POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 19274, 12 June 1926, Page 10

POLICE COURT

SATURDAY, JUNE 12. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) A WOMAN’S THEFT. Edith M'Morran was charged on remand with tho iholb of a pigskin purse valued at 5s and _£L Iss in money, the property of Nellie Gwen Ciouchman. There were also charges preferred against her of having been found on licensed premises during the currency of a prohibition order and having procured liquor from some person or persons unknown. Th® accused was found guilty on the first charge on Wednesday, and was remanded until this morning in order that a medical report could be obtained. Tbe Magistrate said there was nothing in the doctor’s report to indicate that the accused should not he sent to an institution. Tho best thing to do would be to sentence Tier to a term of reformative detention, but unfortunately be was unable to do so on tbe charges before him. Ho suggested that sire should be charged with the breach of her probation, and she could then bo brought up at Christchurch. lt A woman of her t\po, added Mr Bartholomew, “ would bo much better under prison discipline, as sbo would only bo troublesome in a home.” The accused was remanded until Tuesday in order that a charge may bo preferred against her in respect to a broach of the terms of her release on probation. EXPENSIVE COAL. William Henry Rumble pleaded guilty to tho theft of a quantity of coal valued at Is, tho property of tho Government Railways. The senior sergeant said that there had been complaints for some time ot coal being taken from the Frederick street siding. A watch was kept last evening, and accused was caught redhanded. He was a married man with four children. Accused stated that be bad had to borrow money in order to keep going. “I was pretty well down,” he added. He stated tiiat ho was working at present. Rumble was fined 20s, in default seven days’ imprisonment. A week was allowed in which to find tho amount. THEFT ADMITTED. Francis William Richard Barnett pleaded guilty to the theft of 8s from the premises of Edwin Oswald Reilly on June 8. Chief-detective Lewis said that Barnett was twenty years of age. While attending tho fire at Reilly’s produce mint the other night he was tempted to take some money which was lying there. There was a shortage of some fi6s from a drawer, and while inquiries were in progress he admitted that be had taken 8s from another drawer. It was on his own admission that the theft became known to tho police, for nothing was then known about the money missing from tho drawer from which Barnett had taken it. He had references which showed that he had previously been of good character. He had no counsel appearing for him, and ho (the chief detective) would like to mention that accused desired his name to be suppressed. The Probation Officer (Mr F. G. Gumming) said his conduct in the country previous to his arrival in Dunedin was excellent If he got a chance hia employers would keep him in their employ, but hero would be a difficulty if the name was published. lie was able to trace nothing else against the man. The Magistrate said the accused had excellent testimonials, and was very well spoken of in his present employment. It seemed to be a case of sudden temptatiou. Barnett would be fined £2, in default seven days’ imprisonment.