POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 18513, 21 December 1923, Page 4

POLICE COURT

Friday, December 21. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.MJ BIG SUM INVOLVED. Wilson Hodges was charged with thaij on various dates between December 19, 1909, and December 6, 1922, being tmstea under the will of the late George Hodges, Port Chalmers, medical practitioner, ha did, with intent to defraud, and in violation of his trust, convent to his own übs Hie sum of £2,569 Is Id, received or held by him on trust under the provisions ;( the said will. Detective Beer asked for a remand for a week, as there were witnesses to bo hoard from Invercargill and Port Chalmers. Accused had made a statement admitting the whole offence. Accused stated that he did not want bail, and was remanded until December 28. BENEFIT OF TEE DOUBT. Stewart P. Cameron pleaded not guilty to a charge of haring ridden his motor cycle on the wrong side of Hie intersection cf Princes and Rattray streets on November 8. The defendant in evidence stated that bo did not remember riding the cycle on that day, and ho did not think that he rodo it up Rattray street that week, as bo generally went homo along Stuart street. The Magistrate said that the- constable could not identify the rider of the cycle, and it was unfortunate that he had nob been stopped, so that there could bo no mistake. Under the circumstances the case would be dismissed. NOT REFORMED. Eupliomia Bushel! was charged with having on December 5 last stolen a £5 note and a, purse, valued at 2s 6cl, the property at Eva Forsyth. Detective Beer, who prosecuted, sa:d Hat the complainant went, into -iho kobc-V waiting room at. the Dunedin station mid placed he handbag on the mble. The purse dropped out of the bag, and the less was not noticed until complainant was K.>ir,t< distance away. The arV'ised and another ’-omig woman come into the room, end the latter drew no-used's attention lo the purse, and suggested Inking it :o the stri.liion master. Aceu-vd took the purse, and the two women went to the corner of (,'iwivborla.ud and Rari-wiy streets. Accused here tore up the unne and a railway ticket, and threw iliein away. She gave the oilier girl 9s 6d after getting the £5 note changed, and the girl proceeded to the station inader ami returned this, erphvin-

iri£ the circumstances. 'Mr I lav, lot accused, said Di.i.t she was marred, with one Mil!. I lor husband was in the country. It wan evidently a case o‘ sudden tcnnrfcMkm, and conn'd suggested that probation should be extended on terms that vw/u'U keep the woman from drink which was Il:e mein cause of her trouble.

Kusign Coombs said the woman had been on the down grade for the past six months, owing to nor drinking habits. Detective Beer added that drink was accused's downfall. Unfortunately when her husband was in town he, too, drank. Hia Worship said that accused hod liiVeady lia.d a year's reformative treetment. Apparently that had not. been eulhcient. He was doubtful whether probation should be extended, but he would give her .a chance. She would be placed on probation for a term of two years, conditions being that she took out a prohibition order for that terra, resided out of town, mid made restitution of £4 13s. An application for an order suppressing the name of accused was refused. MAINTENANCE CASES. William Edward Walker was charged with the disobedience of a maintenance order made in respect to bis two children in an institution. Defendant stated that he could not pay £2 a week. The Magistrate suggested that he should keep up the payments and make an application for a reduction to 30s per week, and the case was adjourned for a month on this understanding. Hugh Brown, charged with the disobedience of Iris maintenance order, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment In Mount Eden Gaol, to be released on the payment of the arrears (£2l 6s]. Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared for complainant.