POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13625, 19 December 1907, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

THEFT OF MONEY. At the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., a well-dressed young man named Frederick Huntly' St. Clair was charged, on remand, with the theft of £15, the property of Max. Cohen and others, of the Imperial Art Company, Auckland.

From the evidence, it appeared the accused entered the firm's employ in September last at £2 5s per week to commence with, his duties being to canvass for orders, and receive all moneys and bank them. Last month the accused had a cheque for £15 sent him to pay the employees, but he did not do so. On November 18 accused was instructed to proceed to Dunedin to take charge ' there, but he left for Australia. Other sums totalling £10 were also missing. . -. Accused pleaded guilty, and was commit* ted to the Supreme Court for sentence. A further charge was heard against accused of obtaining, by false pretences, a diamond ring, valued at £23 10s, _ from .Janet L. Gumming, a canvasser for jewellery, on November 12 last. Accused, after making a deposit for the ring, said he would pay the balance, but moneys he expected from South Australia did not arrive before ho was arrested. ~ Accused pleaded guilty on this i charge also, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. CHARGE AGAINST A POLICEMAN. The charge against Roderick Finlayson, a police constable, of assaulting Joseph Firm, at Newmarket, about one o'clock on the morning of December 3, and also with using insulting language, was continued. , Mr. Lundon prosecuted, and Mr.' Reed defended. It -was alleged that -the defendant pulled r the plaintiff's beard and kicked him after interrogating him about leaving a boardinghouse about one o'clock in the morning. _ In reply to Mr. Reed,- His Worship said he would not treat the case. summarily, but as an indictable offence. Under ordinary circumstances, the case might have been dealt with summarily, but seeing that it was a police officer who was charged, he thought the fullest opportunity for inquiry should be given, and a jury was the best medium. ; Defendant then pleaded not guilty, and reserved his defence. He was committed to the Supremo Court for trial. ■. . The charge of insulting language was deferred until after the Supreme Court sittings. MISCELLANEOUS. Two first offenders for drunkenness were fined 5s and costs. A third was remanded for a week for medical treatment. Daniel McCarten (employer) and Henry Sparkes (employee) pleaded guilty on two informations charging them with having cruelly ill-treated two horses by working them while they were suffering from sore backs. McCarten was fined £1 and costs, and Sparkes convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. It was explained that the defendant employer only used the horses because of a rush of work.