POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13358, 12 December 1906, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

ALLEGED THEFT FROM A" HOTEL. ACCUSED COMMUTED FOR TRIAL. William 'Thompson, a young man, was charged, before Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday, with stealing from the Thames Hotel a portmanteau (valued at 15s), containing a breech-loading fowlingpiece (valued at £5), a bridle (valued at 255), a set of boxing gloves (valued at 30*), several - blankets (valued at £2), a punch ball (valued at £1), a Post Office Savings Bank book, and other articles, to the total value of £14 16s 6d, the property of George Edward Cowling. Sergeant Hendry, who prosecuted, stated that the case was a clear one. The portmanteau containing the various articles was left in the Thames Hotel. On Monday night accused was seen coining away from the direction of the hotel with the portmanteau in his possession. Thompson asked a cabman to take him somewhere, but the. cabman refused, as he was suspicious of the prisoner. Accused then went to another cabman, and offered to sell him the portmanteau for 20s, but this cabman refused to buy it. One of the cabmen then went for a constable, who arrested Thompson. Evidence was given bearing out Sergeant Hendry's statement. Constable Li. Mtelypr, who arrested accused, said Thompson told him that he had found the portmanteau in Fort-street Lane. This closed the caso for the prosecution. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for. trial. SEQUEL TO AN ACCIDENT. William Maddaford pleaded guilty to a charge of having driven a vehicle on the wrong side of the road in Eden Terrace when meeting a bicycle ridden by Ernest Brownley Sergeant Hendry informed the Court that while the defendant was driving along the road the horse swerved, causing a niece of timber, which was projecting from the cart, to knock the cyclist off his machine. Brownley sustained some injuries, and his bicycle was considerably damaged. Defendant explained that he drove on the. wrong side of the road to avoid a collision with a tramcar. Constable Curtain said that the accident would not have, happened if the lforse had not swerved. Defendant was convicted and discharged on paying costs, 17s 6d. He also offered to pay other expenses incurred. ' UNLAWFULLY ON PREMISES. Harold Byron, a young man, pleaded guilty to a charge of being found by night without lawful excuse on the premises of Arthur Trevithick, and on the premises of Mrs. Bennett, both of Karangahape Road. • Sergeant Hendry explained that accused was seen by. a constable moving about in a suspicious manner, and when he saw the constable he ran away. He was afterwards arrested, and gave all sorts of excuses and a wrong name. Accused, who said he was drunk', was sentenced to one. month's imprisonment. A GRAVE CHARGE. Claude Marmont, a youth, was charged with indecently assaulting a six-year-old girl on December 5. Sergeant Hendry prosecuted, and Mr. J. R. R*ed defended. In describing the alleged offence, Sergeant Hendry said that accused met two little girls, and asked them to go for a ride in his cart.- One of the girls refused to go, and the other accepted his invitation. He then took her into a partly burnt house, where the assault was alleged to have taken place. A large number of witnesses were called for the prosecution . Constable Curtain stated that, in consequence of a complaint he received from the mother of the little- girl, he asked accused if he had been in Newton Road on that day (December, 5), and, ; he ,said, No, I have not." After questioning accused,- witness took him to the police station. '.':'-* When formally charged, accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. , Bail was allowed, in two sureties of £50 each, or one of £100. CHARGE AGAINST A BOY. The hearing of the case in which George Win. Angus, a Boy under 14 years of age. was charged with assaulting a. girl on the 7th inst. was concluded. ; Mr. Dyer said 1 that the contention for the defence did not apply to this case. He suggested that the boy "should be committed, by consent of his parents, to an industrial school, or, in the alternative, that he should be committed to the Supreme. Court for trial. The boy's father would not consent to his son being sent to an industrial school, and accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed. MISCELLANEOUS. Charles H. Woods pleaded guilty to a* charge of disorderly conduct while drunk, and was fined £2, and costs 2s 6d, or in; default 14 days'"imprisonment. • '• By consent, Frederick S. Folia s was ordered to contribute 20s per week for the maintenance of his wife and four children. Defendant was also prohibited for 12 months. • " * Two persons were charged with drunkenness. Walter Humby, a third offender, was fined £3, and costs 2s 6d, or in default 14 days' imprisonment. A first offender, who was found drunk in the Albert Park, was' fined 10s and costs, or in default 24 hours' imprisonment.