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NZ Truth, Issue 119, 28 September 1907, Page 5

The unusual proceeding of sueing burglars for the value of property stolen was witnessed m Wellington Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, when Laery and Co., whose premises were burgled by the notorious Hamilton, Sinclair, anil Ferris, sought to recover the sum of £30 8s lid. This represents the cash proceeds of the robbery, which, it will be remembered, was effected by means of dynamite applied to a safe. The defendants appeared m Court m charge of a warder, and seemed to enjoy the unexpected outing. Judgment was given for the plaintiff firm, which claimed the moneys found on the burglars, who were unable to pay for a lawyer to defend them m the Supreme Court. :

Beer is responsible for a very large percentage of the cases that come before the Police Courts. A man named John McLaughlin, for instance, was charged at Wellington on Tuesday with committing a grossly indecent act on Lambton Quay. It was about 10.15 p.m., and McLaughlin obeyed a call of nature m a conspicuous manner. Fuller's large audience was coming out at the time, and the act was witnessed by a considerable number. McLaughlin saM, "I- had a few drinks m at the time, and thought I was out of the way. If 1 were m my sober senses I would not do such an act." "I quite believe that," rejoined Magistrate Riddell, with aspeiity. Fined a fiver or one month.