POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19604, 5 April 1927, Page 12

POLICE COURT NEWS.

TWO CASES OF ASSAULT. ' - " I INCIDENTS IN CITY STREETS. ' INSULTING LANGUAGE! USED. Charges of assaulting William Robert Jefferson Christie and of using insulting language in Victoria Street w(Jte admitted in the Police Court yesterday by Hugh James Scott, aged 38. Senior-Sergeant Edwards said the complainant, an old man, came out of a shop, when he was met by accused, who was a, stranger to him. Accused used the language complained of, and when complainant took no notice accused struck him. The assault was absolutely unprovoked, but accused had had a few drinks. The magistrate, Mr. Hunt, fined accused £l, with costs £l, on the first charge, and £2 on the second, in default three days' imprisonment on each charge. John Weller, aged 26 (Mr. McLiver), pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Alexander Clark and of using obscene language in Grey Street. Evidence was given by Clark that he heard a disturbance and then saw accused coming down the street. He approached witness, exclaiming "Here he is," and then struck witness on the jaw with his clenched fist. Witness caught him by the collar, but he continued attempting to strike until witness released him. Senior-Sergeant Edwards said the constable who arrested accused said he was "mad drunk." Mr. McLiver said accused was not accustomed to whisky, but had taken some on Saturday, with the result that it got the better of him. Accused was fined £2 on the first charge, and £l, with costs, on the second, in default seven days' imprisonment. The magistrate refused to suppress accused's name. CHARGES OF FIGHTING. A plea of not guilty was: entered by Joseph William Lewis, aged 24, and Kennedy Schlesinger, aged 21, to a charge of fighting in Customs Street West. Constable Callaghan said he saw accused striking at each' other with their clenched fists. They fell to the ground and continued to strike at each other. Witness had difficulty in separating them. Accused both denied they were fighting, and stated another man had struck Schlesinger, knocking him down. The magistrate said accused had been sufficiently punished by being locked up, and he convicted and discharged them. William Willox, aged 38, and Frank Corrigan, aged 43, also pleaded not guilty to fighting in Wellesley Street. Constable Rattray said that on Sunday afternoon he saw the accused in the centre of a large crowd in Wellesley Street and saw blows being struck. Corrigan had had some drinks, but Willox was the aggressor. The charge against Corrigan was dismissed and Willox was fined £l, or three days' imprisonment. BREACH OF PROBATION. "He persists in going to his wife's premises although one of the condtions of his release was that he should keep away from his wif&'s place of residence or employment," said the assistant probation officer, when George White, aged 48 (Mr. McLiver), was charged with failing «to comply with the terms of his release on probation:Accused was stated to have been admitted tc probatior on April 20, 1925, for two years Constable Taylor said that on Saturday he was called to a boarding house kept by accused's wife and saw accused under the influence of liquor and creating a disturbanceMr. McLiver said there. had been a reconciliation between accused and his wife and he frequently stayed at her home. He had put a sum of money into the boarding house. A fine of £2, or seven days' imprisonment, was imposed. TRESPASS ON RACECOURSE. A charge of trespassing on the Alexandra Park racecourse was admitted by Edwin Esmond Rodbourne Luttrel (Mr. McLiver). Chief-Detective Cummings said the safe of the Avondale Racecourse had been blown open and oi» the same day accused was found in possession of stolen property. He was sentenced to 1 three years' imprisonment on a charge of receiving, and had been released just prior to the present offence. " Accused has now gone to the Bay of Plenty, and I hope he stays there," added the chief-detective. A fine of £2, or seven days' imprisonment, was imposed. HABITUAL CRIMINAL'S OFFENCE. " I was looking for accommodation," said Joseph Edwards, aged 58, when charged with being found without lawful excuse, on premises at 10, City Road. Evidence was given that accused's footsteps were heard at the rear of the house and he was caught as he was returning toward tho front gate. He waited quietly until a constable arrived. He stated he was seeking accommodation, but later admitted he had been drinking and was looking for a place to sleep. The chief-detective said accused had been in and our, of prison since 1881. He had twice been declared a habitual criminal, and he was released from prison on licence in 1924 He stated that ho had come from Taumarunui. " You are convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon," said the magistrate. "Go back to work at Taumarunui. We do not want you about the town." CHARGE OF ROBBERY. A charge of robbing Jeremiah John Geaney of £5 and of using violence was preferred against Desiderio Diaz, alias Jack Days, aged 31 (Mr. Ehvorth). Accused was remanded for a week on the application oi the chief-detective, who stated Diaz had knocked down a man with a stick, and. it was alleged, had robbed him. Bail was fixed at £2OO. THEFT BY A " MAORI. A Maori youth, Jack Welii, aged 18, pleaded guilty to two charges of stealing 10s and clothing valued at £2 5s from C. T. Ming, a Chinese living next door. Accused was convicted and ordered to como up for sentence if called upon within six months. He was ordered to make restitution of 10s. SITTING AT ONEHTJNGA. THEFT BY YOUNG MAN.. A sitting of the Onehunga Police Court was held yesterday, Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., presiding. The theft of a pair of binoculars, valued at £4,' and one trunk, valued at £2, was admitted by W. J. C. Anderson, aged 19. He was committed to the Borstal Institute for a period not exceeding two years. For breaking his probation order he was convicted and discharged,,