POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 23422, 13 November 1939, Page 9

POLICE COURT

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13. (Before Mr H. W. (Bundle, S.M.) 'DRUNKENNESS. Martin Sullivan, a statutory first offender, was fined 10s in default 48 hours’ imprisonment for drunkenness. THEFT OF TIMBER. In the adjourned case in which Robert Johnston (Mr 0. G. Stevens) was charged with the theft of timber from the City Corporation yards, accused was fined 40s. On a second charge of using threatening and abusive language Johnston was convicted and discharged. VARIATION OF MAINTENANCE. An application for variation of maintenance order against • William Shields Kerr Smeal was cancelled as the sum of £3 had been paid since the last adjournment. DID NOT PAY HIS FARE. In the adjourned case in which Arthur Clarence Harding was charged with evading paying a railway fare of Is fid accused was convicted and discharged. INTOXICATED IN CHARGE. Basil William Goudie pleaded guilty to each of three charges—being intoxicated in charge of a motor cycle, being an unlicensed motor driver, and having no warrant of fitness. 'Senior-sergeant Claasen said accused had been seen by Inspector Arthur driving a motor cycle along Cumberland sffcreet on Saturday night, without having proper control of the machine, although he had a pillion passenger. He was stopped and taken to the police station, where Dr Harty certified he was very much under the influence of liquor. Accused was a single man. Goudie admitted having taken some drinks, but denied being intoxicated. Be was able to understand the inspector’s signals and obeyed them. He had no license because he had been trying to sell his machine; but the petrol restrictions made this difficult. After evidence had been given by Inspector Arthur, Goudie was fined £2O on the first charge, with'medical expenses (£1 Is), and was prohibited from riding for 12 months. On the other two charges he was convicted and discharged. “MEAN TYPE OF THEFT.’’ “This is a mean type of theft; the accused took all" the money the boys had in their pockets,” said Chief-detec-tive T. E. Holmes, of Leslie William Houston, who was charged with theft. Houston was represented by Mr J. G. Warrington. " On Saturday night, said Chief-detec-tive Holmes, the accused, who was only 19._ went to the Municipal Baths. After hiring costume and towels, he stood about for some time, but was later seen to enter a large cubicle. Later on four of the bathers using this cubicle found that their pockets had been rifled, sums ranging from Is to 2s l()d having been stolen, Houston was taken to the detective office, where he denied having stolen any money and said that 8s in his possession was his own He was taken to his home, where he admitted the thefts, saying that the 8s had been stolen. Accused had a good home, but he had been before the court previously. Mr Warrington said accused came from a good home, and of respectable parents. As a result of appearing bethe court in_ July accused had been out of work since He was short of money, and had wanted some with which to buy a birthday present for a friend. Ho was at a critical stage of life, and it was likely that this case would prevent his obtaining work in Dunedin in future. Accused was convicted and placed on probation for 12 months.