POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19235, 26 January 1926, Page 13

POLICE COURT NEWS.

VARIED THEFTS ADMITTED.

HELP NOT APPRECIATED. CLOCK TAKEN FROM CHURCH. "The accused made a practice of going to places, obtaining assistance, and then returning and stealing articles," said Detective O'Sullivan in the Police Court yesterday when charges of vagrancy and theft were preferred against William Hart, aged 49. He was charged with stealing a lawn mower valued at £3, a clock \allied at £2, three trays valued at £2 and a garden hose valued at £1 10s. Ihe detective said he had known accused for some time. He had been in Auckland since Christmas, but had done no work. A few days ago Hart told witness that he had no money, but would try to get work. He had obtained work from various people, then returned ts> their houses and stolen the property. He had i eceived assistance from several churches, and had taken the clock from St. Benedict's. Hart denied the vagrancy charge, but admitted the thefts. On the application of Senior-Detective Ilan.inond, who said there were probably other charges pending, accused was remanded until to-morrow for sentence. SHOP BLIND STOLEN. Charles Samuel Lake, aged 48, denied the theft of a canvas blind, valued at £2 10s, from the window of a Chinese fruiterer, Lowe fling, of Ponsonby Road. Hing said he heard a noise outside his shop at about one o'clock on Sunday morning, and on going out found the blind gone.

Sergeant Capp said ho came upon accused walking along the road about a quarter of a mile from the shop with the blind under his arm. When told it was stolen property he dropped it and ran. Accused said he found the blind lying on the footpath and picked it up. A fine of <£s, in default 14 days' imprisonment, was imposed. BOOKMAKJNG ALLEGED. David Cornwall White, aged 29, was charged with carrying on the business of a •bookmaker on January 22, and with using the Waitemata billiard saloon on January 23 as a common gaming houseEdwin Henry Mason Smith, aged 39, was also charged with carrying on the business of bookmaker, and with using premises at 314, Ponsonby Road, as a common gaming house. The accused were remanded until tomorrow, bail being fixed at £IOO in each wise. MISCELLANEOUS' CASES. "Let it go at that," said Horace Jardino, aged 54, when evidence had been given in Connection with a charge of being found by night in a City Council shed on Market Square. It was stated that accused had a long list of convictions. He was sober when arrested, but had only Is 6d in his possession. He was fined £3 in default seven plays' imprisonment. Hugh McDonald, aged 34. was fined £2 for using obscene language in Victoria Street, and was convicted and discharged for drunkenness. For the breach of a prohibition order, Joseph Rosewarne, aged 41, was fined £2, arid was convicted and discharged for drunkenness.