POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 18623, 2 May 1924, Page 6

POLICE COURT

Friday, May 2, (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) '•A GOOD SAMARITAN.” Charles George Wilson (Mr J. G. Stuart) pleaded guilty to drunkenness and to converting to his own use a motor car owned by Arthur Leonard Fox.—Seniorsertreant Mathieson said that at about 10.00 last night Fox reported that his car had been stolen from the rank. Later Wilson was found near Forbury road drunk, with a sailor on each arm. The car was damaged to the extent of ss.—Mr Stuart said that tho whole thing was capable of explanation. A sailor oft the Dunedin was in Wilson’s shop with a friend, when Le had a seizure. Wilson took him outside and put them in the nearest taxi. After blowing the horn several times, he drove off down to the boat. It was thought better not to take tho sailor aboard, however, and the car was run out to St. Clair.—The Magistrate: Do you suggest Wilson was acting the Good Samaritan? —Yes, sir, certainly; tho man was taken with a seizure.—The Magistrate remarked that drunken men often took seizures.—On the charge of drunkenness defendant was fined 20s and costs, and on the second charge the matter was adjourned till Monday, defendant in the meantime to make good tho damage to the satisfaction of tho owner of die car. EXCUSE NOT ACCEPTED. Arthur Albert Peterson was charged with the theft, on December 29 last, of a man’s bicycle, valued at £6, the property of Walter Gnlland. Tho accused was represented by Mr Sinclair, and pleaded not guilty. Walter Gnlland, a waterside worker, said that on December 29 bo loft his bicycle near Carroll’s store, in Frederick street, and when he came back twenty minutes later ho found that it had gone. Ho saw the machine on the. following day, it then being in the possession of a boy. Alfred Gnlland gave evidence as to having seen Peterson with the bicycle at the railway station on December 3(5, and also next day having seen a boy riding it.

Noah Ernest Ling stated that Peterson gave him the bicycle to look after. Constable Hayward said that ho interviewed accused at Waikouaiti on January 0 last. Accused stated that ho had purchased the bicycle from a. man in an hotel, who stated that he was ‘‘broke.” Ho described himself as a ‘‘marine dealer.” Detective Roycroft said that ho did not know accused as a dealer. Mr Sinclair said that, although the evidence would appear to be strong against the accused, it was quite possible that he had been the victim of a deception. The man had a good war record, and had had a hard struggle for some time past. The accused in evidence stated he had been accosted in the hotel by a “long, thin, hard-working follow,” who offered to sell him a bicycle. Accused said that he would give him a “ quid ” for it, but this was not. acceptable, to the seller, and eventually he obtained it, for 30s. The, Magistrate said that ho could not accept accused’s explanation. Sneakthieving was difficult, to detect, and those who were caught should be made an example of. Accused was fined £5 and costs, and ordered to pay witnesses’ expenses amounting to 30s. Default was fixed at fourteen clays, and accused was given three weeks in which to find the monev. A SERIOUS CHARGE, Time. Turnbull (Mr W. G. Hay) was charged with having unlawfully' carnally known a girl over twelve years and under sixteen years of age. After hearing the evidence of (he complainant the case was adjourned until 9.30 to-morrow morning. DRUNKENNESS. A first offender for drunkenness was fined 20s, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. AFTER HOURS. Martin Davis was charged with having been found on licensed premises after hours. Constable Parkhill stated that accused had been pushed out of the Metropole Hotel by the licensee's wife. Accused gave, as an excuse that he had gone to the hotel for the purpose ot going through to the bark. Accused, who made a. belated appearance in tho court, denied that he, went into the hotel for a drink. He was fined 10s and costs, and given a, week - to pay. BY-LAW BREACHES. Clifford .1, Wheeler, for riding a. motor cycle along Prime Albert road at a speed greater than ten miles an hour, was fined 40s, with costs (75).---The Senior Sergeant said that defendant wa.s going thirty miles an hour at least. The defendant admitted going twenty-seven (the throttle having jammed), and (ho magistrate suggested forty. Nathaniel Paterson, for leaving Ids motor ear unlighted, was fined 5s and costs (7s). Charles Same,el Hunt admitted leaving a motor car in King street without lights, and was fined 10s and costs.

John. Morrison, jun., who appeared voluntarily, pleaded guilty in a charge of having failed to display proper lights on his motor cycle, and was fined ss, without coots.

Jeffrey Bamolt, jun., was charged with having 'driven a motor car on the wrong side of tho street, and also with having driven a car without lights. Defendant pleaded guilty, and was fried 20s and costs on the first charge, and 5s and costs on the, second. Frank M‘Donnell admitted by letter that ha had failed to drive a milk cart as near as possible to tho near side footpath. Ho was lined ss. without costs. Arthur Geddes, for leaving encumbrances on the footpath in the form of bags of melons and cases, was fined 20s and costs (7t). UXRKG 1 STEII HD FI REA RAIS.

Joseph Hanna wuts fined 5s and costs for having an unregistered firearm an his possession, and the same amount for giving false information to the arms officer. Edward Victor Miles was similarly charged. Senior-sergeant Mathieson stated that the defendant had brought a rifle to the arms office to be registered, and it was discovered that ho had had tho weapon in his possession for two years. He was fined os and costs. MAIXTEXAN CE.' Robert Dennett was proceeded against for tlie breach of his maintenance order, made in respect to his children, tho total arrears on March 31 being £2B. Constable Parkhill said defendant spent his money on drink and racing. Ho admitted that one reason that made it impossible to keep up payments was the fact that he lost a great deal of money on horses at Christmas time. Bennett was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, the order to he suspended as long as he paid 2s 5d a week off the arrears, and kept up current payment of 255, per week.