POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14301, 22 February 1910, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

EVADING CUSTOMS DUTY.

A FINE IMPOSED.

At the Police Court' yesterday morning, before Mr. C. C. Keitle, S.M., a sailor named Joseph McGurk, quartermaster on the steamer Buteshire, was charged with having un-Customed i goods in his possession, viz., one oilskin coat, valued at £1 10s. The accused, who was undefended, pleaded not guilty.

The Collector of Customs, in opening the case for he prosecution, stated that on Saturday afternoon an official employed by -the Department saw the accused coming from the direction of the Buteshire with the coat in his possession. When stopped accused said the coat came from Liverpool, and had been worn several times. The official then requested McGurk to accompany him on board, in order that his. story might be verified ; but accused refused, and went into town instead. The official then took the coat to the first officer, who stated that the man was McGurk. - '

Joseph McGurk, in, giving evidence, swore that he knew nothing of-the article in question. It was a case of mistaken identity, and there were men. on the ship who might.easily be mistaken for himself.

.The second officer said the accused could not possibly be mistaken for another member of the crew. ' .

After hearing all the evidence the. Bench decided to convict, and imposed a fine of £4 17s 6d, representing three times the value of goods and the duty on the same. At the captain's request the accused was kept in custody until this morning, when he will be placed on board the vessel. • ' v " ;

A CHRISTMAS GOOSE. James Henarick' pleaded guilty to a charge of , stealing a goose, valued at 12s 6d, on Christmas Eve last". On the date in question the accused, who is a groom; was told by his employer to go for a drive with a cabman who was just leaving the stable. Later they picked'up a passenger, who was the owner, of the goose. On reaching their destination the accused managed to conceal the bird and took it home with him. He was sentenced to one month's hard labour.

BY-LAW CASES. . : v .. . A. Hollis, William Thompson, and T. S. Corry pleaded guilty to trespassing on the railway lino at Mount Eden, contrary to the by-laws. They ..explained that it had become a practice of late, and nobody had been summoned before. A fine of Is and costs was imposed in each case. . '

Charles Thomas Spearpoint was' fined 5s for suffering his vehicle to remain standing in a public place longer than was necessary for the loading and unloading of goods. -,s

• REMANDED CASES. ' Percy Henry Ellis, a servant of the Auckland Harbour Board, was again before the Court, charged with stealing on February 5 five cases of benzine, valued at '£2 ss, the property of" the Harbour. Board. At the request of 1 Chief-Detective , Marsack the case was adjourned for another week.

Arthur Parker, charged" with stealing on .February.: 12 one pair of-.• tailors' •' cutting • shears, • valued. at £2 ss, from Francis McKenna, was remanded until to-day.

iGeorge Campbell, who was charged with stealing a swag, containing goods to the value of £5, the property of John Lock, was remanded; until to-morrow.

The case against John Melville, who was charged with stealing the •• sum of £3' 15s from the Aurora Hotel on .February 18, was adjourned for a week. Frank William Allen,' charged with entering the Thames Hotel while prohibited, was remanded for, eight days.

Barney Ryan, charged with failing to provide for the maintenance of his illegitimate child, was remanded until Friday next. •

William Jones, charged with indecency while drunk, was remanded for a '.week to undergo medical treatment.

DRUNKENNESS.

Two first offenders were convicted and discharged, and two others, " who failed to appear, forfeited £1, the 'amount of

their bail,

men Urtll. * John Hawker, an old man, 82 years of age,„ who had several previous convictions against him, admitted being drunk in Lorne-street ,on Saturday last. He was remanded for a week, in order that a suitable home might be found for him. Timothy Dwyer, who was arrested in an intoxicated condition and minus , his coat and boots, was convicted and fined 10s, and a prohibition order was taken out against him. MISCELLANEOUS. A young man, giving lie name of Lewis Weeks Byron, was deemed a rogue and a vagabond, in that he had insufficient means .of support. The police explained that the accused had been sleeping in parks for days past, and was very miserable and destitute. As there was some doubt as to his mental condition he was remanded for a week, in order that medical evidence might' be taken.

Frederick Silvester Follas was charged with failing to account for fruit received on February 16 from William John Clark, and also with neglecting to pay the sum of 10s, which it was alleged was due to the said William Clark as commission. After hearing evidence, the Bench decided to dismiss the case, as there was doubt as to accused having any criminal intent. .