POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 19639, 19 August 1927, Page 7

POLICE COURT

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19. (Before Mr 11. W. Bundle, S.M.) YOUNG WOMAN CONVICTED. Kathleen Fleming O'Connell appeared for sentence on a charge of theft, accused being represented by Mr 11. E. Barrowclough. Counsel staled that restitution bad been made. The Magistrate: The mother made a suggestion that the offence was committed owing to the physical condition of accused. Ho added that the report of Ensign Coombs was not a good_ one. Mr Barrowclough: She is the victim of circumstances. Ensign Coombs said she bad received rcv-al complaints about the young woman, who was the mother of live children. Accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within the next twelve months, on condition that she remained in the Mount Magdala Homo during that tin:.. 'flic magistrate asked that the child welfare officer report on the children. AFTER HOURS’ THIRST. Frederick George Cook did not appear in answer to a charge of having been found unlawfully in the Provincial Hotel after hours. Sergeant Turner said the man was under the influence of liquor, and would not leave when the licensee requested him to do so.—Defendant was fined 20s and costs. John Guyton and Alfred Patrick Moore were charged with having been found on tho Rugby Hotel premises after hours, defendants pleading guilty. Mr White, who appeared for Guyton, said his client had “ blundered ” into the hotel to get a bed, but the licensee told him to go away. Tho Sub-inspector explained that the information had been given to the police by Moore’s wife, who smy defendant going into the hotel. The liquor found on defendants had not been purchased on the premises. A fine of 30s and costs was inflicted in each case. George Harris, who was also found on the Provincial Hotel premises after hours, was fined 30.3 and costs. Sergeant Turner said accused admitted that he went, into the hotel to obtain liquor, but he had not been successful in his quest. A DRINK A DAY. Matthew Fox pleaded guilty to procuring liquor while prohibited. Sub-inspector Fahey said the wife had called the police,to the home. The wife complained that defendant had been using bad language before the children. Defendant said his wife had taken out the order. The Magistrate: Why are yoir not keeping it? “ I like a drink after my work,” replied Fox. The Magistrate: Apparently yon like more than one. You understand clearly what will happen to you. if you break your order yon will bo sent to Roto Ron, where it won’t be a case of getting a drink a day. Y*ou won’t got one for a year. .‘t tbo defendant has a family of eight children, be was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within three months if called upon. lINLIGHTED CARS. Maurice Collins was fined IDs and costs for driving a car without a light. Charles hi. Grccnsladc, on a similar charge, was fined a like amount, and diaries Leonard Piner us. UNATTENDED CARS. Wilfred Lawson Broad was fined us and costs for leaving a car unattended in the street. A similar penalty was meted out to Mary Isabel Giendinning. SURETIES WANTED. Alleging, that her neighbor had used insulting language and bad thrown rubbish into the backyard, Elizabeth Stevenson (Mr Hanlon) proceeded against Elizabeth Currie for sureties of the peace. Constable Meikeljohn said defendant admitted annoying complainant, and stated that she would continue to do so. Sho had encouraged her two children to insult complainant. The case was adjourned until Monday, the Magistrate slating Unit a warrant would be issued to compel defendant’s appearance. SPEEDING IN GEORGE STREET. Robert Dick Bain pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a motor car in a manner dangerous to the public. Tho police stated that defendant raced at forty niiJcs an hour along St. Andrew street. Defendant, said ho was only travelling at fifteen miles an hoar. “ 1 wouldn’t be absolutely certain about it,” added defendant, “because the speedometer is out of order.” The Magistrate; If you wore travelling at only fifteen miles an hour you can hardly plead guilty. Constable Beckwith considered that defendant was travelling at forty miles an hour. Another witness gave corroborative evidence as to the speed, stating that be had nut scon a car going at a faster speed in George street. The Magistrate said lie had no doubt that defendant was travelling at an excessive speed. A fine of 40s, with 20s witness's expenses, and 10s court costs, was imposed. BREAKING AND ENTERING. Christopher James Malachi Reekie was charged with breaking and entering the dwelling of Alfred Clark, and stealing goods to the value of £2O. Mr Thompson appeared for accused, who pleaded guilty. Alfred Clark, an auctioneer, said that on June 11 last witness and Ids wife weut on a holiday, securely locking up tho home before going away. On returning on July 29 he found a number of articles missing. Property to tlie value of between £9 and £lO was still unaccounted for. Defendant lived in the vicinity of witness’s place. Accused came from a good family, and lie was surprised that lie had got into trouble. Dorothy May Clark, daughter of the previous witness, said that when sho visited her home on July 9 she noticed that a window pane had been broken and tho glass swept under the bed Several cupboards had been opened and tho contents disturbed, and sho reported the matter to the police. Constable Jcnvey said he found that tho opera glasses and case of spoons had been pawned under the name of “ C. Reekie ” for 12s. Accused, in a statement, said he had been out of work for some time. Half the money obtained from the pawn office had been handed over to his mother. He admitted having burnt some of the property and having sold a suit for 255. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, bail being allowed in self of £SO and one surety of £SO, a condition being made that accused reported daily to tho police. The Magistrate said bo hoped the police had given due consideration to the position before deciding to make the charge one of breaking and entering instead of ordinary theft. He quite appreciated the difficulties of the police in the matter. The Chief Detective said full consideration had been given the matter. A THIRSTY YOUTH. Frederick *karrhy pleaded guilty to a charge of being found unlawfully on licensed premises. Defendant said he was eighteen years of ago, and was not working at present. “If you are not doing anything you should keep away from hotels,” said Mr Bundle. Sub-inspector Fahey said Harrhy had been leading a vagrant’s life, hut, he understood, was going to a job tomorrow. A fine of 20s and coats was imposed.

MOTORING OFFENCES. John Herbert Granville Jones, charged with having driven a car in a manner dangerous to the public, gave as tin excuse that ho had boon to the all-night dispensary. A lino of 20s and costs was imposed. Alexander Hugh Scott was fined 20s and costs lor crossing the intersection of Surrey street and Cargill road without giving the right-01-way. Instead of travelling to tho intersection and turning George William Albert Agar (Christchurch) backed out Horn ill© side'of tho street into a lorry. He was lined 5s and costs. William Wallace Knox (Mr Fairmaid) pleaded not guilty to a charge of having failed to give way at a. street intersection to a bus approaching from his right. Sergeant I Scull on said lie noticed a crowd of people round a motor lorry in Cumberland street on the. evening of July 14. A bus near by had been damaged. Knox, the driver of the lorry, would not make any statement. Goorgo Douglas Hope, owner' of the bus, said lie was travelling very slowly when the collision took place. If the defendant had given way to him there would have been no collision.

(Proceeding.)