THE COURTS-TODAY

Evening Star, Issue 16611, 19 December 1917, Page 6

THE COURTS-TODAY

CITY POLICE COERT. (Before M. A. Young, Esq.. S.M.) Theft.—Jc.Nsio Good was charged with stealing £3 in money and a quantity of jewellery of the total value of £y ■ls !xl. the property of Eva May 'Jik-->v She was also charged with stealing two gold rings, valued at £2 7s, the" property of Dawson.s. Ltd. Mr Han lon appear.d for accused, who pleaded guilty. Chiei'-detectivj ttishop said | that accusal went into a private room in tin- iiodega Tea Rooms, and there stole a bag containing the money and jewellery. hj r.as a deliberate 'theft, the bag was hidden behind a coat, and she iuid to reiuDvr- tho coat to find the bag. Der-em-e Hall was given a description of accused, and. following her, he saw her g., nito a shop ar.d pawn the jewellery. Tire two rings were taken from a stand in Dawsons' shop. ..censed was a married woman. Iter imshar.d was at the front.—.Mr Han lon said that unfortunately this was a ces" whore tiio woman had exceedingly bad health. Hor husbr.nd was at the front, but some time before ho loft he was a :;ouree of givat worry to her owing to liis _. state of iiea.lt!!. Accused had two little r-hildriMi. She was suffering from a serious internal complaint, ami was subject to severe attacks, which she relieved by taking spirits. On the dav

ol tlio tnrfts she took soaio spirits, suit! did not know what she was doing.- ' His \Vor.'-iiir> said that the Probation j OihcrM-'s report bore out what had been j said by counsel. The wonian had v hard and distressing life.. Tko only reason tor this lapse .seemed to be that she hud taken some drink, and that h'>r | nervous system was unstable. She I would be convicted and ordered to romp I up for sentence when called upon on ] condition that she refunded £6 His and was of good behaviour and abstained I Irom taking alcoholic liquor. The Defence Act—Cecil 13. Blackmore, a Cadet, charged with failing to render personal service, was fined £1 and costs (7s). Prohibited—William John Bloxham, a. prohibited person, for whom Mr Sourr

appeared, pleaded guilty to procuring liquor, and was convicted and discharged. By-law Cases.—David 3hir.ro, charged with driving a mo tor lorry at a- greater speed than tour miles an hour while crossing the intersection of Cumberland street with Stuart street, was fined l'Os and costs (7s). For driving a. motor car in St. Kilda at a dangerous to tlio public, Alexander M'Kinlav was lined 30s and costs (7sl. Stuart Forbes Williams, ior driving a motor cycle in George street at :i rate faster than a reasonable snoed, was lined 10s and costs (7s). Alexander Smaill, charged with driving a motor car on the wrong side of Bat tray street, was defended by Mr Irwin.—Counsel said that defendant v.e.- going sbv.viy when turning from Princes street into .Rattray street, ana took n reasonable sweep round. lie worn oloso to two constables who were standing on the corner.—Defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs (7s). For a ! similar oli'er.ee .James Smith was iined I £2 and fords (7s). Edward Waldron (Mr llanlon) was charged under tho St. Kilda Borojigh by-laws with failing to comply with the reasonable directions of the police regarding the regulation of irariic.—The Sub-inspector said that on JVcomb.-M- 1 (the day of the trots) Sergeant Hodgson appointed a i temporary stand for vehicles clear of ' I the main gate of the course. IVj lendant relused to occupy this stand | when ordered.—Alter the police evij donee had l>,-e ;; Mr Hanlon j pointed out that Uie spot where deh'nuant'.s ear was standing was part of she appointed stand.—'Die Sub-iuspr.-ior admitted this, and asked per-mis-ion to withdraw the charge., which was gran led. -A similar charge against .Michael Thomas Hall (Mr •. Irwin) was also withdrawn. JOdward I Biidilicornb. similarly charged, was fined '2os _ and costs (7s), the Magistrate stating that it was quite clear defendant, had not complied with the reasonable request of the police. "William. Griffiths, lor allowing two horses to wander in South Dunodin. was lined ."is and costs.

Maintenance.—The police applied for an order against Richard .Joseph Coughlan for the maintenance of his child, an inmate of an industrial school. —Mr Moore said defendant would consent to an order for 10s por week. An order had previously been made in favor of tho wife while she had the child, and arrears amounting, to £ll 10s had accumulated. Defendant asked for cancellation of the present order and of the payment of arrears.—The application for cancellation of the order was adjourned sine die, pending payment of arrears by instalments. On payment of these arrears the order would be cancelled.