POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19714, 13 August 1927, Page 14

POLICE COURT NEWS.

THEFTS FROM DANCE HALLS. TWO YOUTHS IN TROUBLE. WEEK'S REMAND IN CUSTODY. " Thefts from dance halls are very frequent, and are very hard to detect," said Chief-Detective Ward, in the Police Court yesterday when Eric Terence O'Shea, aged 21. and James Arthur Duke, aged 19 (Mr.' Newbury), were charged with stealing a hat valued at £2 10s and an overcoat valued at £3 10s, the property of poisons unknown. Mr. Ward* added the accused stole the articles from dance halls in Auckland and a few days later went to Wellington, where they sold the coat to a second-hand dealer. Duke was at present on probation in connection with four charges of unlawfully using motor-cars. O'Shea had not previously been convicted, but had been suspected of theft in Wellington.

Mi Newbury said Duko had not been the ringleader in the taking of the cars or in the present offences, but had been led by stronger characters. To remand hirn in custody for a week would do him good.

Mr. W. J. Campbell, probation officer, said this course would do both accused good.

The magistrate, Mr. Cutten, made the remand accordingly. A charge of assaulting C. V. Gillam was admitted by G. Lester (Mr. Sullivan ). Senior-Sergeant Edwards said Lester accused Gillam of following a young woman, and in spite of Gillam s denial struck him. Gillam received a " black eye," and his nose and ear were caused to bleed. Mr. Sullivan said Lester accused Gillam of making an insulting remark regarding the girl. Accused was convicted and ordered to pay costs, 225. Artiif (". Hagin was charged with entering licensed premises and procuring liquor while prohibited, and her husband, F. F. Hagin. was charged with procuring liquor for a prohibited person. Senior-Sergeant Edwards said that when Annie Hagin was prohibited her husband undertook to use every endeavour to ' keep her straight." This was how he kept his promise. Accused were each fined LI on one charge, and were ordered to pay costs on the other. Two charges of procuring liquor while prohibited were preferred against Cecelia Ah Lap. Constable Mahoney said that on one occasion accused called at the police station under the influence of liquor to complain of the conduct of her husband. On reaching her home again she claimed as her property two bottles of stout and was also looking for a glass of brandy which she said belonged to her. On another occasion, on calling at her house, witness found her " dead drunk and speechless." Accused domed both charges, and said that on the second occasion she was merely " dead tired as a result of an attack of pleurisy. Accused was fined £l, in default seven days'

imprisonment. A fine of Al3. in default seven days' imprisonment, was imposed on Margaret Crecth. aged 40. 'on charges of being drunk in Hobsoti Street and procuring liquor while prohibited. Accused was stated to have a list of 41 previous convictions. On a chat go of vagrancy, William Sterling, who was stated to have been sleeping out for some time, was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment. P. C. Iv'ng was fined £1 for being found on licensed premises after hours, and was also fined a similar amount for driving a motor-car without a licence.