POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 22087, 22 July 1935, Page 8

POLICE COURT

MONDAY, JULY 22. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.). DRUNKENNESS. A first offender was fined 10s, in default' 24 hours’ imprisonment. ADMITTED TO PROBATION. When Robert Leslie Bowles appeared for sentence on two charges of theft from unoccupied houses he faced a further charge of the theft of 11 gramophone records, valued at £1 13s, the property of the Otago Education Board. He pleaded guilty. Chief 'elective ' ig said the additional c ’.urge r; ; all respects similar to the two charges on which accused had been convicted. A total of 47 records were stolen from the Kaikorai School, but accused admitted the theft of 11 only. Mr B, A, Quelch said that all the goods bad been returned. Accused’s circumstances made restitution difficult. “ I have considerable hesitation in placing you on probation, as it was a despicable form of theft,” said the Magistrate. Acting on the report of the probation officer, he would admit Bowles to probation for a period of two years on the charge of theft of curtains. Restitution of £2 10s, the value of the curtains, and payment of witnesses’ expenses (12s) were ordered to be made at the rate of 3s weekly. Accused was convicted and discharged on the other two charges. WOOD DEALER’S THEFT. David Albert Smart pleaded guilty to the theft of two bottles of oil.valuedat 6s, tbe property of Maddox and Watson, and with driving without a license, Senior-sergeant Packer said that Smart, who was driving a lorry, purchased petrol at complainant’s service station. While his companion was being directed to the rear of the premises Smart stole two bottles of oil. The theft was noticed by a woman, and accused was interviewed three hours later, when he admitted the theft. He was convicted in January last for driving without a license, hut that prosecution seemingly had had no effect. Smart, a wood dealer, said the theft was committed on the spur _of the moment. He had had a few drinks during the afternoon and had no need to take the oil, as he had purchased petrol and oil at the service station. It was a stupid act on his part. The Magistrate: It is more than a stupid act. A wood merchant who indulges in petty thieving is not the man to go about other people’s property. If you steal at a petrol station you wilfdo it anywhere. Accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months, restitution of Os being ordered. For driving without a license Smart was convicted and fined ss. SENT TO GAOL. Alexander M'Culloch admitted being £sl 6s in arrears of. payment under a. maintenance order in respect to his children. After questioning M'Culloch, who said that he had other debts to pay, Senior-sergeant Packer said the man was not a “ trier.” A term of imprisonment would bring him to a realisation of his responsibilities. Commenting that defendant had taken no interest in his children, the Magistrate sentenced M'Ciillooh to » month’s imprisonment. MAINTENANCE. An application for maintenance orders in respect of children committed to tho care of the State against William Tate (Mr R. H. Simpson) was dismissed and an order in fvonr of his wife (Mr G. T. Baylee) was varied to £1 Is a week, and arrears over £lO were remitted. On a charge of being in arrears of a maintenance order, Francis Paranthoina was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, to he released on the payment of £lO. John Riely, similarly charged, was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment, to bo released, on payment of £4 10s.