POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18862, 10 November 1924, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

YOUNG MAN'S LAPSE. THREE YEARS' PROBATION. Three charges of the * theft of a camera, two lenses, and some slides, of a total value of £29 10s, were admitted by Leslie Noel Everard Souper, *ged 22 (Mr. A. Moody), before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court on Saturday.

Accused had been entrusted with, or had borrowed, the articles and had pledged them, said Senior-Sergeant Rawle. This was his first offence, but he had not been well behaved in the past as he thought ho could live the life of a gentleman by loafing. He came of a very respectable family, and on more than one occasion his mother had come to his rescue. Mr. Moody recommended that accused be admitted to strict probation. The magistrate imposed a term of three years' probation and ordered restitution of £14 to be made.

THEFT OF A DOG. The theft of an English setter dog belonging to some unknown person was admitted by James Reginald O'Brien, aged 46 (Mr. Blakey). Constable "McQueen stated that he saw accused coaxing the dog and then slip a chain on to its collar. The dog was brought into Court, and Constable Watts immediately recognised it as the property of Constable Belcher, saying that it was lost a week ago on. a shooting expedition. Mr. Blakey reminded the magistrate that accused had been confined for a week, and said the offence arose out of a drinking bout. Mr. Hunt: He seems to have been on a drinking bout all his life; he has 42 previous appearances. I will take the week he has done into account and sentence him to three weeks' imprisonment with hard labour. SEQUEL TO STREET DISTURBANCE. Threatening behaviour in St. Paul Street on Friday was admitted by John Cuthbert Priest, aged 24, and Eric John Jones, but denied by John Farrar, aged 40. 8 Constables Davies and Lees gave evidence that the men were concerned m a fight about 6 p.m. Jones stated that he had been provoked by the other two men and only defended himself. Mr. Blakey, who represented Priest and Farrar, neither of whom appeared in Court, said that Farrar tried to separate Jones and Priest and was thus inf. plicated. " Jones came and told his story so the charge against him will be dismissed, but the other two will each be fined £2," said the magistrate. A CHARGE DISMISSED. An altercation in Hillside Crescent on Friday resulted in Leslie Foster Wilson, aged 31 (Mr. A. Moody), being charged with drunkenness and with having assaulted Alexander G. Lee.< The magistrate remarked that drink was Accused's trouble, and as Mr. Lee did not want accused punished, he dismissed the case. OFFENCES DUE TO DRINK. Arthur Cadman, aged 33, was fined ss; in default 24 hours' imprisonment, for drunkenness and £1, in default three days, for having used obscene language. For disorderly behaviour while drunk in Customs Street on Friday, William Allen, aged 34, was fined £1, in default three days' imprisonment.'

" SHOP-LIFTING " ALLEGED. This woman is suspected of shop-lift-ing," said Chief-Detective Cummings when Charlotte Leonard, aged 38, appeared on two charges of having stolen eight skeins of wool, valued at £1 16s, the property of R«ndells, Ltd., on Thursday and Friday respectively. " A search of her bouse revealed about £50 worth of new goods," he continued. " She has no children, her husband is in a good financial position, and she has over £100, in the bank." Accused was remanded for a week.

A PECULIAR HALLUCINATION. " His idea was to make a dive under a tramcar and arrest two men whom he said were responsible for all the breaking and entering in Auckland," said Senior-Ber-feant Rawle, when William Barr, aged 5, was charged with helpless drunkenness in Queen Street on Friday. "I took some spirits for to kill the 'flu,'" interjected accused who was remanded till next Saturday for medical treatment.