ELTHAM

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXI, Issue XXXI, 20 May 1920, Page 8

ELTHAM

MAfiISTRATJB'S GQSJRT.

(From Our Own Corregswndent.) * fitting.of ±he Magistrate s Court .was_ Jheld on Wednesday, f&lenik*- Bajhj > &M- ***** Henry MitcheD Benson, .who was be*ore the Justices .an Tuesday, and was Temanded to .ap P £ar before the Magistrate, was charged with the theft from le Hoti .on May 1 last of & Columbia .gramaphone and jfcha property one Colin Criphton, valued at £15 J Townsend jjroseeuted, and Mr .J L. Jfair. appeared for the accused and .eaterad a plea of guilty. lac constable stated that Crichton was a resident of Te. Roii, and that the Accused was employed by a firm of agents in B&wera as a salesman *>n May 1 .Crichtosi left hk whare for a short time, and when .he came back ■round tke gi-amaphone and records aaissing. As a result of investigation tne missag _propercy was found in the accused's 3wu<se. ' *fe. W# r,' saia Siat thei-e was no <toubt a technical &eft ha<! been com- % knitted, l>ut he submitted *,that there "was no asal intention to sfceal on the part of Benson. The accused stated ■jnat ne had taken fehe madhine for a and fully -.intended returning it -He had recently sold Crichtau a cycle' . -and Crichton had shown him the jgramaphone and placed over several li°° rdt He told "Chrichton at the time *fiat he .was ivery -much ,-.tafeen with S e *m£ duiK *> a»d jokingly suggested *hat:the owner had ketter look out or A 6 (Benson) .might "pinch it" one day As a matter of fact he spoke to Crichson at ihe pictures in Eltham and 'asked him if >c had found his gramaphone intending to tell him that it was all right; but he was called asway to to ihis duties, and was unable to see Criehton after^atrds. yrork- • ci, as an usher at the pictures. .Coun*el,. in asking his Worship, to deal leniently with the accused, .pointed out ■*"? * BOn had undoubtedly acted in a foolish manner, hut that he had previously b*rne a good reputation. He was a manned ;ma<a with one child and ■counsel suggested that if his Worship -could see his way^to be lenient the 3es|on of the procejeflings-.w&uld not &c lost upon the .accueed. .The Magistrate, accepted counsel's statement .of the equation a_ n^ ordered ' accused to .come up for sentence Sf. -called upon. Some small damage whi^h. the machine liad sua&ained wMle in the Possession of 'the accused was also or•<iered to be asaade good crF ht Eltiana Coujtt'j> Council (Mr H feheat) proceeded against J. Hickey for permitting cattle to wander upon a, ■ -county road. Mr A.' A. Stewart ap- i peared for the defendant and entered! of guilty. Defendant w&s fined ! 10s and costs. I

Judgment was given with costs for -plaintiffs by default is the fdEowing ■^ efeil^ elr C^JI CMc: Powell and ■Shepherd. '(Mr "H. Sheat) v. R, C Gar>siner,- £20 >a% {93