POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15948, 19 June 1915, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

ALLEGATION OF ROBBERY.

LORNE STREET INCIDENT.

Two young men named Peter Graham, , alias Frank Allan, and Frederick Spencer, appeared before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., |at tho Police Court yesterday charged with stealing 3s 8d from Charles Clayton on June 5 and using violence towards him when they committed tho theft. [ Charles Clayton, a cook, said that he resided at the Salvation Army Home in Lome Street. One June 5, about 7 p.m., while returning along Lome Street someone spoke to him. Almost inmediately he was seized by two men who dragged' him along and into a house. He struggled but was struck oil the head and lost consciousness. When he came to he was lying outside in the yard near the right-of-way, There were some other people present then and witness was conveyed to the Salvation Army Home. He had two marks op. his head as the result of the assault and one of his ribs was broken. Ho was dazed till the following Monday and could not recollect properly the sequence of events. lie had 3s 8(1 in his pocket when assaulted, but one of tho men relieved him of this. On the Tuesday he saw Spencer enter the house in Lome Street into which ho had been dragged and identified him as one of his assailants. Witness had had two drinks that day, but was perfectly sober when ho was attacked.

Dr. J. V. Pearce, house surgeon at the Auckland Hospital, said Clayton was suffering from abrasions on the scalp and a fractured rib. Considerable force had been used to inflict tho injuries. Martha Wilson, who resides in Lome Street at the rear of the house occupied by Spencer, said that on tho night the robbery was alleged to have taken place she heard someone groaning and found Clayton standing a few yards from her back gate. He was in a dazed condition and was bleeding freely. He said he had been struck from behind. Harriet Greenough said she resided next door to Spencer. On June 6 she noticed a pool of blood and a cap in Spencer's yard and later saw a woman named Ruby Hall, who went under the namo of Mrs. Spencer, covering up the blood with ashos. '

Detective Quartermain gave evidence as to arresting accused, both of whom made statements. Spencer said that he struck Clayton 'because ho made some rude remark to his wife. The woman was not Spencer s wife and was of bad character. Graham stated that Spencer told him he whs fighting with Clayton and later he saw Spencer hand the woman some money which from subsequent remarks appeared to be 3s. He said " this was all the —— had."

he case was not finished when the Court rose at 5 p.m., and was adjourned till Monday.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. John Connolly, a chemist, who was charged with attempted suicide by taking an overdose of a drug, appeared for sentence. The magistrate remarked that Dr. Stride, who examined tho accused, said that ho did not think that he was insane. He, however, was of opinion that a long term in an inebriates' home would benefit Connolly. Mr. A. Moody, who appeared for Connolly, said that he. had had a taste of gaol since he was remanded, and there was very little fear of him repeating the offence. His parents, who were well off, would probably take charge of him if he was convicted and discharged. The magistrate said that all he wanted to do was to ensure the accused's safety in the future. He did not want to do anything harsh, but he could not pass over Dr. Stride's report lightly. If accused could get two doctors to certify that it would bo of no benefit to send him to an inebriates' home, then he would allow him to go. Dr. Pearce, who was in Court, subsequently examined accused, and ho informed the Court that his moral control had been upset by drugs. If he could be induced to keep away from flings ho might be better. The magistrate then ordered .. accused to come up for sentence when called upon, provided he gave up drugs and liquor. THEFT OF BOTTLES. William Joseph Price was charged with stealing, on various dates between March 4 and April 6, 44 dozen empty bottles and six empty cases, valued at £4 8s 6d, tho property of tho Northern Steamship Company. In company with John Breen, he was further char with stealing 25 dozen empty bottles, valued at £1 18s 4d, the property of the same company. The accused, who were represented by Mr. W. Hackett, pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant ft oil is said that the accused were carters, employed by the Great Northern Brewery Company, and had been engaged in delivering cases of liquor at different wharves. On several occasions Price picked up cases of empty bottles consigned to various merchants in Auckland, and sold them to a bottledealer. On one occasion, Breen assisted him, and they divided the proceeds, which amounted to 19s 2d each. Breen was induced by Prioe to help him on that occasion, aud this was his only lapse. The magistrate said that Breen was apparently led astray by Price. He would bo convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, provided he refunded 19s 2d, the amount ho received for the bottles. Price would bo fined £5, and also ordered to refund the amount he obtained from the sales. I ' MISCELLANEOUS. John Chishnlm pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of boots, value 16s 6d, and said that ho was under the influence of liquor. The magistrate issued a prohibition order against accused, and ordered him to como up for sentence when called upon. Two first offenders were convicted of drunkenness and discharged. A third stated that he had had one drink before being arrested and was not intoxicated. He suffered from paralysis, and this made him appear as though he staggered through drunkenness. The magistrate dismissed the case. Henry Barstow was fined 10s, and John Eugene McGee was ordered to forfeit his bail, £1. Frank Walfrid was fined £1 and prohibited. Thomas Flanagan was fined 10s and costs for being disorderly while drunk. George Howellett was fined £2 for using obscene language. * -