MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 82, 16 October 1928, Page 11

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Police cases in the Magistrate's Court to-day were dealt with by Mr. E. Page, S.M. A second offender for drunkenness, Michael Crowley, was fined 10s; and on a second charge of wilfully damaging a cell utensil he was ordered to make good the damage (12s 6d), in default seven days' imprisonment. Said by his counsel to have succumbed to a sudden temptation, William Ernest Gordon Bate, a draper, aged 27, pleaded guilty to the theft of £3 from Charles Dickinson and Co., Ltd. Chief-Detective Ward stated that yesterday about midday accused went into the office of. a land agent in the city to see a friend, and while there saw £3 in a drawer, and later, when alone, stole the money. When arrested the accused had £2 10s 'in his possession, and said "that he had spent the other 10s. Counsel for the accused (Mr. A. J. Mazengarb) said that the accused had been totally out of work for the past month, and on and off for the previous two months. He had been much worried about his wife, from whom lie was separated, and when he saw the money succumbed to temptation. When arrested by^ the police accused was seated in the office of the firm awaiting the return of tho_ principal in order to refund the remainder of the money. He had spent 10s in paying a debt. Mr. Mazengarb thought that a fine would meet the case. Chief-Detective Ward said that when arrested the accused had at first denied the offence,' but had later admitted it. He had no previous convictions for theft. Tho Magistrate imposed a sentence of one month's imprisonment. At.tho Mount Cook Police Court yesterday, before Mr. W. H. Coy, J.P., one first offender for drunkenness was convicted and discharged. William Cox, a third offender for drunkenness, f was fined 10s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, and William Gordon, also a third offender for drunkenness, was convicted and discharged. George Meikle, a second offender for drunkenness, was fined 10s, in default 24 hours' imprisonment. A third offender for drunkenness, Wilr liimi, Joseph Osborne, was fined 10s by Mr. G. Anyon, J.P., at the Mount Cook Police Court this morning.