COURT NEWS.

Grey River Argus, 14 February 1929, Page 3

COURT NEWS.

“MADE A BIG SPLASH!” ON PROCEEDS OF THEFTS. AUCKLAND, February 12. Bartholomew Melllroy, alias Jax?k Kirwood, a smartly dressed man, aged 26, appeared before M. r Hunt. S.M., charged, with stealing a bank book and £3OO, a motor car valued at £350. two gramophones valued at £l9, also the theft of 600 dollars, the property of one Cronin, owner of the bank book. “This man has been making a big splash,” said Chief Detective Hammond. “After stealing the bank book he forged the signature and stole £3OO. He stole a motor car, and sold it for £lOO. He put on champagne suppers, and within one month got through £4OO. When arrested he had only four shillings and sevenpence.” Accused was remanded without bail. At the Supreni’A * Court, Justice Bloir sentenced Frank Jamies Smith to reformative* detention for a term not exceeding thrtie years, ior theft of 231 sheep at Wqodleigh, Waikato. Mr Justice Kennedy’s debut on the Supreme Court Bench was mark! d by a mild sensation to-day. Cyril Keven McKenna and John Siddens were charged with assault and robbery. McKenna walked quibtly into the dock, but a violent struggle took place between Siddens and a constable, the former cv mtually forced intq the dock alongside McKenna. Counsel explained that his client’s attitude was did? to a mis take, as ho was under the impression he was being forced into the witness box.

CROSSING ALARM BELL STOLEN DANNEVIRKE, February 13. A theft, unique in the history of New Zealand, was perpetrated at Dannevirke on Monday. After much agitation, the railway authorities recently installed a wigwag warning signal at the Allardic.e Street railway crossing, the scene of several accidents. The bell had such ■i sonorous tone that it disturbed th* peace of the whole neighbourhood. On Monday evening last a letter, on behalf of the residents, asking for an abatement of the nuisance, came before the Borough Council, who deputed the Mayor to confer with the authorities, but some unauthorised person got in .first by removing the gong of the apparatu , which is now effectively silenced. The matter is in the hands of the police. SOLICITOR CHARGED WITH THEFT. CHRISTCHURCH, February 13. John Black Batchelor, of Christchurch. was charged to-day with the theft of £986 from Leonard Percival Voice. H c was remanded until February 21. Application for bail was refused. Accused was arrested in Melbourne on January 7th. _ _ _