POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18879, 29 November 1924, Page 9

POLICE COURT NEWS.

TROUBLE OVER MOTOR COAT. DISMISSAL OF A CHARGE. A charge of having stolen a motor dustcoat, valued at 30s, was made in the* Police Court yesterday, before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., and Mr. A. J. Stratford, J.P., against a young man, Thomas Arthur Lewis (Mr. Hall Skelton). Thomas Fox said he placed his coat behind the door in the office at Lewis Brothers' garage. When he went to look for the coat afterwards, it had gone. Other evidence was that accused was found wearing the coat, which was identified as belonging to Fox. For the defence it was maintained that the coat was accused's property. Evidence was given to this effect, one witness being a Chinaman, who had laundered the coat for accused. The magistrate said he was satisfied that the coat belonged to Fox. There had apparently been a mix-up, and accused did not intend to take the coat. When he was found in possession he kept it. The charge was dismissed under section 92, on payment of costs.

In reply to a suggestion by Chief-De-tective Cummings that the case had been proved, Mr. Poynton said that he thought accused's intention to keep the coat made it technical theft.

YOUNG MAN'S "BLUFF."

An assault on a young woman was the charge against Edward James Paterson (Mr. Sullivan), aged 26. The facts were admitted.

For the prosecution it was stated that the girl, who had been friendly with accused, went for a walk with him. She complained of headache. They went to a chemist's, and he bought a bottle of prussic acid. When they arrived home, the man picked up another bottle. He pushed the girl back and put the bottle, which contained quinine, to her lips. This bottle was one that had contained iodine and was marked "poison." Accueeyi wanted to marry tho girl, but could not do so until he had a decree absolute in divorce from his wife. Accused said he wanted to "bluff" the girl into a promise to marry him. He realised he had been foolish, and was willing to keep away from her if she wished it.

Accused was convicted and bound over to keep the peace for 12 months, in his own cognisance of £50.

THREAT NOT TO BE REPEATED.

Because of an alleged threat to do her bodily harm, Rita Mabel McLean sought to havo Ernest Harold McLean bound over to keep the peace. Mr. Sullivan, for the accused, said that the latter had gone through a form of marriage with the girl, when ho was already married. There were two children of the second marriage. This marriage had been annulled in the Supreme Court, and it was*, after tho order had been made that toe threat took place.

Accused was bound over to keep tho peaco for 12 months.

MISCELLANEOUS CASES.

For being illegally on tho EllerslieJ racecourse, when a meeting was in progress, Tu Taaka was fined £10, in default one month's imprisonment. For fighting on a road at St. Ileliers, Joseph Hewitt was fined £1 and costs, and Mark Mooney (Mr. Clarke) was convicted and discharged. Tho owner of a dangerous dog, John Robert Sutcliffe, was convicted and ordered to pay costs. It was stated that the dog had been destroyed and all expenses paid.