POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13523, 22 August 1907, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

ALLEGED THEFT OF .STAMPS.

At the Police Court yei-terday. before .Messrs. J. S. Dickson arid P. 6. Clayton, J.P.s, Robert .Minter was charged with Stealing between August 10 anil 12 .i quantity of stamps and six bottles M marking ink, the property'of John Field. Detective McMahun prosecuted, uc< used being undefended. John Henry Field, printer, of Albertstreet, said accused had been in his employ, but had been dismissed owing to his drunken habits. Between August 10 and 12 the shop had been entered and a quantity of stamps taken, also some buttles of marking ink. Witness recognised some of the articles produced as his property.

Detective Scott said ha*" when he questioned accused as to where he got the stamps, which he had, together with several notebooks, bottles of ink, etc., in his possession at the time of arrest, lie replied that he had bought them at the Devonport Post Office. Accused admitted that he had cnteied the shop, but said that was on August 9, and he did not take anything. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, was committed for trial. "A MAN IN DIFFICULTIES." A youth named Alexander Stewart McKenzie was charged before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., with obtaining £3 from Rebekah S. Bent, and 12s from William F. Gillies, by means of false pretences. Mr. J. K. Lundon appeared for accused. Accused had obtained the money on the understanding that it was for a man in difficulties. He was not working at the time, and the man in difficulties was himself. He had bought groceries, etc., with the money, and had taken them home, saying they had been bought out of his wages. He then obtained work, and with portion of his legitimate wages had backed Shrapnel and Paritutu (first and second) in the Grand National Hurdle Race, decided last week at Christchurch. However, ho did not have the pleasure of handling his dividend, as he was arrested on the night of the race. Accused, who was before the Court in March last, when he was admitted to probation, was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment on each charge. He was also given 14 days for committing a breach of the Probation Act, all sentences to run concurrently. AN EXPENSIVE PET. Alexander Leith was charged with cruelly ill-treating a gray mare belonging to him. Mr. Brookh'eld prosecuted on behalf of Mr. H. Alder, inspector for tho Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Defendant was previously before the Court on a similar charge, in connection with the same horse. On that occasion he -was fined £8. It was stated that the mare was a familypet, with an unsightly knee, which had not been attended to as it should have been. Defendant had been advised to destroy the animal, but had not done so. The Bench imposed a fine of £5 and costs. MISCELLANEOUS. Michael Kiely, charged with drunkenness (fourth offence) and committing a breach of his prohibition order, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. There were four first offenders for drunkenuess. Two were fined 5s and costs, and the other two, who did not appear, forfeited their bail (£1). For driving a vehicle round a corner at other than a walking pace, a lad named Connell was fined 5s and costs.