POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 25169, 8 May 1944, Page 4

POLICE COURT

MONDAY, MAY 8. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M. BEER STOLEN FROM BREWERY. The theft on Saturday night of two fivegahcm kegs of beer, the property of New zieaiand breweries Ltd., was admitted bv Clement James Clark (24) and Thomas Howard Dunn (40). Chief-detective K. T. Holmes said that the two men, who were unknown to each other, met in a drunken condition in a pincart. Dunn' nad previous.y worked at Speight's branch of JNew JSeaiand Breweries Ltd., and when the suggestion was mado that beer be obtained, Uie two meii went to those premises, gaining access tnrougli a side window. Beer was consumed, and when they left each took a five-gaiion kesr with him. Ciark was arrested yesterday afternoon on a charge of drunkenness, and informed the. police he had been drinknm beer from a keg stolen from the brewerv. Subsequently, Dunn was arrested, and Jin was drunk. Clark had been before thu court before, though not for theft. Dunn, who was suffering from a nervous disoraei. had not been in trouble previously. The offence was described by Mr D. J Simpson, who represented both men, as the result of a drunken escapade. Dunn, who was a returned serviceman of tins war, having been overseas for three and a-half years was a bad nerve case, ami was to receive treatment at Hanmer. Clark, said Mr Simpson, was a weak typo, but since being on probation his behaviour had been good. ' The Magistrate told Dunn that he did not wish to enter a conviction against him because of his war record and the state of his health. The charge against him was adjourned for a year, and he was directed to donate £2 to a charity nominated by the probation officer. In addition, Dunn was directed to make restitution of the cost of five gallons of beer, valued at £1 12s 6d. Clark, who was also ordered to make restitution of that amount, was fined £2. and on a further charge of drunkenness was convicted and discharged. The Magistrate warned him that he was being given his final chance. CHIMNEY FIRE. Mrs Jessie Litolff was fined 10s for allowing a chimney to catch lire. CHARGE DISMISSED. A charge against Robert Currie of bein£ unlawfully on the licensed premises of the Now Club Hotel was dismissed after the production by the licensee of the boarders' book, in which the defendant's name was entered. The licensee was warned, after he had admitted that some entries were incorrect, that it was important that the register should be accurate. LIQUOR AT DANCE. James Andrew Bain, of Milton, was fined £3 10s and costs for being in possession of liquor at a dance hall, the police evidence being that he took two bottles of beer into the Winter Lounge dance hall. BREACH OF MAN-POWER REGULATIONS. Eric Douglas Robert Cameron, who appeared on an adjourned charge of a breach of the man-power regulations in that he failed to report for essential employment to Bayley, Tonkins, and Hedges, ianners, of Oreen Island, was fined £5, the Magistrate commenting that because of the serious nature of the offence the alternative punishment would be fixed at 10 days' imprisonment. Mr A. J. Haub, who appeared for the National Service Department, said that he had made inquiries since the original hearing and had ascertained that the remarks made by Mr C. J. L. White, counsel for the defendant, about the obnoxious conditions of Cameron's particular employment at the tannery were entirely incorrect. Mr Haub pointed out that the type of work to whicb the defendant had been directed was definitely not unpleasant.