COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 6 August 1937, Page 6

COURT NEWS

VALUELESS CHEQUES. DUNEDIN, August 4. Three months’ imprisonment with hard labour was the sentence imposed on William Arthur Pitts, alias Robert William Malcolm, aged 32, in the Magistrate’s Court for issuing valueless cheques at Auckland and Flamilton. Accused, who was a motor salesman at Auckland, cashed two cheques with the licensees of Auckland and Hamilton hotels in May, later coming south. The police said he was a bird of passage, with a formidable list of convictions in New Zealand and Australia. He was only released from prison in March.

SUSTENANCE FRAUDS. FINE OF £25. WHANGAREI, August 2. William Ballantyne, sustenance man, was fined £25 with costs by Mr G t N. Morris, S.M., at the (Whangarei Polier Court to-day, for making a false declaration of private income, thereby obtaining benefits from the Employment Fund to the extent of £l2, tc which lie was not entitled. It was stated that Ballantyne indicated he had only £1 Is weekly, but later it 'was found his wife was earning £2 from two sources. Ballantyne was given a month in which to pay. MAORI WINDOW-SMASHER. FOUND TO BE INSANE. AUCKLAND. August 2. ■ The Maori who ran amok at Otahuhu on July 25 and smashed a number of plate-glass shop windows, Nganikara Hohepa .Maaka, aged 44, appeared at the Otahuhu Court this morning. It was stated that accused had been refused admission to the Auckland Mental Hospital, although twice previously had been an inmate of mental hospitals. Maaka, who was charged with committing mischief by breaking fourteen windows, valued at over £lB5, was committed to a mental hospital. POSTAL PACKET THEFTS. AUCKLAND, August 2. A postman with a long and hitherto unblemished record, RaMiiono George Kelly, 34, pleaded guilty at the Police Court this morning to 25 charges of theft as a postal officer, of packets containing a total of £45 9s 4d. It was stated that the money was spent in paying moneylenders and bookmakers. In a statement, accused said he kept all the letters from which he had taken money with the intention of replacing the money as soon as he was in a position to do so. On two occasions he had replaced sums of £1 and delivered the letters. Kelly was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. INTOXICATED DRIVERS. WELLINGTON, August 2. Seven days in gaol, and cancellation of his driver’s license for twelve months, was the sentence imposed on George Kenneth Kitching, 54, for intoxication when in charge of a car. Eric Clarence Taylor, 34, Invercargill, garage proprietor, was fined £l5 for being intoxicated while in charge of a ear. His license was suspended for six months. A MAORI’S FORGERY. NAPIER, August 2. Twelve months’ imprisonment on each charge of forging, uttering, ami false pretences, the terms to be concurrent, was imposed on Charles Frederick Murphy, a native, aged 38, by Mr Justice Reed. His Honour also declared accused an habitual again.