POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 20320, 31 October 1929, Page 9

POLICE COURT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 81. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) OBSCENE LANGUAGE. Alexander M'Kinnon alias John Murphy, was charged with, using obscene language in the Early Settlers’ Hall while a dance was in progress, and also with behaving in a disorderly manner while drunk in the same place. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Sub-inspector Cummings said that th ©defendant was a steward on a vessel in port, and last night ho went to a dance in the Early Settlers’ Hall with some of has shipmates. Some of the men were admitted to the dance, but others, who were in liquor, were refused admittance. The defendant managed to get inside the hall, but behaved in a disorderly manner, and was ejected. In the hall he used the language complained of, and it was of a very disgusting nature. The master of his ship said ho was leaving to-day for Port Chalmers, thenc® to other ports, and there was some money due to the defendant. If a fine was imposed, he would see that it was paid. The Magistrate said that such conduct at a public dance must he checked, and defendant was liable to a term of imprisonment. However, it was undesirable that ho should be kept in the country, and a fine of £5, in default, one month’s imprisonment, would bo. imposed on the first charge, and a conviction entered on the second. FAILURE TO ACCOUNT. Stanley Arthur Thomas was charged with receiving divers sums of money amounting to £6 Is lOd on terms requiring him to pay same to the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, Ltd., and fraudulently omitting to do so, thereby committing theft. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Detective-sergeant Nuttall said that the accused was married, with a wife and child in Christchurch. He came to Dunedin, and was left stranded here. He obtained employment on September 30 as a canvasser for the Colonial Mutual Assurance Society, and was to pay in his collections weekly. A few weeks later he paid in £ll, leaving £4 4s 10s unpaid. The next morning he was called on for his books by the manager, and he handed them in, but failed to pay in the balance of the money. He was interviewed by Detective Lean yesterday, and made a clean breast of the matter. He also made a voluntary appearance in court. The accused said he had had very bad luck for the past two years ? and it seemed to have got the better of him. His Worship said he would remand the accused for a week to obtain a report from the probation officer. Accused was admitted to bail in bis own recognisance of £6O and one surety of £SO.