POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12931, 29 July 1905, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

"A NOVICE IN CRIME."

MISAPPROPRIATIONS BY A SHOP

EMPLOYEE. Ernest Turrett, employed by Tonson Garlick, was charged at the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. Kettle, S.M., with fraudulently converting sums amounting to £4 17s to his own use, and with stealing goods and material valued at £19, all the property of Tonson Garlick, Limited. Chief-Detective Marsack conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Blomfield appeared for Turrctt.

It was agreed to deal with the case summarily. Chief-Detective Marsack said that the accused had been • employed by Tonson Garlick, Limited, as a clerk in the furniture department. He had received various small sums of money which should have been remitted' to the cashier, but had failed to do so. In respect to the second charge the accuscd had taken home several small articles for his own use and for the accumulation of his funds. He had admitted having appropriated the several small amounts of money. Mr. Blomfield said, tho accused had only teen out from the " Old Country" about two years. He had up to the present time borne a good character. His wife had for some time been in very delicate health. He had obtained tho position at Garliek'a at £3 a week. His wife had had to undergo operations which incurred . heavy expenses, and probably caused him to take the goods and money. Tho goods consisted of small articles, such as screws, door handles, etc. Some lie had entered in tho books against himself, and others he had not. He had augmented his income by making up articles of furniture at home, and most of the goods taken had been put to that use. The accused was a novice in crime, and lie (Mr. Blomfield) asked the Bench to consider that* His client, was not . entitled toprobation, but a fine could be inflicted. Mr. Broinfield further urged the magistrate to take into consideration the fact that his client had had opportunities of taking larger sums. Ho had given the police every assistance, and had produced every , article. The disgrace had been considerable punishment for a man who was married and had a family. The Magistrate said it was a case where he always found great difficulty in proportioning the punishment. The accused had gone 011 stealing money and goods for some time, and, if lie was not in Court now, he might very likely have continued stealing. He would assume that the accused had borne a good character. in England. He, however, could not see any mitigating circumstances and would inflict what ho considered a moderate sentence in the circumstances. He would sentence him to a month's imprisonment oh each charge, the sentences to run concurrently. ■ He only hoped that when the accused came out of gaol he would retrieve his lost character. , A MIDNIGHT SQUABBLE. John Moßoa pleaded not guilty to the charge of using insulting language in Nelsonstreet to a young woman named Elia'beth Coulson. Mr. J. R. Lundon defended, and Mr. Skelton appeared for tho complainant. The complainant said she was employed at His Majesty's Q'afe. Sl» had gone home after work on Saturday night, accompanied by a waiter named Hughes. They had stopped near the defendant's house, which is near her own, and were talking/ Accused was then standing on the verandah, and used insulting language to them. To Mr. Lundon : The trouble began by the accused calling out to them, "It's a-quarter to one, and the moon is up." It. was not true'that he at first complained that the talking kept awake the boarders in his house. He told! them to shift on, or he would fetch a policeman. She told Mcßea. to mind what he was saying. Ho said he would not put up with the carryings 011 every night. She admitted that her companion, Hughes, picked up a stone and threatened • Mcßea. Hughes and other witnesses also gave evidence for the plaintiff. The accused said he heard) someone talking outside his house at a-quarter to one o'clock in the morning. He had suggested that it was time they should go home, as they were keeping everybody in the house awake. They told him to go inside. They refused to go away, and some remarks wc.ro exchanged with the man Hughes, _ who used insulting language towards him, and threatened to " smash" his head with a lump of metal. . The accused's wife said Hughes used 1 insulting and provoking language towards her husband'. The Bench inflicted a fine of 10s, and costs 2&s. Mr. Lundon gave formal notice of appeal, on (ho grounds that tho conviction disclosed' no offence".

BY-LAW CASES. ' Henry Carter pleaded guilty, before Messrs. Clayton and Catchpole, J.P. 's, to two charges of permitting cattle to graze in Portland Road and Victoria Avenue, and was fined 2s 6d on each charge and costs, 34s 6d and 21s. Thomas Kenealv, charged l with allowing cattle to graze in Orakei Road, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Mr. Burton defended and Mr. Gregory prosecuted on behalf of the emu or a Road Board. After hearing evidence, Mr. Burton said the cattle did 1 not belong to the defendant, but to his father, and he (Mr. Burton) had arranged with his client to make a plea of guilty and to submit to a fine of -Is and costs oil the condition that no proceedings be taken against the father. _ This was agreed to.' Arthur William Curtis, a Devonport driver, was charged l with leaving his horse and vehicle unattended for a considerable time. A fine of 10s and costs was imposed. Charles Craydon pleaded guilty to leaving his liorso to wander at large in Albert-street. He was fined 5s and costs. Richard C. Cross, charged with riding a horse on the footpath at Remuera while delivering papers pleaded guilty. s A fine of 10s was imposed. • MISCELLANEOUS. . Robert Norris pleaded not guilty to stealing two rugs, value £2, the property of Wlll. Channon. The prosecutor gave evidence as to the rugs having been stolen from a fishing boat, of which he (witness) was in charge, i Police evidence was given to the effect that the rugs had been found covered over by a bag in accused's boat. Evidence was given by tlio accused and another man to the effect that the rugs were purchased from a man for 4s. _ The accused was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. William Wheatley was charged that, , being the reputed father of an illegitimate child born at Cambridge on March 20, he left that district without making arrangements for its support. Sergeant Hansen, prosecuting 011 behalf of the police, obtained a remand for eight days. Bail was allowed in one surety of £25. . Alexander Miller pleaded guilty to being drunk and with having used obscene language in Custom-street. A fine of £3 was inflicted.