POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18662, 19 March 1924, Page 6

POLICE COURT NEWS.

BORROWED BOOKS SOLD. TWO YEARS' PROBATION. A marine engineer, James Hannay, aged 35 (Mr. Finlay), who appeared for sentence on two charges of theft oil books ; and one of tools at Devonporb and Takapuna, admitted a further charge of stealing 15 books, valued at £2, when charged at the Police Court yesterday before Mr. J. "W. Poynton, S.M. The total value was £4 ss. Counsel said the case presented unusual features, and ho would ask the magistrate to take an unusual course. Accused came of a good 'family, and had previously borne an unblemished character. He had been unable to obtain work as an engineer, and had just drifted along. Then these petty thefts were committed. This peculiar phase had never manifested itself before, and the break had occurred when he was in particularly hard circumstances. Counsel urged that accused be given a free chance to rehabilitate himself, and not even be placed on probation. Work would be found for him, and his family would see that temptation was not placed in his way. The magistrate said he could not adopt this course. It would be useless. Hannay was placed on probation for two years, and ordered to make restitution within three months. WOMAN SENT TO uAoL. One month's imprisonment, was imposed on Ettie o 'Toole, aged 35, who admitted wilfully damaging a pane of glass valued at 17s 6d. It was stated that accused threw a stone through a window. She had previous convictions against her. MONEY NOT ACCOUNTED FOR. „ Failure to account for sums of 7s 9d, £1, and 4s 2d, received on terms requiring him to account for the money to his employers, R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd., Was admitted by George Henry Archer, aged 22 (Mr. Short). The chief detectivo said that accused had been employed by the firm at Devonport for some time. Part of his duty was' to collect accounts from customers, and he had converted the sums mentioned to his own use. .Accused's previous character was good. Counsel said this was the first time the young man had ever done anything of this sort. It seemed that the only explanation for his action was that he had taken the money to help pay expenses incurred by rowing at regattas. The young man 'was the eldest of a family of seven, and assisted to support his mother, who was a widow. Accused was placed on probation for one year, and ordered to make restitution within six months. STOWAWAY FROM LIVERPOOL.

A young man, Peter O'Connor, admitted having stowed away oil the steamer Mahana at Liverpool. He had given himself up when the vessel was a day out at sea, and had been handed over to tho police sifter arrival at Auckland. The chief detective said that aroused had worked exceptionally well during the voyage, and his'conduct had been good. His reason for stowing away was that lie, was out of work, had no money, and wanted to return to New South * Wales, where his family resided. The polico would assist him to get to Sydney. The magistrate said the Salvation Army would assist O'Connor. If lie left New Zealand within a week no. more would be heard of the case.