TWICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13648, 16 January 1908, Page 7

TWICE COURT NEWS.

'4LLEGED FALSE PRETENCES. POLICE FIND THE HIDDEN TREASURE. A. iou> i man named John Pearce Baker, who was formerly in business in Newl market, pleaded not guilty to four charges of having obtained money by means, of false pretences from M. O'Connor, of the Waverley Hotel, and J. S. Dickson, mercer. Chief-Detective Marsack prosecuted, and Mr. Pilkington defended. The evidence shewed that the accused had once a banking account, but it had run out towards the end of last year. He wanted some money, and went to ' Mr. O'Connor, and a3ked him to cash cheques, the impression on Mr. O'Connor ; at the time being that accused had a banking account. Baker secured three blank cheque forms, and, filling them in, secured the cash from Mr. O'Connor. A couple of days later he went, to Mr. O'Connor and asked him to hold back the cheques as he expected some money. Accused also handed a £5 cheque to Mr. Dickson, securing a suit of clothes and £1 6s, in exchange. The cheques were eventually presented at the bank, but dishonoured. After the information was , served accused returned the money. When the detectives went to arrest him they were told by the boardinghouse-keeper he was not in, but on a search being xnade. he was found hiding under a bed. Accused, on oath, said he had no intention of committing a crime, "but intended simply helping a friend named Pearson. He expected money from his people at. Home, and also from some people who owed him money here. He admitted going to the racecourse after he obtained the money.

Mr. Kettle: Now .is this not the fact, that you expected to make a rise at the races and you hoped thereby to repay the money? Accused: No; no such thing. Mr. Marsack: Why were you dodging the police then? Accused: I was not.

, Mr. Kettle: Were you hiding under the led?No, only hiding by the side of the bed.

Were you hiding to save yourself? No; I thought I would lie under the bed, and if the detectives caught me, they . would; and if they did not, well and good (Laughter.) Mr. Marsack: You were. dodging the police then?— 1 had hoped to settle • the - case out of Court.

Detective Scott denied that the police disturbed the accused's room. . They found the room littered with papers and other things when they arrived. They did not take any letters away. An adjournment wa3 made to enable the accused to find a letter he said he had received from Home promising him money. On resuming, the accused said he could not find the letter.

Mrs. C. M. Macl'arlane, of Remuera, with whom the accused resided, deposed that she recollected him receiving a letter from his people in Cornwall (England) promising him money. That was about Christmas last. She had raised money on a deed of hers before Christmas for the accused. In reply to Mr. Marsack, witness. said she "had written to Mr. O'Connor offering to repay him the money. She denied having concealed the accused or a man named Pearson^

who was "wanted" by the police. .A remand for eight days was granted, to enable the accused to verity the statement that he was promised money from Home.

BREACH OF GREY LYNN BY-LAWS. . " Philip Sparnon was charged with hav/ing on October I2 1 connected a drain pipe i.with a service without .having first given the town clerk of Grey Lynn three days' police, and further, with having laid a jjram -pip© and made connections . without being licensed. Mr. Sharpies appeared for the ■ prosecution, and Mr. J. R. Lundon for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. The facto were" admitted, but it was pleaded that the defendant obtained a permit last June. This permit was not used and the defendant thought he was within his rights in using it for the latest job, on which the information was laid. Mr. Kettle said he agreed that questions of drainage were most important, and no connections should be made without the consent of the local authority. The defendant had unwittingly ignored the by-laws. It was plain to him that the by-laws had not been enforced; in . fact, there had been a certain amount of laxity on both sides. He convicted defendant, and thought the case would be met by a fine of Is and costs. AN ACCIDENT. A young woman named Emily Stanley pleaded not guilty to a charge of having no visible means of support. She declared that she did not roam about the streets at night, but when asked how she came to be found in the park at three o'clock in the morning, said that it was an accident. Defendant was convicted, and sent to the Salvation Army Home for six months.

WHEN IS ASSAULT JUSTIFIABLE '<

Edward Bailey admitted having struck Ernest Schmidt, but pleaded that, he had been provoked into the act. The evidence showed that neighbours quarrelled, and Schmidt, it was alleged, made Insulting remarks concerning the defendant's family. Sergeant Hendry added that the defendant had done what 99 out of every 100 men would have done—struck the inBulter. Mr. Kettle thought the circumstances almost justified the defendant's action. The law, however, had been violated, but looking at all the facts he felt there was every excuse for defendant's action. The case was dismissed

BREACH OF THE SHOPS ACT. William Offer, a shopkeeper, appeared 5n answer to a summons from the Labour Department for having failed to (-lose his • shop, as prescribed by the provisions of the Shops and Offices Act; and further, with having employed an assistant for more hours than allowed by the Act. The defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined 5s and costs on each charge. MISCELLANEOUS. A middle-aged man named Henry Boyeon, charged with stealing a pair of i boots, was remanded for a week. For allowing stock to wander on the roads in Remuera, W. Gall, N. Austin, and H. Pickering were ail fined, Gall 10s, and the two latter 5s each and costs. In the Police Court news yesterday there appeared the name of a woman, Ada Kwai, charged with using obscene language. This name was given on the police charge-list, but it was not correct, ;■:". the proper name of the offender being ;;: Adi Quoi. „_____