articles mentioned in the information. He concluded that Mrs. Cooper had instructed her to get the articles. On the potatoes being sent to Mrs. Cooper's house that lady denied any knowledge of the affair. His Worship said although there could be no distinction drawn in ethics or morals between this case and those in which the prisonor had been convicted there was a legal doubt as to a conviction, and he was inclined to give Bell the benefit of that doubt. The information was accordingly dismissed. Mr. Shaw enquired if the girl would like to make any explanation of her conduct. Mr. Stafford replied that although he suspected the motive he was unable to get any explanation' from her. If, howaver, the Court would afford him an opportunity of conferring with his client, he would feel very glad. His Worship was quite willing to grant suoh an opportunity, and wonld therefore remand the prisoner for sentence until to-morrow morning. He felt that the results following from causing a girl to herd with the collection of prostitutes and thieves who formed the bulk of the female prisoners at the Gaol, would be most disastrous. So far as he was aware, there was no attempted classification of the prisoners at that institution, bat he had communicated with Captain Hume, thS* Inspector of Prisons, on the subject, and a reply would doubtless be shortly received. The trade in store cattle between Ireland and Scotland is largely On the increase. Scottish farmers finding they can buy cheaper than they can breed. A report is current in Paris that two of the Imperial head cooks had been arrested on suspicion of having attempted to poison the Emperor of Bnisia.