POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17595, 7 October 1920, Page 9

POLICE COURT NEWS.

CARTER'S THEFT QN WHARF. ONE- MONTH'S HARD LABOUR. Hie theft,of a sack of potatoes, valued ati £1, -on Hobson Wharf, on August 23, -was'admitted by a carter, William Varley jßorgolfce, who appeared at the Police Court yesterday before Mr. J. W. Pownton, S.M~' The ; evidence.) showed that accused had , taken a load of wire to''the wharf and-discharged it near a pile of sacks of potatoes. lie pat a, sack on his cart, remarking to A boy. that he would . have one. A tally clerk was informed, and at his request accused" the sack off bis cart, saying he had taken it for a joke. , Senior-Sergeant Eales said that accused had previously been convicted for theft. He was sentenced to one month's hard labour. > WHISKY STOLEN FROM' CART. Two firemen from the Atua, Robert Johnson and John Taylor (Mr. Moody), pleaded not guilty to a charge* of having stolen two bottles of whisky, valued at 255, the property of Hancock and Company, Ltd. Senior-Sergeant Sales said the men were seen taking two bottles from a cart in Customs Street, while the driver was away. They were followed and arrested, the two bottles being found ,in their possession. They were under the influence of liquor. The magistrate said there were quite enough undesirable immigrants, and he did not want to keep the men here. They would be fined £3 each, with costs. DANGEROUS MOTOR DRIVING. A charge of having driven a motor-car at a dangerous speed was made against Trevor Cunningham. Evidence was given to the effect that defendant drove up Upper Queen Street at a " terrific" pace with the silencer out, turned rounbT at the top, and« came down even faster. The magistrate said it was a wonder there were not more accidents on that gradient. Accused was fined £10 and costs 21s. A second charge of having made undue noise was withdrawn. Frank Arthur Abbott was fined £3 and i costs for having driven a motor-car past a stationary tramcar at more than five mile 3 an tour. EVASION OF TRAM FARE. For having avoided payment of his tram fare, John McGregor was fined £?. with costs £1 13s. The evidence showed i that when asked for his fare he took j some time to produce it, so the conductor went on. When asked for his fare later, defendant, who had a concession ticket, refused to pay, saying his ticket had been punched. He was under the influence of drink. .