POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18411, 29 May 1923, Page 9

POLICE COURT NEWS.

THEFTS FROM EMPLOYERS.

SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT

A series of charges of having fraudulently •■ failed to account for moneys received on terras requiring him to account for the same to his employer was Admitted by Harold Gordon Peter Ghent; (Mr. Moody), j a salesman, aged 27, in the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M. The total amount involved was just over £100, : and the moneys had been received at Paeroa, Cambridge, Waikino, Thames, Karangahake. and Matamata. .■..: vi ■" ; In a statement produced by Detective McHngh, accused said he had been in. New Zealand about 15 months, his homo having been in South Africa. ; Since last October he had i been employed by John- • stone, Ltd., Customs Street, as salesman and collector for the Auckland province. Hf. admitted ; having collected the amounts' mentioned in the charges, and converting them to his own use. The trouble was due to drink. He had been wounded and gassed in the war, and had had malaria and sunstroke in India. His nerves were affected, with the result that when ; he took drink he did not know what he was doing. He was willing to make : restitution. '. * Chief-Detective Mcllveney said nothing was previously known against accused. Counsel, in pleading for leniency, urged that there were some mitigating circumstances. He asked that if : the Court could not grant probation, only a short sentence be imposed. - The magistrate said he could not give a short term.' There was too much stealing from employer?. Accused was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. . ASSAULT BY INDIAN. . Charles Bucka (Mr. Singer), an Indian hawker, was fined £5 for assault. Evidence was given that accused had struck a man over the head with a pole. Accused denied the charge, and contended that the injury to the man's head was caused through his falling down and striking the pavement. In convicting accused the magistrate eaid that when a similar case Was before the Court some time ago, he gave a warning' that Indians should not take the law into their own hands if interfered with, but should inform the police. ASSAULT CHARGES ADMITTED. Charges of indecent assault and common assault on a young woman at Avondale were made against Arthur Patrick McDonald (Mr. Singer). Evidence on the latter charge showed that accused caught the girl by the throat, threw her on to the ground, and a struggle followed. Accused, who is a married man with six children, pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court fcr sentence. OFFENCE IN THE STREET. For having committed an indecent act in Victoria Street, John Somich, aged 35, who did not appear, was fined £3.