POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13813, 28 July 1908, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

PROHIBITION INCIDENTS. ORDER AGAINST A "DISTILLER." Before Mr. C. C. -Kettle, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday, John Lees gave an unusual reason why he should not be prohibited. Mr. Kettle thought that it would be advisable to make "him an abstainer, even though it wer-3 against his. .will. "But 1 am a. distiller" said Lees in dismay. Mr. Kettle: Are you in the distilling business just now? Accused: No, I am a ranger in the Avon hie district. Mr. Kettle: Well, I think I will make the order. used ; Bui I can distill the spirit at home. Mr. Kettle: Well, you must not do that or you will find yourself in a place where you can'', make whisky. The order was issued. A prohibition order was mad? against a 17-year-old youth named David Todd, on his mother's application. Todd came up charged, with a man named Charles Speedily, with being found on premises in Princes-street without lawful excuse. Mr. Kettle, after hearing tho evidence, said that he did not think there was any felonious intention, but Todd had fallen in with bad companions, and had been drinking. He would, therefore, accede to the request -hat a prohibition order be issued. AFTER THE FOOTBALL MATCH. " We had been at the football match." This excuse for misbehaviour was offered to Mr. Ketde a dozen tunes yesterday, by men whose excess of spirits had led them into trouble. Coming from Christopher Brown, however, it tell upon deaf ears. In company with eight other young men he was driving home from Alexandra Park in a. cart. They were all the worse for drink, and a policeman interfered in order to stop the How of bad language which was proceeding from the company. Brown, according to the officer of the law, aimed a savage blow at him .with the butt-end of the whip, just misting his head and striking him on the .-boulder. His Worship, stating that the police must be protected, fined Brown £5, or in default a month's imprisonmentThere appeared to be no ferocious side to the character of another man who had been to the match and got "liquored no." as he described it, Mr. Kettle was giving him golden words of advice when he burst into tears. In spite of entreaties to pull himself together the sobs came thick and. fast, "Don't send me to prison,' he wailed. Mr. Kettle had no intention of doing anything of that kind, however, but as the man came from the King Country he thought, it would be well to remand"him for .a day so that he could pull himself together before going borne. .: CHEAP JEWELLERY. It is seldom that one buvs a gold watch for 5s 6d. This bargain fell to the lot of a secondhand dealer in Auckland Ujq other day. According to the story of the assistant in the shop, Percy McQuillan, alias O'Brien,, entered the premises and offered what he described as a brass watch for sale. life price was fixed at 5s 6d. the assistant statin- that was unaware that the watch was made of a much more precious; metal than brass, namely gold. Detective Cox discovered the watch, there,.and also sought' out the seller. In consequence of this sale, McQuillan was charged with breaking and entering into a dwellinghouse, belonging to Mr. Andrew Olesen, at Mount Roskill, and stealing the- watch "and other trinkets." valued at £10. McQuillan, who stated that he had also sold to another dealer a gold chain belonging to Mr. Olesen for 6s 6d, pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

ANOTHER BARGAIN. William Reid, who was discharged previously without prejudice, again appeared on the charge of the theft of a watch, chain, and locket from William Meldrum on May 6. John Ross was also charged jointly with Re id with the theft. Mr. Skelton ap- _ peared for Eeid, ' Sir. Lundon for Ross, and Chief-Detective Mai-sack prosecuted. Abraham Bow den, cab proprietor, gave evidence to the effect that he had purchased the watch from Reid and Ross, who were in company, for 10s, believing it to .be stolen, and at once handed it over to a constable, who was some little distance off. After hearing evidence, which lasted for the whole of the afternoon, Reid's case was adjourned till to-day, and Ross' committed for trial. MANY CHANCES. The girl May Curtin, alias May Hallett, who was some" time ago placed under the guardianship of Mr. Sachs, with an order to come, up for sentence if called upon, in connection with several convictions for theft, was brought before the Court, owing to infringement.! by her of the conditions under which she had - been bound. The eirl expressed contrition for her failure to observe the conditions imposed, and was given another opportunity to reform by being sent to Miss Hudson's home at Otalmhu. . . An application by the police for an estreatment of Mr. Sachs' bond was opposed, Mr. Singer appearing for the bondsman. The matter will come before the Court again . this .afternoon. ' : ; MISCELLANEOUS. • Alexander Smith, tobacconist, charged with failing to close his shop at 9 p.m. on Monday, June 22, pleaded guilty, and was .fined '20s, and costs (7s). The week-end crop of inebriates included a man whose prohibition order expired only a few' days ago. He asked for another chance, and the magistrate expressed himself willing on his repeating a solemn promise not to drink to excess. ,