POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 25495, 28 May 1945, Page 6

POLICE COURT

MONDAY, MAY 28. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. William John Cavanagh, who pleaded guilty to a repetition of the same offence within the past sis months, was fined 20s on a drunkenness charge. MAN-POWER BREACHES. Two breaches of the Industrial Manpower Regulations were admitted by T. E. Sagar and Co. Ltd. The firm, which was represented by Mr I. B. Stevenson, was charged with employing Irene Anderson, aged under 16, without first notifying the district manipower officer, and also pleaded auilty to failing to give notice of the termination of the services of another employee, Mrs lon a McLaren. Mr 1). A. Bell, who prosecuted on behalf of the National Service. Department, said, a serious view was taken of both types of offences. The managing director of the firm, Mr T. E. Sagar, should have been fully conversant with the necessity for complying with the regulations, which had been in force since 1942. Miss Anderson had left essential employment at the Roslyn Mills to join the defendant firm last February. _ Notice of the termination of the services of Mrs McLaren had not been given the department until a week after she had left

The Magistrate said that it must be taken into consideration that, the firm had not known that Miss Anderson had been engaged in essential industry, and ■was probably ignorant of the necessity for a person under 16 years of age engaged in essential industry registering with the department. On each of the two charges the firm wa's fined 20s and costs (10s). Although the Industrial Man-power Appeal Committee had allowed the appeal of the defendant against her direction to the Nurses' Home, he had been instructed to aslk for a penalty, as she had caused the department a considerable amount of trouble, said Mr Bell, concerning a charge against Violet Edna Whittyof a breach of the •Manpower Regulations. Mr W; McAlevey, who represented the defendant, said that as the appeal, heard last Thursday, had been allowed, the inference was that she had not committed a breach of the regulations. The Magistrate adjourned the case to give Mr Bell an opportunity of discussing the conviction aspect of the case with the department, and intimated that even if he did enter a conviction, he would not impose a penalty. OTHER CASES. For operating an unlicensed wireless set. Mrs Laura Brook was fined 25s and costs (10s). John Michael Myers was fined £3 and costs for removing liquor after "hours from the European Hotel. Thomas Joseph Hayes was fined £2 and costs (10s) for casting offensive matter in Maclaggan street. BREAKING AND ENTERING CHARGES. John Patrick Holmes (22) and Stanley Frederick Moore (35), labourers, were charged with breaking and entering the shop of Silk and l'rock House Ltd., on May 12, and stealing a quantity of silk dress material. They were further charged with breaking and entering the warehouse of the Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. Ltd., on May 18, with intent to commit a crime. The accused were also charged with the conversion of a motor earon May 18, valued at £2OO. Moore was represented by Mr H. L. Gibson. Detective-sergeant H. Le Sueur conducted the prosecution. Both the accused pleaded guilty to each of the three charges, and they were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. .

Harry Bower, manager of Silk and Frock House. Ltd., 118 Princes street, gave evidence that when he left the premises at noon on May 12 they wereproperly closed. When he returned to the premises on May 14 he noticed that one of the workroom windows was broken, and he discovered that a quantity of art silk material, valued at £ll 14s 4d. was missing. The material was identical with that produced iu court.

Marion Elizabeth Wallace, a typiste, employed by the Nestle and AngloSwiss' Co. Ltd., gave evidence that when she left the premises on the evening of May 18, all doors were properly secured. John Thomas Jarvis, a jobbing carpenter, of 6 Malta street, Roslyn. said that on May 18, at about 8 p.m.. he parked his car in the Octagon, and on his return at 10.20 p.m. it was missing. He next saw the car outside the Central Police Station the following day. The torch produced in court was the one taken from his car. He estimated that between two and three gallons of petrol had been used. Constable V. J. Donnelly said that on May 18, at 11.20 p.m., he was on duty at the corner of Manor and Crawford streets. He kept two men who were in Crawford street under observation, and saw them disappear into Nestles building. The front door of the building was slightly opened and had been, forced. Constable Mcßae arrived from the Central Police Station, and when witness entered the building he found Moore and Holmes, and also the latter's wife. Moore explained he was " here to do a job," and said that a tvre lever on the floor had.been used to force the main door. An electric torch was nearby. Both men were then arrested. The card that was converted was recovered by him at 1.25 a.m. on Mav 19 in Vogel street. Detective A. J. Lahmert said he interviewed the two accused following their arrest, and they* made a statement admitting their offences. The stolen property was recovered. An application by Mr Gibson for the granting of bail to Holmes was opposed by the police, Detective-sergeant Le Sueur saying that further charges would be preferred against him. The Magistrate refused the application commenting tht he was adopting this course because the offences had been admitted.