POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 22630, 23 April 1937, Page 11

POLICE COURT

FRIDAY, APRIL 23. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) DRUNKEN ESCAPADE. ‘ 1 Sneak thieving of this sort is despicable,” remarked the magistrate when a man admitted stealing two fowls (valued at 4s) from a neighbour. Returning from a party in the city at 3.30 on a Sunday morning the ac-. cused entered the fowlhouse and took two of the birds. The complainant heard the disturbance and followed the accused, who took a round-about way home. He was the worse for liquor. The accused, a married man with five children, was admitted to probation for six months, and was ordered to take out a prohibition order and make restitution of the 4s. His name was suppressed, the magistrate saying that if he came before the court again he would receive no consideration. FALSE DECLARATION.

Alexander Hodges (27) pleaded guilty to a charge of making a false declaration under the Unemployment Act.

Chief-detective Young told the court that Hodges was on sustenance last year, and on October 20 made a declaration that his earnings for the previous week were nil. In point of fact, he earned £3 Os lOd, and he thereby received £1 19s lOd to which he was not entitled.

Fdr the defendant, Mr C. J. L. White said that he was a married man with three young children. Ho had been on relief work for about four years until nine weeks ago. There were extenuating circumstances in this case. A child had just been born at the time, and the money came as a God-send to Hodges, being used for the confinement expenses. “An offer of restitution was made,” added counsel, “ but, for the first time in history, the Government refused to accept money!” The Chief Detective: It was not “ the first time in history.” When these matters are reported to the police neither this department nor any other is in the habit of bargaining. The Magistrate said that it would be quite wrong to suggest that when an offence was committed and the man found the money involved should be paid over to settle the matter. Counsel said be did not suggest that for a moment. lie was merely pointing out the extenuating features of the case.

Hodges was fined £1 19s 10d; and costs, and was allowed a fortnight to pay. UNLICENSED RADIO. Francis Hood was fined 10s and costs for operating a wireless set without a license. CHIMNEY ON FIRE. Caroline Mondy was fined 5s and costs for allowing a chimney to catch fire. John Fraser was similarly dealt with. BY-LAW BREACHES. James Caldwell was fined 5s and costs for driving an unlighted car. _ The defendant explained that he was in a welllighted street at the time, and did not notice that his lights were off. His Worship suggested that in such a case as this a warning from a constable might be sufficient, ' Similarly charged, Clarence Russell Bunn was fined 10s and costs. Clifford Gough, who drove an unlighted lorry, was fined 10s and costs. George Griffin was fined 5s and costs for parking his lorry oh the intersection of Princes and Stafford streets. Fritz John Hesse, who had no taillight on his motor cycle, was fined 5s and costs. Unlighted motor cycles cost Richard Short £1 and costs and Reginald David Airey 10s and costs. George Walter Fordyce, who was involved in an accident near Merton, was fined £2 10s and costs for dangerous driving. David Mawson Catherwood, who parked his car 10ft out from the kerb in Moray Place, was fined 5s and costs. James Dickie, who crossed six intersections between Green Island and Look-out Point between 40 and 45 miles an hour, was fined £3 and costs. Melville Charles Collie was convicted for driving an unlighted motor car. CHARGE DISMISSED. After hearing evidence, the Magistrate dismissed a charge against Leonard Francis Heller (Mr O. G. Stevens) of playing a game of chance. Outlining the circumstances of the charge, Senior-sergeant Packer said .that on the afternoon of December 25 Sergeant Stark and Constable Olliffe went to the Harbour Board reserve off the Anderson’s Bay road. They saw a party of about 20 men playing “ two up,” and as soon as they saw the police they stampeded, with the result that most of the men ran towards M'Bride street. The sergeant found a pool of 15s, which had been claimed by a man who had subsequently been dealt with by the court. Constable Olliffo gave evidence that he saw the accused, 'whom lie knew by sight, leaving the vicinity of the school with several others. Mr Stevens submitted that there was

no case to answer, for there was no evidence that the game was even played. Senior-sergeant Packer: There was sworn information, and that js iprime facie evidence under the Gaming Act. The Magistrate said that the prosecution had failed to establish that Heller was at the place where the school was in progress. The charge was accordingly dismissed.