POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15501, 7 January 1914, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

THEFT FROM EXHIBITION.

CHARGE AGAINST A WOMAN.

Tot alleged theft of a bottle of tomato sauce, valued at 6d. .from the Exhibition stall of Messrs. Whittome, Stevenson, Limited, resulted in the appearance of Eatella Crawford, a woman 42 years of age, at the Police Court yesterday before Messrs. H. M. Shepherd and J- Stichbu'ry, J.P.'s. A fireman named E. Hudson, who was on duty in the Exhibition ou the evening of December 27, said that he had seen the accused coming from the direction of Messrs. Whittome, Stevenson's stall with a bottle of sauce under her arm. Thinking that the firm must have been giving away bottles, he went to the stall, and was informed that the accused had taken the bottle. He accost "d her, and she ad milted taking the bottle, but said that she had only done it " for fun," and had intended handing it to him. She mistook him for one of the firm. He took the bottle from her and informed the police. Josephine Stratz and Maud Trembath, who stated that they were employed in a stall opposite that of Messrs. Whittome, Stevenson, Limited, said that they had noticed the accused going up to the latter's exhibit, and returning with the bottle in her hand. A brother of the accused said she had not been "quite right" since a bad accident she had sustained some years ago. | She had never been in trouble before, and he undertook to do all he could to look after her in futureThe accused said she had no intention of stealing the article. She was convicted and ordered to pay costs to the amount of 30s. It was stated that she had over £91 in her possession when arrested, and arrangements were made to have this amount placed for her in the bank. SERIES OF CHARGES. A middle-aged woman named Elizabeth Allison Woods was charged with having on two occasions assaulted Letitia Hughes, and also with drunkenness and the use of obscene language. Mrs. Hughes, a frail old woman 78 years of age, alleged that on Boxing Day the | accused came into her house in Freeman's ' Bay, knocked her down and bit her. ' i " She would have murdered me if it hadn't , | been for a gentleman in the Court," asserted the witness, who added that the ' accused took exception to her sitting on 1 the verandah of her own house, which was : opposite that of accused. The witness also , alleged that she had again been assaulted on the following day. James Cairns, who said that he lived near both the parties, stated that on . Boxing Day he had seen the accused go , : into Mrs. Hughes's house, draff her on to , I the verandah, and knock Tier down. " Mind you, Mrs. Hughes is not an angel," he informed the Bench. "It was • only because of her age that I interfered." [ The witness also stated that he had much , trouble with both parties. ' Constables Murphy and Kennedy stated ' that on December 27, in consequence of 1 complaints received from Mrs. Hughes, , they went to accused's house- When they arrived she was using bad language, which could easily be heard from the street. She was in an advanced stage of drunkenness, and they locked her up. The accused denied all the charges, and said that Mrs. Hughes, who was "an old vixen," insulted her every time she saw 1 her. The Bench convicted and discharged the accused on the drunkenness charge, and dismissed the second assault charge. On the first count, of assault they sent i her to gaol for a month, and for the j obscene language fined her £10, in default one month, the term to start at the expiration of the first sentence. VAGRANCY ALLEGED. Robert Taylor Woods (Mr. Lundon) was ■ charged with being a rogue and a vagabond, having been found by night without lawful excuse on private premises in Symonds Street. Sub-Inspector Johnstone said that the man had been drinking heavily, and asked that he might be remanded for a week for medical treatment. This course was adopted, with a proviso that the accused snould be released on bail in a bond of £50, should the gaol doctor consider him in a fit state to be liberated. INTEMPERANCE. James Owens, a second - ending inebriate, was fined 10s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. Leslie Phillis, who - had been remanded for a week for medical treatment, was convicted and ordered to pay 17s 6d expenses, in default 48 hours in gaol. A first offender, who did not appear, was fined £1, the amount of his bail; and two other first offenders were each fined 58 or 24 hours. Another was convicted and was, on the application of his wife, prohibited for 12 months. A number of other cases were remanded-