POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20391, 21 October 1929, Page 14

POLICE COURT NEWS.

FRAUD ON LANDLADY. LABOURER SENT TO PRISON. On the principles that the punishment should fit the crime, Hector James MacDonald, aged 30, a labourer, was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court on Saturday for obtaining seven days' board and lodging by fraud.

Chief-Detective Hammond said that Mac Donald, who had pleaded guilty, obtained board from the landlady of a boarding houso in Vincent Street by representing that he was a railway employee. He also told the landlady that two friends of his were coming from Christchurch and he wanted accommodation for them. This led her to undertake some trouble and expense in preparing a room for their use. He did not pay her a penny. Mac Donald was wanted in Christchurch on a .charge of failing to comply with a maintenance order, the arrears on which amounted to £97. On tho maintenance charge Mac Donald was remanded to appear in Christchurch on October 25.

Caught in tho act oUtaking a pair of boots from the doorway of a shop in Hobson Street, Francis McGlusky, a dealer, admitted the offence. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said tho accused's list of previous convictions showed a weakness for this sort, of theft. He had been caught by the manager of tho shop while going away with the boots under his coat. Tho accused was sentenced to three months imprisonment.