POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14854, 4 December 1911, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

A PETTY THEFT. A toitng man, Jae. Osborne Sparrow, pleaded guilty in the Police Court on Saturday, before Messrs. 0. Norgrove and W. Marshall, J.Ps., to stealing a book, valued at 2s and some vegetables, valtw Is. It was stated that a constable saw the accused snatch a book from outside a bookseller's shop, and secrete it uncer his coat. When the constable accosted him, ho said he had bought it but the shopkeeper denied selling it. When searched the vegetables were found on him, and no admitted stealing them from a greengrocer's shop. Accused, who said ho was under the influence of drink at the time, was fined £1 and costs. ______ . OVERHEARD IN THE CELL. On the information of Jas. McNeill, Percy Richardson was charged with assault. Complainant avowed that Richardson assaulted him without any provocation whatever. Defendant said that complainant had asked one of his mates for a shilling, and that complainant was " bustling his mate," and he took his mate's side. He called two witnesses to oorrnhonto his statement, but it transpired that one of them had been locked up for drunkenness in the same cell with accused, and they had bean overheard discussing the case by the watchhouse keeper. Defcndnnt's story, thoreforp. faPH to gain credence, and ho was fined £2 and costs, in default seven days in gaol. . MISCELLANEOUS. Five first offenders for drunkenness were fined ss, and one forfeited bail. Another, an inmate of the hospital, who had recently lost one hand, was convicted and discharged. ( Edward Fahev was fined £2 for being disorderly whilst drunk, and for using obscene language.