COURT NEWS.

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1927, Page 5

COURT NEWS.

SERIES OF THEFTS. The Dannevirke Jewels. (Per Press Assn.) DANNEVIRKE, June 22, William Guthrie Smith, 21, appeared before Justices this morning, to answer a charge of having on February 2nd, 1927, broken and entered the shop of Stubbs and Millar, Dannevirke, and stolen a number of gold and jewelled rings, one gent’s silver wristlet watch and ten guineas in money, the total value -being £2,658/9/-. Accused made a confession, having done the job himself. He detailed how he stole the key of the shop, and went in and burgled the safe, making his subsequent departure for Sydney, where hewas arrested, when trying to dispose of part of the proceeds. He pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence. . . HOKITIKA CASE. THEFT FROM OLD MAN. HOKITIKA, June 22nd. 1 Percy Thomas Timmins, and George ' Casey alias Kassey, alias George Kasseybaum were charged with the theft of five pounds fourteen shillings from the hut of an old age pensioner. They were sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour. Both accused recently arrived from the Auckland district, SHOP ROBBED. GISBORNE, June. 22nd. Hugh Manly, alias Hugh Goodlet, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the shop of Pettie and Co..and stealing goods, valued at £l2. He was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence. DISTRESSING CASE. INSANE YOUTH CHARGED. AUCKLAND, June 22. The young man who is in custody on the charge of attempting to murdc? Acting-Detective Power on June 14 made a further appearance at the Police Court this morning, when the police asked for a further remand. This was granted. Mr Baxter, who appeared for the accused, said the circumstances of the, case had caused his parents and friends some distress, and he desired the suppression of accused’s name. Magistrate McKean —“I don’t see the necessity. It has been published before, when he first appeared in Court. ’ ’

Mr Baxter —“I Ih’.ow that, but his relatives desire suppression in the meantime. I have no doubt it will be shown that the accused is insane.” The order for suppression was then granted.

Girl Defrauded. MAN TO PAY BACK £5O. (Per Press WELLINGTON, June 22. Magistrate Riddell heard the case wherein Jack Lindsay McMillan, described as an advertising agent was sued by a young woman, a domesticservant, for the recovery of over £7O money allegedly lent to the. defendant. Plaintiff said that she first met the defendant as the result of an advertisement for a wife. He described him self as a journalist, working for a Wellington paper. Shortly after making her acquaintance, he borrowed £lO from her, afterwards getting her to sign a receipt indicating that he had paid the money back. Other amounts were borrowed later, defendant having promised to marry her. The defence was that the £lO was paid back. Replying to counsel, defendant said that he was in the literary department of the “Dominion” for seven years He wanted money for business reasons and they were going to bo-married. Counsel: But you haven’t married her. Whv haven’t you? Defendant: Ob, well I can’t because I’m married. I’ve been married six months.

Counsel informed the Magistrate that defendant never was a member oi the literary staff, but was a telephone attendant. The Magistrate: The girl has been rather foolishly trusting, while the defendant’s action showed that he had been nothing more or less than an adventurer, pure and simple, who was out to get as much as he could out ot her. The only difficulty was to the amount, judgment should be given for. but he would fix' it at £5O.

A SHOP LIFTER. AUCKLAND, June 22. Dorothy Hinemoa Weller, for theft from a suburban shop, of goods valued at 27/5 —her fifth offence of this kind —was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within two years, and report to the Probation Officer. COUNTY CLERK’S THEFT. Samuel Stewart, Sharpe, 42, a clerk to the City, Council, pleaded guilty to stealing £33. He was on the permanent staff at a salary of £250 a year, and converted to his own use 133 license fees of five shillings eqch, paid to him over a long period. He was remanded for a sentence to June 29.