POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17957, 6 December 1921, Page 10

POLICE COURT NEWS.

BREAKING AND ENTERING;, X'.- j YOUTH'S THEFT FROM A HOUSE. A charge of breaking and entering a 'dwelling occupied by Mrs. F. H. Turner at Allaridale Road, Mount and stealing £8 10s was admitted by William Robert Curzon, aged 20, who appeared before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday. Evidence was-given by theand another occupant that on returning to the house on the evening of November 26 they found the door ajar and money, a and two purses missing from a bedroom drawer. A fruiterer in business in the vicinity identified accused aa a man who had asked him to cash, a cheque jn tho evening in question. Detective Knight read a statement in whi.cn accused said he had gone to the house io look for the occupant, whom he Jraew, and receiving no answer to his knock, had walked in. He was under the influence of liquor and unthinkingly opened a drawer and took the purses. He had a wife and child; full restitution had been made. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, bail being allowed for £100.

THEFT FROM PERSON DENIED. The theft of £35 from the person of A. N V. McGuire was denied by Thomas Fearo'n, aged 24 (Mr Goldstine). Tho complainant alleged that when he was under the influence of liquor the accused took a roll of notes from his pockfifc. Lengthy evidence was called for the prosecution. The accused pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. MANIA FOR WINDOW SMASHING. Charges of having committed mischief by wilfully damaging a plate glass window valued at £20, the property of Jacob Ziman, and having damaged two windows and a barin at the gaol were made against John James McMahon, aged 45. Evidence was given that the accused was seen running away from Mr. Ziman s shop. He was arrested and brought back to the window, where a brick was found, and Jul- pockets were found to be full of stones. At the gaol he broke the two windows of his cell, and damaged hi? basin by hitting it against the wall. He denied doing this damage, but the windows were intact when he was lodged in the cell, and he was the only occupant. On the first charge accused was sentenced to one month's* imprisonment, and ordered to pay £20, and on the second charge was ordered to pay £1 damages. A SERIOUS CHARGE. The Court was cleared during the hearing of a charge of having indecently assaulted a boy of eight years, preferred against Norman James Walsh, aged 25. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for triaL bail being allowed for £300. MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES. A sentence of one month's imprisonment was imposed on William Hairy O'Neill, aged 36, who was convicted of stealing 5s fid, the property of James Shannon, while druak in Albert Street. The police Stated that the accused _ had been sentenced for theft at Wanganui. William James French, aged 21, was fined £2 and 30s costs for vising threatening behaviour whereby a breach of the peace was occasioned. James Migan, aged i 37, was fined £1, in default three day?'" imprisonment, for having assaulted a companion with whom he had been drinking.