POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18827, 30 September 1924, Page 10

POLICE COURT NEWS.

THEFT OF A WATCH-CHAIN.

THREE MONTHS* IMPRISONMENT.

■' ' -" ■!'■■:■■ '.', An average list of cases was dealt with at the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. J. W. Poyhtbh, S.M . Mr. T. Gubb, J. /was also on the Bench. The theft of a gold watch-chain, valued at £6 10s, was denied by Frederick William Gardiner, aged '■ 39, who also pleaded not guilty to a chargo of vagrancy. Chief-Detective Cummings stated that accused had been unable to give a satisfactory explanation regarding the ownership of a watch-chain found in his possession. He had been seen to pass a gold watch to another man when the police approached him. r .... Detective Meiklejohn said that accused habitually frequented hotels and was reluctant to engage in honest work. Accused pleaded that he had received the jewellery from a man who wished him to tell it. 'v | Mr. Cummings: Accused is well known as a, receiver of stolen goods. He dis- | poses of anything he can get hold of. ! A sentence of three months' imprison- | ment was imposed. . \ THREATENING BEHAVIOUR. Threatening behaviour in Karangahapo Road on Saturday evening, was admitted by Joseph - South, aged 38, and Bernard [ Allen, aged 41,..but. both alleged there had been provocation. South said ho had spoken to Allen about a watch he had'lost and a discussion led to an exchange of blows. Allen said ho was talking to a lady and South went, up and strufck her. . He took the lady's part and South "took to-him." The woman mentioned stated that she I had been talking to Allen when she was t assaulted by South without provocation. Allen was convicted and discharged, and j South was fined £3, in default seven days' | imprisonment.' OTHER CASES OF THEFT. . As the sequel to the disappearance of a felt hat from the cloakroom of a dance hall on Saturday afternoon, a Maori, Mci Smith, aged 18, pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft. Leslie Murphy stated that his hat, inside of which his name was marked, had been stolen on Saturday afternoon. _On Sunday witness saw accused wearing it. Mr. Poynton, to accused: Where did you get that hat?—l sent my mate into the hall to get my hat and coat, and at the timo I thought it was mine. ": ' Accused, who could not • establish the alleged identity of, tho alleged mate, was sentenced to ' seven days' imprisonment. ; Justin Francis Huntly McCarthy, aged 51 (Mr. Bryce Hart) appeared for sentence upon charges of having stolen £10, the property of J. A. Sloane, and £2 12s 6d, the property of W. H. Lewis. Counsel asked for leniency as-accused had three infant, children, and had served f0r.27 years in a Government department. The probation officer submitted an unfavourable report. . •' Mr. Poynton: He stolo from old,people It was a heartless theft.

Accused was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. Tho theft of a belt, a scarf and certain papers, of a, total value- of 10s, from a hotel at Hamilton on August 6, was admitted by George Napier, Jorgansen Wigg, aged 27. Chief-Detective Cumraings said that accused was now serving a '•- sentence of three years' reformative detention. As no further penalty was sought, accused was convicted and discharged. •-.''■..' MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES.? Charges of having been drunk and having assaulted William Knox, were preferred against George "Robertson, aged 44. Evidence was given to the effect that accused had attacked Knox without provocation. ,He had eight previous convictions. A sentence of one month's imprisonment was imposed. ' A fine of £5, in default seven days' imprisonment, was imposed upon Daniel McFarlane, aged 37, for drunkenness and the use of obscene language. Frank McLean, aged 22, guilty of disorderly conduct while drunk and resisting Constable Edwards, was fined £2. SEVERAL CASES REMANDED. A charge of having stolen £15, the property of Patrick'J; Monnock, was preferred -against George Caffery, aged ; 29. r Accused was remanded until next Monday, bail being fixed at £500. , ' A remand for a week was also granted in the case of Joseph Bedford; aged 25, and Robert ; Kearney, aged 23, who appeared .upon a charge of having used violence upon Samuel Clifford Priestley and robbed him of £1 6s.