POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 18145, 8 December 1922, Page 5

POLICE COURT

Friday, December 8. (Before Air H. W. Bundle, S.M.) THEFT OF BICYCLE PARTS. Albert Louis Clack was charged with the theft, at Dunedin on November 6 last, of on© pair of bicycle handle bars, vahied nt 15s, the property of James St. Clair Dobbin. The accused, who pleaded guilty, was represented by Air Irwin. Chief-detective Bishop said that accused had been a tram conductor, and had taken the handle bars from a bicycle stored in the tram shed. The complainant missed the handle bars and reported tho matter to the detectives, it was found that accused 1 had substituted anotherpaiirfoir the ones ho had taken. —Air Irwin said' that accused' admitted thc_facts, hut he did not think that -accused really wanted to take the property. Accused had a wife and child to support, and as the result of the offence accused' had lost his employment. Air Irwin said- that under the special circumstances of the case accused’s name should not he published.—The Magistrate said that evidently -accused had a loose idea about the value of property. Ho, however, did not think that he was warranted in ordering the suppression of accused’s name. Clack was convicted and ordered! to come up for sentence when called upon. Ho was also ordered 1 to pay 10s costs.

OBSCENE LANGUAGE. William Freeman pleaded- guilty to using obscene language on November 18.—Mr J. B. Calkin appcare-i./ for the accused.— Senior-sergeant Mathicson said l that the language complained of was used by accused while he was leaving a tramcar. in which were a number of ladies. —Air Caban said that tho accused's -lapse was due to drink; otherwise he was a -hard-working, honest man.—Senior-sergeant Mathicson said that owing to accused’’® drinking habiis the wife and children had to bo helped bv the Charitable Aid Board. The Magistrate advised tho accused to take out a prohibition order, which he did’, and was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called- upon any time betore Alay 25, 1925. THEFT. David Johnston Gunning pleaded guilty to stealing a leather brief bag, containing articles to the value of £3, the property ol a person unknown. —Constable- Hamilton said that -when he arrested the accused he found him in possession- of a _ dangerous weapon, consisting of a bent piece of gas pipe in a stocking.—Senior-sergeant Mathicson said! that accused! was a waster, and his wife had to support the children. —Accused was convicted of theft._ and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, and at the end of that term a further period of two years’ reformative treatment.

THREATENING BEHAVIOUR.

John Sullivan and Thomas Alorris were jointly charged) with using threatening behaviour in Cumberland street yesterday afternoon.—Both pleaded guilty under provocation. —Senior-sergeant Alathieson said that about 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon the two accused were seen fighting near the Terminus Hotel, but on the approach of the police they separated and ran away. —The first accused called’ a witness named Al-atthew Wishart, who said that ho and Sullivan were talking about Prohibition, when Alonris came along, and after a few words struck Sullivan, who naturally defended himself. —Tho Magistrate said that they should have gone down to the wharf or somewhere and settled their dispute quietly. Each accused! would be fined 20s, in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. UNREGISTERED FIREARAI. Charles Hunter Brook (Air Moore) was fined 5s and costs for having an; unregistered firearm in his possession.—The Alagistrate said that he would not make an order for the forfeiture of the pistol. BY-LAW OFFENCES. Neil O’Connor, for leaving a motor car in Moray place at night without lights, was fined 6s and costs. Clifford M‘ln tyre was fined 10s, with costs (7s), for carrying a passenger on tho back of his motor cycle. FAILING TO MAINTAIN. Frederick Tud'or Williams was proceeded against in respect to the breach of a maintenance order providing for the support of his illegitimate child.—Air Irwin, who appeared for complainant, said that defendant never paid until a summons was issued. Williams was a single man, and had l been, rabbiting all the winter.—The Alagistrate sentenced defendant to three weeks’ imprisonment, to bo released on the payment of arrears and costs (£1 Is).