POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13683, 26 February 1908, Page 9

POLICE COURT NEWS.

DEVONPORT BURGLARIES

Two small boys of respectable appearance. Hy. Loraas and Geo. Patrick Gray, aged 12 and 13 years respectively, were charged before Mr. Kettle, S M.. at the Police Court yesterday with breaking and entering the shop of John Lowe, of Devonport and stealing drapery to the value of between £4 and £5, and also with breaking and entering the office of J. W. Fendall and stealing sundries. The boys, for whom Mr. Brookfield appeared, pleaded guilty, stating that they went to a shed at the back of Lowe's shop to get some cardboard boxes for silkworms, and, not finding any, the suggestion was made to go into the shop and get " something good." Mr. Kettle ordered both boys to be convicted and to come up for sentence when called upon He went on to saythat he would order a birching to any boys that came before him in future. It was a disgrace that a juvenile Court should be a necessity. The amount of crime among children was a dreadful thing. The grandmother of the boy Gray appeared and asked His Worship to allow her to adopt the boy. His mother (her daughter) died two years ago, and she had adopted the two elder boys. She had plenty of means, and alleged that Mr. Gray was unduly cruel to the boy. Mr. Kettle said he had no power to order a child away from a parent without a sustained charge of cruelty. Mr. Gray denied that he was cruel to the boy, and, in answer to the pleadings of the grandmother, said he could not part with him. WOMEN CHARGED WITH RECEIVING. Cecilia Williams and Flora Eliza Lomas, both of Devon port, were charged with having received goods to the value ot ijl 15s and £2 12s respectively, the property of John Lowe, knowing the same to have been stolen. Detect McMahon prosecuted. Mr. Brookfield appeared for defendant Williams and Mr. Hackett for Lomas. On the application of counsel both cases were tried together, the contention being that while the theft by the boys was admitted they would show there was no intent on the part of defendants. The case arose out of the recent burglaries committed by boys at Devonport. The boy Henry Ixnna-s gave evidence to taking the goods home and putting them in his mother's bedroom. She asked him where he got them, and he replied that he found them. His mother told him to take them back at once, but instead he went to school. When the police came to him that morning he told them what he had done. Detective Shine gave evidence that the same morning lie went to the school and took the boys home. The defendant, Mrs. Williams, who is housekeeper for the father of the boy Gray, when questioned by the detective about keeping the goods, said that she was wailing for the boy's father to come home. She handed over lie goods voluntarily, and took him to where the goods were lying, without any attempt at. concealment. On going to Mrs. Lomas' house she said she told ° the hoy to Hike the Things back at once. Going into the house he found the goods under the mattresses of a bed and 'cot, and some handkerchiefs in the chest of drawers. She admitted assisting to cut up the goods, and said she had been very foolish to do so Constable Berry, of Devonport, gave evidence as to the general character of the defendants. Mrs. Lomas said that she told the boy I to take the goods back, but, he went to school, so she waited for his father to come home. She knew the goods must have been dishonestly obtained. Mr. Kettle said there was no real suspicion against the defendant Williams. The circumstances were entirely in her favour. The case against her would be dismissed. Defendant Lomas had not explained satisfactorily her conduct in regard to the cutting up of the goods and with the attempt at concealment. He reserved judgment until this morning. A LODGER'S TROUBLES. A well dressed young man named William Fart« was charged with obtaining board and lodging from Mrs. McMillan, of Wailii, to the extent of- £3, by false pretences. Detective McMahon. in asking for a remand to W&ihi, stated that accused was arrested in Queen-street by Detective Hollis and Constable Flavell, of Waikino. Jhe arrest had been effected through telegraphic advice, notifying that a warrant had been issued for his arrest. Mr. Hackett, for defendant, characterised the whole proceedings as unjustifiable. Defendant had innocently come to town for a week's holiday. He owed the landlady a small amount, but had no dishonest intention ; in fact, he came to Auckland in company with Constable Flavell, and was greatly surprised to be- arrested by that officer next morning. It was most unjust that a man could be arrested merely on telegraphic advice. Detective McMahon: The telegram says that a warrant was issued, there being a suspicion that defendant had intentions of going to Sydney. Mr. Kettle: In any case, Mr. Hackett, you are wrong to make attacks on the police and on the action of the justices who issued the warrant. If defendant has anything to say he should wait until the case is heard" at Waihi. The case was remanded, bail being allowed, in two sureties of £25 and accused's own of £50.

alleged forgery. A well-built young man, 17 years old, named Harrv Griffiths, was charged with having forged a cheque for £10 on the Bank of New Zealand, Cambridge, in the name of his employer, Howard Hammond, Mid attempting to utter the same to W. Gunsun. He was also charged with having attempted to utter a further cheque for £25. Sub-Inspector Gordon asked for a week's remand, which was granted. CHARGE OF THEFT. L'hii=. Gillolv was charged with the theft of a pair of winkers, valued at £1, the property of Krnest'Craig. He was defended bv Mr. Hackett. 'Detective McMahon, for the prosecution, asked for a remand for a week, and the request was granted. MAINTENANCE CASES. Charles William Windsor was ordered to contribute £1 per week towards the support of his wife and children ; he was also ordered to pay costs. Samuel John Smith, charged with disobeying an order of the Court to maintain his two children and with being in arrears to the amount of £26 14s. was ordered to pay forthwith, or in default be imprisoned for one month. Herbert Tattersall was charged with failing to maintain his two illegitimate children and with breaking an order of the Court for the pavment of arrears. The arrears amounted to £20 Is 6d for the first and £6 14s for the second child. Accused was sentenced to one month's imprisonment on each charge, the order to be suspended to allow him an opportunity to pay up arrears. MISCELLANEOUS. Four first offenders for drunkenness were convicted, two being lined ss, the third being ordered to pav 10s costs of medical treatment, and the "fourth, Nicholas Heath being fined ss, and prohibited for 12 ■months. A middle-aged, one-legged man, named Alexander Eadie was charged with a third offence of drunkenness, and with procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. Mr. Kettle, in remanding accused for a week's medical treatment, said he wondered at any respectable publican serving such a man with liquor.