POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 22955, 12 May 1938, Page 19

POLICE COURT

THURSDAY, MAY 12. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. A first offender for drunkenness was fined 20s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment, GRAVE CHARGES. The case was’ concluded against Thomas Payne, who was charged with carnally knowing a girl under the age of 16 years. The accused, who was represented by Mr A. G. Neill, pleaded not guilty, and reserved his defence. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being fixed jn his own recognisance of £2OO. Howe Laiting, a Chinese fruiterer, was charged with a similar offence in respect of the same girl. The evidence for the prosecution was conducted by Chief-detective Young. The accused, who was represented by Mr 0. G. Stevens, pleaded not guilty, reserving his defence. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being fixed at £2OO in his own recognisance, a condition being that he report twice weekly to the polcie. REMANDED IN CUSTODY. John Alexander Borland (25) admitted the theft on May 11 of crystal dishes, hooks, ' cutlery, and » spirit flask, valued at £lO 12s 6d, the-pro-perty of Gerald Benson and others. Chief-detective Young said that the accused was employed as a male nurse by the complainant since November to attend to his invalid son. # Recently he was given a fortnight’s notice, and after that his employer suspected him of theft. The police were informed, and when Detective Brown questioned him the accused denied he had taken the goods, and after they were found he first said he hid purchased them from a second-hand dealer, and later admitted the offence.. The Chief Detective said that Borland had not been before the court before, and as far as was known his conduct was-good. Mr J. 6. Warrington, who commented that the accused had acted on a sudden impulse, suggested that he be admitted to probation. The Magistrate .said .the accused had been in a position of trust, and remanded him in custody till Monday. An application for the suppression of his name was-refused.