POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 20375, 6 January 1930, Page 10

POLICE COURT

MONDAY, JANUARY 6,

(Before Mr 11. W. Bundle, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Appearing on remand on a drunkenness charge, Thomas Henry Riddle, a statutory first offender, was fined 14s, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. IDLE AND DISORDERLY. Robert Wallace Turpis was charged with being idle and disorderly, in that he had insufficient lawful means of support. Tho defendant had been remanded from Saturday for the purpose of allowing the probation officer to submit a report. After reading the report, which stated that the defendant might prove amenable to control, His Worship said that he would follow the advice of Mr Garhutt, and would not propose to enter a conviction. The case would be adjourned for twelve months, the defendant to be under the supervision of tho probation officer, to whom he would report as the officer ordered. Mr Garhutt would also have control over his choice of companions. ASKED TO BE LOCKED UP. John Gordon Scoullar was charged with being an idle and disorderly person, in that he had insufficient lawful visible means of support. Ho pleaded guilty. Senior-sergeant Quartermain said that, in company with another man, tho defendant-walked into the police station and asked to be locked up. He had been drinking methylated spirits, and asked to be sent to tho island. He was a returned : soldier, _ and had been - wounded. > For some time he had had a pension, but it had now stopped. He left 1 the island on Christmas Eve, and wished to return there. Mr J. “White, secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, said that there might bo a chance of getting a small pension for him on account of an injured finger. He could not hold out any. great hope of employment. Remanded in custody for a week. A FRIEND’S CAR. • • Jonathan Alexander. M’Millan, for whom Mr Neill appeared, pleaded not guilty to converting to his own use, but not so as to he guilty of theft, a motor car, valued at £IOO, the property of Frank Adam Hunter. Ho was also charged with driving a car without- a license. In answer to this charge counsel said that the accused had had a license for ten years, but had not renewed it last year. Frank Adam Hunter, clerk, residing at; 57- Park terrace, said that on Saturday night he parked his car in Cumberland street while he attended a dance in the Early Settlers’ Hall. When ho returned for the car at midnight it was gone.

To Mr Neill; The accused and he were more or less mates, and if he had known who had taken the car no complaint would have been laid. The ■watchhouse keeper at the police station had told him/that if tho car was found, and that if it happened to_ be M'Millan who had taken it 'everything would he all right. Later ho heard that the accused was at the station making a statement, and he was surprised to learn that he had been _ put in gaol. The watchhouse keeper said the accused was drunk.

To the senior sergeant: He was aware that the car had been damaged .in;.a.collision. -

The Senior Sergeant stated that lie had been taken by surprise by the development the-case had-taken, and he thought it only right that it should stand down until the evidence of the constable in tho .watchhouse was heard. This was agreed to by tho magistrate. Constable Todd .said that the complainant said that if his friend had taken the car he would not like him charged, but he mentioned no names whatever. The defendant was not in a fit condition to drive a car. ••Mr Neill submitted that there was no case to answer with regard to the major charge, and in this he was upheld by the magistrate, the charge being dismissed. On the charge of driving without a license a fine of 10s was imposed. THEFT OF MONEY. James Bruce Christie Oldham appeared on remand on a charge, of stealEiectrojux. Ltd. ■: After the report of the probation officer had been submitted the accused was admitted to probation for a period of eighteen months. MAINTENANCE. Leslie Herbert Howe was charged with the disobedience of a maintenance order,, the arrears amounting to £7, — The defendant, who did not appear, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, to be released on payment of arrears SEPARATION ORDER MARE.

John James Jarvis pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness and also to a breach of a prohibition order. He was also proceeded against by his wife, who asked for a separation order on the grounds of his failure to maintain her. his persistent cruelty, and that he was an habitual' inebriate.—Mr Baylee appeared for the complainant.—-After hearing evidence the orders asked for were made, maintenance being fixed at £3 a week.—On the charges of drunkenness and breach of his order he was convicted and discharged.