CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17104, 8 September 1917, Page 13

CITY POLICE COURT

JTbiday, Sbptbkbeb 7.

.Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) Deserting His Ship.—Frederick Todd Dance appeared on remand charged with leeerting his ship at Lyttelton. The sharge, however, was withdrawn on the implication of the police. A Serious Offence.—Albert Victor Burrell was charged with wilfully obstructing the railway line by placing on the rails at Borton's Crossing a number of posts, and also with in the. same manner by the use of stones obstructing traffio on the Main road between Duntroon and Georgetown,— Sub-inspector Mathieson stated that a doubt existed as regards accused's mental condition, arid he called Dr. Evans to give medical testimony. Dγ Evans stated that Burrell had been under observation for some days past This showed that accused's mental condition was under normal, and he suffered from delusions. In the opinion of witness, however, accused was in a fit state to plead though certifiable under the" Mental Defectives Act Witness also averred that acoueed was not sufficiently balanced to exercise proper control over himself, and consequently was not in a position to appreciate the gravity of his conduct. Witness considered that Burrell required to be placed under strict supervision and restraint for a number of years. —Evidence was also given by Herbert Hyland, a railway ganeer, who stated that on August 30 he observed a substantial piece of nardwoodi placed across the railway line near Borton's Crossing. Later witness discovered another post of fair dimensions on tsho line at the south end of this particular crossing. The result of those obstructions would in all probability mean a derailment. Witness also observed a number of boulders on the Main road extending for a distance of some three miles, and scattered! in all directions.—Constable Anderson #ave_ evidence as to' interviewing accused, who in answer to queries put to him said he had committed the act in spiteful impulse because he had missed a train from Oamaru on the day preceding the offences.—His Worship refused to accept the plea of guilty entered by accused on the strength of the medical testimony, and accordingly committed him to the Supreme Court for trial. The second charge was withdrawn.