IN THE COURTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10732, 1 November 1928, Page 7

IN THE COURTS.

YEAR’S GAOL FOR BICYCLE THIEF. “MAN WITH BAD CIILVUNAI, HISTORY.” (Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 31 • “A man with, a bad criminal history,” was how Chief Detective Ward described Frederick Charles Richmond-, 27, a dealer, who pleaded guilty to-day to stealing six bicycles oi’ a total , value of £4O 10s. it was stated that the- accused took flic bicycles home and after painting them diiferent colors and changing parts, he sold them. His wife was a decent hard-working woman and accused practically lived/ on her. R:chmond was sentenced to 12 months’ gaol. POSTAL SUPERVISOR ON TRIAL. JURY DISAGREE. (Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 31. At tho Supreme Court. Thomas Houston, a postal supervisor, was charged with, attempting to steal letters containing money addressed to a loca] firm, with stealing a postal packet containing IGs and three counts of opening the same postal _ packets. The jury, alter several retirements, disagreed on all charges but that of opening one postal packet, on which they found the accused guilty. A new trial was granted, and the judge said he would later hear counsel’s application to set aside the verdict on tlie ground that it was not a postal packet, EX-ARMY OFFICER’S FALL CAR BY FALSE PRETENCES (Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Oct. 31. Geoffrey Edward Gibson Forster, aged 29. retired regular army officer, with service in India, was found guiltv ju the Supreme Court of obtaining by false pretences possession of a motor ear, and not guilty of the theft of the car. ” The Crown Prosecutor said that accused admitted, to the police that when ho took the car he had no means of paying for it. Jennie Syme, owner of the car,, said accused who agreed to pay £l5O, represented himself as being in a good financial position. Accused in evidence said bis father was vicar ot Bradford. England. He was receiving £3 weekly in wages and £3 monthly from England. Tho Crown Prosecutor produced letters showing that at the end . of March accused received a notification .from his father that it was the last occasion on .which he would be a charge on the family exchequer, also that accused wrote to a young lady in England who had previously sent him her reserve savings of £2OO asking for £2O. Accused admitted the car was seized at Thames because he left the hotel without paying his board. Sentence was deferred ILLEGALLY ON PROPERTY MAGISTRATE STATES DEFENDANT COMMITTED PERJURV •«i>ri»Ks Association.' INVERCARGILL. Oct. 31. In the Magistrate’s Court to-day William Hinton, garage manager, was convicted and fined £7 and costs on a charge of being found on the property of William Richardson Brash at night. ' In reply to a request for the suppression of liis name, the magistrate said: “To my mind this man has committed perjury. He comes here and tells a story I cannot believe. If he had admitted the offence I might have suppressed liis name, but considering the trumped up story he lias told. I. will not consider doing so.