THE C0URTS-TO-DAY

Evening Star, Issue 14554, 1 May 1911, Page 4

THE COURTS-TO-DAY

CITY POLICE COURT. (Before J. R. Bartholomew, Esq., S.M.) Drunkenness.—A first oggnder was fined 10s, or forty-eight hours' imprisonment. A Foolish Theft.—Charles Robert Pacy and John Henry Gill were charged with stealing a candlestick and vase, valued at 4s, tho property of Thomas Arkley Messenger. Tho accused pleaded guilty.— Chief-detective Herbert said that the accused wero passengers by the Mokoia on their way to Melbourne, and while here they met a man whom they know, and he took them to a. friend's house. On leaving tlic house they stole the articles mentioned, On hoaxing that the police wore on their track the--accused planted tho things, but on being interviewed by Detective Thompson they lianded them over to him. ft was a very foolish theft, and the men had now missed their passage.—His Worship fined each of them 20s and ccets, or seven days' imprisonment. A Prohibited Person.—Francis lulward Tohin, a prohibited person, was charged with boiug found on licensed premises.—Mr Scurr appeared for the defendant, who was fined 5s and costs. House No. 93.—-Gilbert James Dunwoodio was charged with being an idle and disorderly person, having insufficient lawful means' of support. He was also eliargcd with being an idle and disorderly person in that he consorted with undesirables. Mr B. R. Irwin defended.—Sub-inspector Cruickshank said that from complaints received about the conduct of a house, No. 93. Hanover street, the police liad kept it under observation. The evidence, would disclose the class of house it was. He would prove that accused and another man named Humphrey, who would also be charged, had been living in that house during the last three weeks, and that women of the undesirable class frequented the place; On tho 27th of last month accused was found in the house. The neighborhood had been seriously disturbed by drunken orgies in this particular place. Kinco accused was before the Court on Friday ho was found in the house of a convicted thief.—Evidence was given by Isabella Jolly (who said that accused saw her yesterday' and asked her not to say anything against him), George Liddle (who said that ho asked accused to leave his house several times, but ho would not go), Constable Hall, and Sergeant Fecks. Tho last-named -witness said that since finding accused in tho house in Hanover street ho found him on Saturday and Sunday nights in the house of a convicted thief. Accused was a prohibited person, drink being his downfall. Ho had no doubt that Humphrey had some influence over him. Up to three weeks ago he was in constant work. To Mr Irwin : Others would live on accused if he had anv money. Ho was a bit soft that wav.—Mr Irwin said that in regard to* the first charge, accused up to threo weeks ago was in the employ of a cabinetmaker, and was in receipt of £3 a week. Ho was a very good tradesman, and his billet was still open to him. Ho was the son of respectable parents, but unfortunately he had taken to drink. Some timo ago he married, and pi-o- ---| codings wero pending in the Supremo Court for a divorce, Dunwoodio being the petitioner.—His Woiihip: Tho jietitioner?— Mr Irwin : Yes. That seemed to have upset him more or less, and he had again given way to drink. When ho left work and got on this drinking expedition ho had £ls, which had gone to satisfy the thirst of tho peoplo in the houso in Hanover street. He was not wanted in the house when his money was finished. It was not suggested that accused was a criminal. Ju regard to the second charge, counsel contended that it was straining tlie Act to suggest that he habitualy consorted with undesirables of the class in question. Tho whole of his escapades only lasted threo weeks.—Accused said that he spent all his money in keeping tho houso in food and drink. Humphreys was an old school mate of hii-. To the sub-insepctor: The police put him out of the house on tho 16th of hjft month. He returned for his clothes, but ho did not take them away. —Albert J. Butteriield, chair manufacturer, said that accused could liave been in work now if lie had come to hw factory. Drink was tho cause of the young man's trouble. Witness thought that for accused's own i-ako itwould bo. a good thing for him to loavo Dunedin. Ho was weak-minded.—His Worship said that the firet charge would be dismissed. The other charge—that of consorting—was completely established by the evidence.—ilr Irwin then suggested that accused should be given a. chiuico of making n in sh s:<vrt elsewhere.—His Worship said it appeared that the young man had never been in gaol. Ho would givo him a final chance. Ho would bo convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon any .timo within tho next >ix months. Ho warned him that if ho dra.uk or went near the same kind of peoplo again he would bo brought up [or sentence. — George Henry Humphrey was cliarged with being an idle and disorderly person having insufficient lawful means of support. Accused, who had been on bail, showed signs of having, been drinking as he entered the dock. —.Mr Irwin L-aid that ho appeared for accused, instructed by a fi-iend of his. He (lid not wiflh to injure tho man's cas-j in any way. but ho thought it hardly fair to his friend, who mjs paying for his defence, that- accused should conio to court in such a condition that he vac not fit to plead. Counsel did not intend to appear in the ease.—The Sub-inspector: I 6aw him walk into tho dock, and 1 don't think he is in a state to realiije tho nature of tho charge.— His Worship (to accused): What do you iiient by coming into court in that condition?— Accused made a rumbling statement about not being in a position to speak, and he looked it.—His Worship: I will remand him in custody for a week. That will give him time to realise his position. Constable Sweenr-y f!ien removed him to the lockup. Theft o! a Bicycle.—John Holland and William John Qun-n wero charged with stealing a bicycle valued at £5, the property of Hymaii James Isaacs. —Mr A. f>. Adams' appeared for Holland and Mr ]'. S. Irwin for Quan. —The Sub-inspector said that on ihe 24th of last month the accrued called at the shop of Mr Isaacs, second-hand dealer in Castle street, and sold to him a, small handbag for Is 6d. On their leaving the shop the bicycle was mi'ised, and Constable Dunford found them with it Jatcr.—The complainant said that Holland wanted to sell him the handbag, but ho would not deal with him—he was 100 drunk. He bought it from Qua.ii. Witness, as a dealer, paid 30s for the bicycle. He heard Holland, when arrested, tell the other accused to tell the truth about the bicycle.—Constable Dunford said Holland told him that Quail told him that it was his bicycle. Quan said he knew nothing about it. On the way to the Police Station Holland said to Quan: " Thero is no use of you putting it on to me. You had better tell tho truth about it."—Mr Adams asked that Holland should bo treated summarily, but His Worship said that ho could not see his way to separate tho offenders. Ho would leave it to a jury. The accused then reserved their defence, and were committed for trial, bail boing allowed in their own recognisance of £SO and two sureties of £25 each.