IN THE COURTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10908, 28 May 1929, Page 3

IN THE COURTS.

LIFTMAN WHO “LIFTED.”

GRIMACES AT HIMSELF,”

PROBATION GRANTED

AUCKLAND. May 25, Detected in the act, (if skulling a map of the. world atid spine post etli'ds, Worth it total of 3s 9ct, fi’Oii) tlie shop of Wiidman and Afey yesterday. William Coates (33). a liftman, was arrested by Consthle Callaghan outside the shop. Coates appeared at the Police Court this morning, when lie admitted the theft, and also another charge of stealing a. prayer book valued at 9s 6d from the Auckland Sunday School Union’s shop on May 17. Counsel for accused said Coates came from a respectable family and had never been in trouble liefore.

“1 think this man requires some supervision, as I am sure lie is not qtiito normal.” said Sub-Inspector McCarthy. “He has boon swii about the town gazing into, shop inirrows and making grimaces at himself.” The magistrate, Mr F. K- Hunt, adopted the suggestion of Mr J. W. Campbell, probation officer, and placed Coates on probation for one year. INTOXICATED DRIVER, FINED £2O. (Press Association.’ WHANG ARE]. May 27. At, the Police Court this morning William Saul pleaded guilty to intoxication when in charge of a motor truck, and was fined £2O, and Id’s license cancelled. The accused, who pleaded guilty, was allowed to pay at tlie rate of £5 n month. " , A COOL ROBBERY. MAN CHARGED WITH ALLEGED THEFT AND DAMAGE. (Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 27. A man smashed a shop window and took some pairs of shoes from Herbert and Co.’s store in Colombo street last evening. Tho incident; was witnessed by several people, one of whom called tlio police. In tlio Police Court to-day Thomas Jolm Long, 39 a laborer, faced lour charges of theft and damage. Accused was remanded till Tuesday. PRISONERS SENTENCED (Press Association.! WELLINGTON, May 27. The following were sentenced by tlie Chief .Justice, Mr. Myers, today: Douglas Milligan Slater, theft of £491 from a Wellington firm, two years' reformative detention; John Edmund Thomas O’Sullivan, forgery and uttering, live charges, 18 months’ hard labor, to be- followed by two years' reformative detention; Percy Cliflord Smith, bigamy at Levin, 18 months’ hard labor, His Honor saying the. public interest would not be served unless a. term of imprisonment- were imposed ; Geo. Robert Munoey, breaking and entering and theft, three years’ bard labor, with a warning mat probably lie would be declared an habitual criminal if be canie before the court again.

GAMING-HOUSE KEEPER FINED £I.OO.

(Press Association.)

STRATFORD, May 27

At the Police Court to-day Ernest A. Johnston was lined £IOO for keeping a common gaming house and '••...iliiam Jl. Lash, £2.5 for assisting in its conduct. 'Three persons found on the premises were lined £1 each. Johnston had one previous conviction for u similar offence, and addressing tlie Court his counsel submitted that there could be no question of imprisonment, as no Court had yet seen fit to imprison a bookmaker and he hardly expected the (Stratford Court to be the first in New Zealand to award imprisonment.

All-. R. M. Tate 8.. M., 'nterjected that it might be. Counsel said there was a c; so on record iiTivlilch a £SO line was considered adeciuate for a fourth offence. in imposing the hues the Magistrate said that whether or not the •Stratford Court should be fast in New Zealand to award imprisonment for bookmakers, if Johnston appeared for a third time, he would go to prison, and perhaps another poison for even a second offence natdit: meet a .similar lute.