MAGISTRATE’S COURT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8679, 12 March 1914, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Yesterday’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was presided over by Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M. Minnie McNeil, with one previous conviction, was fined 10s, or fortyeight hours’ detention. Florence Emeny, for importuning, was convicted and sent'to the Salvation Army Home for six months. ALLEGED THEFT. Arthur Williams, charged with the theft of a hand-bag valued at 355, the property of Henry Stephen Hart, pleaded not guilty. Edward Ernest Pennington said he remembered Mr.,Hart leaving his bag on witness’s premises. He went away for lunch, and when ho returned the bag was missing. Accused had no authority to enter the premises. Stanley Paget deposed to seeing accused enter the previous witness’s premises, and come out again with a brown leather hand-bag. The accused was the man who entered the shop. Accused said it must have been a case of mistaken identity, as he didn’t remember anything about a bag. He had been drinking lately. The Magistrate said; the evidence was against the accused, who would be convicted and fined 40s, in default seven days’ imprison ment. Ole Pedersen pleaded not guilty to the theft of two vests and one brush; of a total value of 2s 4jd, the property of Walter Hutchings. Walter Hutchings, waterside worker, living at 42, Ghuznee street, said when he returned from work the previous day, ho missed the articles previously mentioned. Accused, who stayedl at the same place, came home about midnight for the purpose of getting his box. Witness had accused’s box opened in the presence of a constable, and the articles mentioned in the information were found therein. The accused had no authority to take the articles. Constable Dickson also gave evidence. After hearing Pedersen’s story, which was to the effect that someone put the clothes into the bos without his knowledge, the Magistrate held that the weight of evidence was against him, and he would be convicted and fined 10s, in default * fortyeight hours’ detention. The articles were ordered to be returned to the owner. A young man,- named James Stephens, for whom Mr P. W. Jackson appeared, was charged with stealing a lady’s handbag and contents, valued at £5 10s, the property of Miriam Kutner. Accused was remanded until this morning.