POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 22780, 15 October 1937, Page 11

POLICE COURT

FRIDAY. OCTOBER 15. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. William Leonard M'Laren, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of drunkenness, was fined 2s 6d (cab fare). SUSTENANCE FRAUDS. Francis Edward Pratt (Mr 0. G. Stevens) pleaded guilty to three charges of false pretences, by which means he obtained £2 19s 5d from the Employment Promotion Board. Chief-detective Young said accused sold scrap iron and obtained work on the wharves during the period. When questioned he denied the offences, and refused to give the officers any assistance. Pratt. had appeared before on charges concerning theft, drink, and obscene language. , Mr Stevens said circumstances had been against Pratt, who was possibly getting near the stage where he might go from bad to worse. Pratt was fined £5 on the first charge, and convicted and discharged on the other two charges. The fine is to bo paid at the rate of 10s weekly. YOUTH GIVEN A CHANCE. William Addison Booth (17) pleaded guilty to a charge of being found without lawful excuse, but not in circumstances disclosing the commission of or intent to commit a crime, in the enclosed yard of the premises of J. Scott and Co. in Filleul street on August 18. Chief-detective Young said Constable Binns, at 1.50 a.m., heard noises at the rear of the premises, and found accused crouching in a corner of an old shed. Regarding accused’s explanation, Mr Young pointed out that he had gone 23yds up a right of way, then through two high wooden gates, and a further 25yds across the yard. He said ho had been working for a farmer named Hardie at Mosgiel, and had left there at 6.30 the previous evening to walk into town. He went to his father’s house in Forth street, but did not go in, and walked about the city until lie was found by the police. Booth was taken to the Police Station and handed over to his father. Detective Gibson made inquiries, and found that Booth had left Hardie’s farm on August 2, and not on August 17. Questioned again. Booth said he had stayed with people named M'Lean at Mosgiel, .but it was found that during the absence of a man, who complained of Booth paying attention to his wife, the youth stayed at the woman’s house. Booth was the oldest of a family of five, and his mother was dead. He had been before the Children’s Court for breaking, entering, and theft, and in November last he was placed under the supervision of the child welfare officer for two years for theft. It was obvious that he was in need of strict control. Mr W. Lock (child welfare officer) said accused’s conduct bad been very unsatisfactory, and he had had considerable difficulty in keeping track of him. Booth treated supervision as a joke and his father had no control over him. “ You are liable to be sent to the Borstal for a lengthy period, and I have hesitation in not doing so now, as yon do not deserve much consideration,” said the Magistrate, adjourning the charge for 12 months. Conditions were that Booth was to accept employment approved by the probation officer, and was not to visit Dunedin or Mosgiel without permission. UNLIGHTED CYCLE. - Clarence Grass was fined - 10s and costs for riding an unlighted bicycle. MOTORING CHARGES. Leonard John Booth was fined 10s and costs for riding a motor cycle carry* ing two persons on the pillion. On a charge of riding a motor cycle without a silencer, George Lyon Barrett Brundell was fined 10s and costs. On condition that defendant reported to the chief traffic inspector and attended any instruction classes ordered by him, a charge of negligent driving

against Archibald Henry Frederick Still was adjourned for two months. Unlicensed drivers, George Herbert Harris and Stanley Mulqueen were each fined 5s and costs. Charles Robert Sheat was fined £2 and costs on a charge of negligent driving- , . . A charge of dangerous driving was preferred against Mark Connors, who was fined £2 10s and costs. Clifford Arnold Hitchcos denied a charge of negligent driving. After evidence was heard the charge was dismissed. subject to the payment of court costs. STOREKEEPER CHARGED. John Mitchell, for whom Mr W F. Forrester appeared, pleaded guilty to two charges of selling butter below standardMr E. S. Tuckwell, who prosecuted on behalf of the Department of Health, said that two samples of butter had been purchased in the defendant’s shop at Port Chalmers. When they were tested it was found that both contained over the 16 per cent, of water allowed by the regulations, one containing 17 13 per cent, and the other 16,22 per cent. Defendant was not so much to blame as the dairy company which supplied the butter. Tt was an unfortunate prosecution, but defendant was legally to blame. ' Mr Forrester said it was difficult to understand why the storekeeper was being prosecuted and not the dairy company. The Magistrate remarked that it was unfortunate that the charge should be brought against the storekeeper, whom he would allow to reserve his defence. The case was stood down until October 29 FIREARM OFFENCE. In the adjourned case in which a man, whose name was suppressed, was charged with presenting a firearm, defendant was admitted to probation for two years on condition fiat he did not reside in Dunedin or within 20 miles of the city without the consent of the probation officer, the rifle to be held by the police, to be sold by the probation officer if arrangements could be made, and the defendant to be prevented from purchasing another- firearm.