POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19372, 6 July 1926, Page 14

POLICE COURT NEWS.

IDLE AND DSORDERLY. CHARGES AGAINST FOUR MEN. DISMISSAL OF TWO CASES. Charges of being idle and disorderly, in that they habitually consorted with undesirables, were preferred against Louis Harold Rowe, aged 42, Robert Henry Johnson, aged .31, William John Parker, aged 51, and Arthur Edward Hill, aged 42, in the Police Court yesterday. All the accused pleaded dot guilty. Mr. Gatenby appeared for Hill. Constable Packman said be had noticed Rowe and Johnson knocking about the town drinking. He had seen them with habitual criminals and reputed thieves. The four acused were found drinking under some bushes in Myers Park on Sunday antl were arrested. As far as witness could ascertain Parker had done no work since coming out of gaol. Hill sold pictures when he was not drunk. Detective O'Suilivan gave corroborative evidence and said that Hill was the best of the four. Senior-Detective Hammond: The best of a bad lot. Hill's employer, a pioture-framer, said the man had acted as canvasser for 13 months. During that time he had secured business to. the extent of A.IGOO or £I2OO. He was a conscientious worker and accounted for all money re ceived. At present there was £2O owing to him. The magistrate, Mr. Poynton, dismissed the case against Hill. Parker said he had been in casual employment. Ho had now obtained a job in the country, and had already bought his train ticket. He would go at once if given a chance. His case was adjourned until August 2, the magistrate warning him to kc-ep better company. Mr. Hammond said Johnson was the worst of the bunch. He was an ablebodied man, but absolutely would not work. He had just sqrved a. term of three months' imprisonment. The magistrate remarked thttfc Johnson had a pretty bad record, but he would be given a chance. Ho would bo ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months, and would also be ordered to report to the probation officer. The case against Rowe, who was stated not to have been before the Court for 12 months, and who declared he had lost only five days' work since May 6, was dismissed.

HUSBAND ASSAULTS WIFE. A charge of assaulting his wife, Eileen Hayes, was admitted by Francis John Hayes, aged 28. Senior-Sergeant Edwards said accused had been separated from his wife. He went to her step-father's homo where sho was staying and forced his way in "n spite of efforts to prevent him. He theu assaulted his wife, whose step-father waa compelled to obtain assistance. Gustav Nelson, step-father of accused's wife, said accused did not keep ■ her. He was always drunk when he went to see her and wanted to fight everybody. On this occasion he caught his wife by the throat and hair and threw her to the floor. Witness would be satisfied if accused took out a prohibition order and refrained from going near his wife. Accused said his trouble was due to drink. He was willing to take out a prohibition order. The Magistrate: Oh, death-bed repentance is no good. The case was adjourned for three months, accused being ordered to pay witnesses' expenses. <

ACCUSED FAILS TO APPEAR. There was no appearance of Arthur Clark, aged 28 (Mr. Sullivan), against whom five charges of obtaining money totalling £25 10a and a suit of clothes valued at £9 10s, by means of valueless cheques, were preferred. Accused had been remanded on bail. An adjournment was made until the afternoon, but Clark still failed to appear and a warrant was issued for Ins arrest. Mr. Sullivan said accused stayed on Sunday night with the man who acted as surety for his bail. He was then ill and apparently suffering from pneumonia, his temperature being 104. Yesterday morning he camo to the city with his surety, and had not since been seen. It was possible he had become seriously ill and nad been taken to a hospital. Senior-Detective Hammond said application would be made for estreatmeat of bail. '

IMPRISONMENT FOR DRUNKENNESS A pica of not guilty was entered by William Anderson, aged 30, to a charge of vagrancy, but he admitted being drunk in Queen Street. A constable said accused had been hanging about the hotels for six wee its cadging money. He has repeatedly been warned to get work. There had been complaints that he had been robbiug drunken men. Accused said he had been working and had a job to go to. Senior-Detective Hammond said accused . had a long list of convictions dating from 1916, but the offences were not serious. Sentence of one month's imprisonment was passed for drunkenness, and accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within two years for vagrancy.

MONEY NOT ACCOUNTED FOR. .Tames Malcolm McLeary, aged 30, appeared for sentence on two charges of failing to account to the Australasian Scale Company for money totalling £54. Senior-Detective Hammond said accused was married with two children. He had previously been before the Court and had been placed on probation for a year. Accused said he thought he could manage to make restitution. The magistrate said it was qseless to put a man on probation for a second time, and passed sentence of three months' imprisonment.

ADMISSION OF MISCHIEF. A charge of committing mischief by wilfully damaging a cruet-stand valued at 10s, the property of Charlie Sun, was admitted by Frank Peekham, aged 28. The senior : sergeant said accused entered amstaurant and asked for a meal. On being told he was too late he swept one of the tables clear and the cruetstand was damaged. Accused was ordered to pay for the damage and also £] for witness' expenses.