POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14923, 22 February 1912, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

YOUNG MAN'S STUPID ACTION. DISCHARGED WITH A WARNING. In the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., a young man named Charles Armstrong, who was represented by Mr. Moody, was charged that in November last he stole a knife, fork, and plate, valued at ss, and a spade, shovel, and two picks, valued at 15s, the property of Robert and George Walton. Mr. Moody said the young man had taken the law, both criminal and civil, into his own hands. He had taken a contract with one of the Waltons, and the latter left him to finish it. Because he lost money on the contract through Walton, he thought that he had a right to the articles. " You have put yourself in an awkward position through your stupid action," said Mr. Cutten, in discharging Armstrong with a warning. ROLLS OP TWEED. John Lynch, Frederick Adams, Richard McKenzie, and Daniel John Carney, four men who had the appearance of seamen, were charged that they stole four rolls of tweed, the property of persons unknown. Sub-Inspector Hendry said the men were arrested very early that morning, having in their possession swags containing the tweed. . The explanations given, varied considerably. A remand till Tuesday was granted, so that the police can make inquiries. THE DEFENCE ACT. Youths who had refused to take the oath as territorials, were given two alternatives. Either they had to promise to take the oath of allegiance and attend drill or pay a fine of £2 and costs 7s. Thoso who found a difficulty in deciding were given a week to consider. "I refuse to take the oath," said C. F. Brewin. Ho was fined the amount mentioned, and the same penalty was imposed on F. M. Smith, J. Rider, and F. Doran. Nine others, who Sub-Inspector Hendry said had been badly advised at first, but who were now willing to become territorials, wore let off with costs. There was a disturbance in tho body of the Court during the proceedings, and an elderly man, who shouted " Hear, hear," when one youth said he would not take any oath, walked out smartly, with a constable's hand on his shoulder. INTEMPERANCE. A first offender for drunkenness was fined 5s or 24 hours. ° An elderly woman named Catherine Reilly, for drunkennes, was fined £2 in default seven days.

MISCELLANEOUS. Rudolph Allen, a hawker, who said that ho always took care to lock his paddock gates at night, was fined 5s and cost* 7a, for allowing his horse to wander. William Robert Garland, a young married man, was charged with having committed a criminal assault last Wednesday, and was remanded for a week, bail being allowed. On a charge of ill-treating a horse Ah Fook was fined £2 and 45s costs.