POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15995, 13 August 1915, Page 3

POLICE COURT NEWS.

FORGERY OF A CHEQUE

CHARGE AGAINST TWO MEN

Charges of forging a cheque for £5 10s in the name of "S. H. Pagni" and causing Louis Mendelssohn, a pawnbroker, to act on it as though it were genuine, were prefen->d against a. middle-aged man named Peter Alexander, alias Colembo, and a youth named Ernest Saunders at the Police Court yesterday morning. The case was heard by Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M. Mr. A. Moody appeared for Saunders. • Alexander pleaded guilty, and said he took all the blame on himself for the forgery. Saunders filled in the cheque at his dictation, and had nothing further to do with it. He received none of the proceeds. Mr. Moody asked the magistrate to dismiss the case against Saunders, as he was only a tool in the hands of Alexander, who had previously been convicted. Saunders had hitherto borne an excellent character.

The magistrate declined to accede to the request, as Saunders had filled in the cheque.' Alexander was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence, and Saunders, who pleaded not guilty, was committed for trial. The latter was allowed bail in one surety of £100. PAWNING OF A RING. Stanley Herbert Jones admitted that he had stolen a gold ring, value £9, the property of Messrs. Howard <nd Birkett, jewellers. Chief-Detective McMahon said the accused got two rings and only returned one. Subsequently he admitted he had pawned the ring at Wellington, and had received £3. Accused had only one leg, and was in rather delicate health. The pawn ticket had been recovered, and accused had £2 4s l.j,d on him when arrested. He had hitherto borne an unblemished character. Mr. A. Moody, who appeared for accused, asked for leniency. He said accused had never committed an offence before. The magistrate ordered accused to come up for sentence when called upon. The sum of £2, found in his possession, is to be retained for the purpose of redeeming the ring, the balance to be made up within a week. GIVEN A CHANCE. Arthur Ernest Napier Coham appeared | for sentence on a charge of receiving £10 | 19s from Irene Smale at Devonport, and failing to account for it to Robert Crooks. The magistrate said the Probation Officer's report was favourable, and he would order accused to come up for sentence when called upon, provided he returned to work with his former employer and gave an order for his wife- to receive his wages. He would also be prohibited and ordered to refund the money taken, at the rate of 10s -a week. MISCELLANEOUS CASES. Henry Stewart pleaded guilty to a charge of cruelly ill-treating a horse by riding it when it was suffering from a sore back. The magistrate imposed a fine of £1 and costs 16s. Ah Ling, for driving a horse and cart on the wrong side of the road, was fined 10s and costs 7s. Edwin Crawford and George Plow were each fined a similar amount for leaving vehicles standing unattended in the street for a longer period than was necessary. Christopher Smyth was convicted and ordered to pay 7s costs for committing a similar offence in respect to a motor-oar. For failing to have the car properly lighted he was fined 10s and costs 7s. Frank Anton Denz was \ fined 5s and costs 7s for driving a vehicle , across *.he intersection of Queen and Viei toria Streets at other than a walking pace. . Allan Aitken and Lance Grey were each fined 5s for riding bicycles without ; having a registered number attached. Edward Cunningham was ordered to pay [ 7s costs on a similar charge. Thomas Smith was fined 5s and costs for riding i a bicycle along a footpath. He was convicted and discharged for riding the bicycle without having a registered mini- ■ ber and a bell attached. George Yardley ; was fined a similar amount for riding a - bicycle along a footpath. Jack Wilson was fined 5s and costs for hawking goods 1 without a license.

For keeping unregistered doers Paul Bernasconi, Ernest Chatfield, Harry G-rin-linton, Nurse Hallam, Fred. Henwood, George McNeil, David McQuoid. William Patterson, Ronald Sherlcck,, Phillip Spanning, and John Whitih'ngton were each ordered to pay 7s costs. George Yardley, Jack Wilson, and James Gough were each fined 5s and costs for a similar offence. *

William Chan, a Chinaman, was ordered to pay 7s costs for displaying goods 0"i a shelf which encroached on the footpath outside his shop.