POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18089, 13 May 1922, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

THEFT CHARGES ADMITTED.

GAOL AND REFORMATORY.

Three mon'tlia' hard labour, to bo followed by not more than 12 months' rcfor- ! mative detention, was imposed on a young I man. Edward Arthur Peters, who came before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in the Police Oourt yesterday for sentence on three charges of theit and one of false pretences. Accused also admitted *ho theft of a ukelelo and case, and having failed to comply with tho terms of his release on probation. The total value of the stolen property was about "-15. 'Die 'vocation officer said that accused had *.J »;n placed on probation for theft in nHiober and ordered to make restitution. Ho had not done so. He seemed to have lost hope. Accused had told the probation officer that ueoplo were always referring to the fact that he was on probation for theft. The magistrate said it was hopeless •when a man was given a chance like aocused had been given and then went back.

DOWNFALL DUE TO DRINK. " Drink is the cause of his downfall," said the probation officer in reference to William Robert Cooke, aged 24, who appeared for sentence for theft of a wallet containing £5 10s. Accused was admitted to probation for 12 months, ordered to make restitution within three months, and to abstain from liquor during his probation.

ALLEGED THEFT OF LAUNCH. James Bennington, aged 32, appeared on charges of having stolen a launch valued at £700 and having obtained five cruses of benzine by falsely representing that ho was the owner of a launch then lying at the Western Whari. Accused was further remanded till Monday.

TRESPASSING ON RACECOURSE. " This man is a ' guesser,'" said Detective Meiklejohn, giving evidence in the caeo against Alexander Copeley, who was charged with having trespassed' on the Ellerslio racecourse. The detective said that defendant did not seem to do any work, but followed race meetings. Defendant, who did not appear, was fined £5 and costs. Samuel Brown was fined £1 for trespassing on the Ellerslio racecourse.

OVERCROWDING POULTRY. For overcrowding poultry consigned from Whitford Norman Francis was fined £2 and costs. The inspector for the Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said ho examined a crate containing 13 head of poultry at the Auckland railway station. The birds were S'reatly overcrowded, and the. box was open on one side only. One bird was dead and the others were gasping for breath and exhausted. They wore in a very bad state.