POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19588, 17 March 1927, Page 12

POLICE COURT NEWS.

EMPLOYER'S MONEY "USED." SUM OF £2O DISAPPEARS. CHARGE AGAINST EMPLOYEE. "I plead guilty to using the money, or part of it, but not guilty to stealing it," said William Henry Cole when charged in the Police Court yesterday with stealing £35, the property of Herbert Dudley Carter. Detective McWhirter said Carter complained that he had given accused, who was in his employ, £35 to purchase electrical equipment, and accused had disappeared. Accused was arrested on Tuesday evening. He made a statement in which he said he did not purchase "the goods as instructed, and had converted the money to his own use. He did not- go back to work, but began drinking and spent most of the money, there being only £ls left. His employers had treated him well and he had no reason for committing the offence. Accused stated to the magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean, that he had no intention of stealing the money. He received the money on Saturday and was ashamed to return to work on Monday. Accused was convicted and remanded for sentence until Monday. A CHARGE OF FIGHTING. A charge of fighting in Hobson Street was denied by Frederick William Draffin, aged 23 (Mr. Adams). Constable Patterson said he saw accused strike another man and knock him down. Accused ran away and was later caught, but the other man escaped. Constable O'Brien said he saw accused follow a man, who was very drunk, and strike him on the back. Accused in evidence said another man came up to him in a hotel and said: "You are from Waihi; you are a scab." The man repeated the expression several times and then went out. When witness went out fhe other man caught hold of him and a scuffle ensued. The magistrate imposed a fine of £2 and refused an application for the suppression of accused's name. WANDERING ABOUT STREETS. John Moriarty, aged 69, pleaded guilty to a charge of vagrancy. Senior-Sergeant Edwards said accused was an old-age pensioner. He had been in the Costley Home several times, but the authorities would not take him back. Ho had rented a room in Grey Street, but had been turned out, and was found wandering about the streets at about 4 a.m. It was a problem to decide what to do with him. Accused was remanded- for sentence until Monday. . . THEFT OF A HAT. "Ho is a sneak thief, but is easily caught, for he gets drank whenever he steals anything," said Senior-Detective Hammond when Ernest Edward , Cox, aged 43, pleaded guiltv to stealing a felt hat valued at £1 ss, the property of Ray Dare. ' The senior-detective said accused took the hat from a hotel at about Christmas time and sold it for 2s 6d. Ho was already serving a sentence of 14 days' imprisonment for drunkenness. Sentence of seveij days* imprisonment, to commence at the expiry of the present term, was imposed. CHARGE OF ASSAULT. A remand until to-morrow was granted in the case of Arthur Franklin, aged 29, who was charged with assaulting Joseph Little. The senior-detective said Little was in hospital ahd the extent of his injuries was not yet known. He had been struck a heavy blow on the face and it was not known yet whether his jaw was broken. Accused was a member of the crew of the steamer Katoa, which was duo to sail to-morrow. Bail was fixed at £SO. DISORDERLY WHILE DRUNK. "She is all right except when she has a few drinks," said the senior-sergeant when Mary Ann Fowler, aged 51, was charged with being disorderly while drunk in Victoria Street. „ A constable said accused was shouting to passers-by and screaming loudly, and refused to go home when,ordered to do so. The magistrate imposed a fine of £l. in default 48 hours' imprisonment, and ordered accused to take out a prohibition order. FAILURE TO DRILL. For failing to attend drill Rex Horning was fined £4, and Alan "Alfred St. George and Walter Leslie Harlick £3 each. For failing to notify a change of address Horning was fined £l.