POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 19711, 11 November 1927, Page 6

POLICE COURT

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11

(Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.)

WATERSIDER SENTENCED

‘‘Thefts of this kind are extremely difficult to detect,” said the magistrate when a watersider, John George Murray, appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing goods valued at 4s, the property of the United States Shipping Board. The magistrate added that he could not overlook the fact that a considerable amount of cargo was stolen during the course of the year, the thieves seldom being punished, and for that reason ho would have to impose a term of imprisonment upon the accused. Chiof-dctectivc Cameron said that the accused had been employed with a number of other workers unloading cargo from the West Nivaria. The chief officer kept an eye on the workmen ,as they wore leaving the hold, and noticing the accused’s clothes bulging the latter was questioned on the matter, wdth the result that the chief officer found two packets of raisins and five tins of fish concealed under his clothes. The chief officer said that the cases had been quite intact when the ship left Timaru, and that they must have been broken into at Dunedin. From the case containing tho raisins 19 further packets were missing, and there seemed no doubt others had been helping themselves as well.

The Chief Detective pointed out that theft from ships in this way was not the same as ordinary cases of theft. He referred to the fact that one ship which discharged cargo at Dunedin had had to pay a claim of over £3OO for pillaged cargo.

That the accused had had a good deal of misfortune during the last two*years and had been feeling the pinch were advanced by Mr W. C. Hay (who appeared for the accused) in extenuation of the offence, and counsel said that the accused, who was 53 years of age, had hitherto borne an unimpeachable character, and had been employed on the wharves for lo years. Evidence was given as to tho accused’s previous good character, and after making the remarks set out above the magistrate sentenced him to 14 days’ imprisonment. BACK TO ROTO-ROA. James Robertson, whom the sub-in-spector said had already been for a period on Roto-roa, was charged with drunkenness.—Defendant’s father gave evidneco that his son was still an habitual inebriate, and the latter was reconvicted to tho island for a period not exceeding two years. AFTER HOURS. John Wilson and Lachlan Jamieson, charged with being found on licensed premises after hours, did not appear, and were each fined 20s and costs. CYCLISTS FINED. Stanley Burtenshaw, who was charged with holding on to a motor vehicle for the purpose of being drawn along, was fined 5s and costs. Eric Culling, for riding a bicyclo-at night without a light, was fined 5s and NOXIOUS WEEDS ACT. J. D. M'Curdy, who was charged with failing to clear his land of gorsc, was fined 10s and costs, the inspector stating that the work had now been satisfactorily completed. MAINTENANCE. Hector M'Kcllar Fraser was proceeded against in a complaint for maintenance in respect of a destitute relative (a brother). —This matter had been partly heard on a previous occasion, and J.hc Magistrate now made an order for 5s a week. Mr J. B. Thomson was lor the complainant and Mr A. G. Neil for tho defendant. LICE-INFECTED SHEEP. William Paccy, charged with exposing licc-infected sheep for sale at Burnside, pleaded guilty, and stated that the offence was due to ignorance.—Inspector Fountain said the defendant was a now sheep owner, and he believed tho statement that the offence was duo to ignorance.—Defendant was fined 20s and costs. CHARGE WITHDRAWN.

“ I found a ticket in my car, and took it as a warning to get out, and I got out. But along came the summons.” Alfred G. Neil, charged with having left his motor ear unattended for longer than 15 minutes, pleaded that this was the first prosecution respecting the area in Burlington street. He had spoken to the inspector about it, and asked that, if there was any suggesiou of his breaking the by-law ho would be “ given the tip.” But the tip never came, only the ticket—and the summons.—Mr M'Nicoll said defendant’s car had been left for an hour and 20 minutes, but ho was willing to withdraw the charge.—This was done, and defendant promised solemnly not to again infringe the by-law. CUTTING CORNER.

William Henry Baxter, a motorist, was charged with cutting the corner of Stuart street and Moray place, and was fined 10s and costs. SPEEDING CYCLIST.

John Boardman pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving a motor cycle at a speed dangerous to the public.—lnspector Mann said . defendant drove along Hanover street and across Anzac avenue at 43 miles an hour. The previous night defendant had been followed and found to he driving at 40 miles an hour.—Defendant doubted the speed mentioned, but the Inspector said he had a speedometer on his own cycle, and it registered 43 miles an hour.—Defendant was fined 40a and costs. OTHER MOTOR CHARGES. Two charges of being in charge of an unlighted motor cycle at night were preferred against Richard Johnston, who was fined 5s costs on each charge. A charge of riding a motor cycle at night without a light cost Thomas Prentice M'Millan a fine of 10s and costs. For leaving motor vehicles unattended for longer than 15 minutes the following defendants were each fined 5s and costs:-—John B. Thomson, James A. Arthur, Louis Curtis, F. Duthie, Edward T. G. Falconer, Arthur F. Jones, William D. G. Hartley, Thomas W. King, Henry F. Nees, Sydney H. Poole, Geoffrey Porter, Thomas E. Sagar. Donald R. Henderson pleaded not guilty to leaving his ear entirely unattended for longer than 15 minutes, and said that he had been moving backwards and forwards to his car during the time it was supposed to have been left unattended.—Traffic Inspector Watson said that the car had been left in Moray place for a period of 95 minutes.—ln further evidence defendant said he was under the impression that the place where lie had left the car was a parking area.—Defendant was fined 5s and costs Maurice Smith, for driving a motor car without lights, was fined 5s and costs Norman Smith, for driving a motor cycle without a silencer, was fined 20s and costs. Charged with passing a stationary tramcar, a motorist, John Henry Gilbert, was fined 20s and costs. CASES ADJOURNED. John W. Watkins (Mr B. S. Irwinl pleaded not guilty to leaving a motor car unattended in Moray place for longer than 15 minutes, Mr Irwin said that it was admitted that the car was left in Moray place, but it would have to be proved that tho place was not a parking area. There was nothing to indicate where the parking area finished. Without the notice there the defendant had really been trapped. Tho Magistrate said that he would adjourn the case until the afternoon to enable him to inspect the area. j Similar charges against Edward A. Duncan, William D. I). Allan, Dong as Ness, and Michael Y. Hayes were also adjourned until .the afternoon.