POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17846, 29 July 1921, Page 3

POLICE COURT NEWS.

LAPSE WHILE ON PROBATION, "AN UNFORTUNATE CARE." Charges of attempting to steal 10s, the property of Annie Kearney, and of assaulting Albert Noble, -were admitted by Edward Richard Black, • aged 40 (Mr. EUiott) in the Police Court "yesterday, before Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M. Sergeant Lander said the accused went into Mrs. Kearney's shop in Hobson while the owner was out at the back. When Mrs. Kearney returned ehe found that the till had been tampered with and 'with, the assistance of Noble and another man the uccused was pursued and caught. On tho way back to the shop ho attempted to escape and S struck Noble. The accused had a long list and was out of gaol on probation. Mr. Elliott said it was true the accused had a bad record on which i>« . might be termed practically a hardened criminal. Since his release on probation in 1913, however, he had made a genuine attempt to reform. The circumstances were tragio for his young wife, whom he had married' while bo was on leave from military camp in 1918. Until the present offence she knew nothing of his past record, and he had been a hardworking, honest citizen. For the past two months, bowever, he had been unable to get work and on the day of the offence had only twopence left. In spilo of the ehock she had received, tho wife wished to go back to him with the'three children, and her influence upon him would be of more effect than further prison treatment. The Magistrate said *-he accused bad a very had record indeed. Evidently tho influence of his wife bad not been quite strong enough. Sergeant Lander said that even if the accused were allowed probation now- the police would have to arrest_ him fo? breach of his probationary licene«, and he would be dealt with by tho Prisons Board. The Magistrate said the accused must be convicted, and ho would be remanded ■ for sentence until August 11, when the decision of the Prisons- Board should be known. It was, he said, an unfortunate case. - ■ —v ■" ■ THEFT OF A BANKNOTE. A charge of stealing a £1 banknote from Ghas. Dale was denied My Peter Bradley, aged 50. It was alleged that accused snatched the'banknote from TfaJo and refused to give it back to him. Accused maintained that the money •-vas owing to him as be had supported Dale, who was out of work. The Magistrate imposed a fine of £2, in default 10 days imprisonment. MISCELLANEOUS CASES. For threatening behaviour i" Albert 1 Street, causing a breach of tho peace, James McCarthy, aged 54, and William John Kuelier, aged 32, were ea'h fined £3 and 5s costs" Michael Cunningham, aged 27, on a charge of assaulting George Monares. was timed £3 and co&ts sft. For using obscene language at Devorport, John Fraser King, aged 22, was fined £5. On a eharze of stealing a bicv-Ic at Morrinsville, Henry Smith, aged 56, was rf-manded to appear at Hamilton neit Thursday. * A reniand nntil Mondav was granted in ' the case of Walter Wijlkm Knos, s-M ' 24, who was charged with rape. When ; I the accused applied for hail. Chief-D-if-live McMahon asked that it should **e { made substantial. Bail was fir*>d a', self ' j £200. and another surety of £200 or !■•■ r>