POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 20721, 18 February 1931, Page 2

POLICE COURT

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 38. (Before Mr J. 11. Bartholomew, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Thomas Edward Thompson appeared for sentence on a charge of drunkenness, and also of procuring liquor while prohibited. He was convicted and discharged on both charges, and ordered to pay medical expenses amounting to 10s 6d. John M'Swecney, a statutory first offender, was fined 10s, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. SENT TO BORSTAL. John Hugh M'Quilker appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing a man’s bicycle valued at £6, the property of Gordon Thomas Knowles. The accused said he took the cycle for tho purpose of getting out into the country to look for work. Chief-detective Cameron said the accused was a youth who had been wandering about the country for some year* earning his own living. He did not appear to be amenable to discipline. The Magistrate said that the life the youth had been leading was of no use to him, and the best course would be a period in the Borstal. He would be sentenced to two years in the Borstal CHARGES OF THEFT. Robert Allister M'Donald and David Stewart appeared for sentence on a charge of breaking and entering at Civile hv night, the shop of Edward John O’Reilly, and stealing cigarettes, tobacco, and cigarette papers of a total value of £3 18s 7d. They were repre-i seated by Mr G. M. Lloyd. Chief-detective Cameron said the two lads were seventeen and a-half years of age, and had been living with their parents at Milton. Some little time ago they left home to go in search of work, which they found in the Clyde district, fruit-picking in the same orchard. On the night of February 7 they were in the Clyde township. After the billiard saloon had closed they formed the idea of breaking into the shop which was attached to tho saloon. They went round to the back and broke into the saloon, and then forced their way into tho shop. They forced tho till from under the counter, and there were twelve pennies in it. They also took a quantity of cigarettes and tobacco. They subsequently^threw the till into the river, and hid the tobacco on tho river bank. Later when seen by Detective Roycroft and , Constable O’Connell they admitted tho offence, and took the detective to where they had the tobacco planted. It had been recovered in good condition. Damage to the extent of £3 5s had been caused to tho till, and the shilling in coppers and a postal note for Is 6d had not been recovered. Regarding M'Donald, he seemed to be amenable to discipline, although his people said ho was a little headstrong. _ Stewart came from Scotland with his people about six years ago, and was of a dour, determined type. His father tried to urge him to go with him for tho time being if he was given the opportunity, so that he could exercise some control over him, but the boy refused to do anything the father suggested. His Worship remarked that it would be futile to send a charge of that nature on to the Supreme Court, and he would reduce it to one of theft. To that' charge both boys pleaded guilty. Mr Lloyd said he would not like to think that the crime which the boj-s had committed was anything more than mischief, ana after listening to their stories ho was convinced that that was so. He suggested that the boys might he given a final chance, as he thought that they had learned their lesson. M‘Donald was quite amenable to discipline, but he was at a loss to know what to suggest in the case of Stewart unless he was willing to go with his father.

Stewart was remanded till Saturday to enable the probation officer to furnish a report. M'Donald was placed on probation for two years, and was ordered to make good £2 of the damage caused to the premises.