CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18736, 14 December 1922, Page 4

CITY POLICE COURT

Wednesday, December 13, (Before Air J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) Drunkenness.— Hugh Goodlet was fined £2 for drunkenness, in default seven days' imprisonment. Strange Theft Case.—A young man. for whom Air B. S. Irwin appeared, pleaded guilty to tile theft of a watch, valued at £4, the property of Frank Hog'gam. - Chicfdeloct.ive Bishop said the circumstances of the case were peculiar. Accused was a commercial traveller. On the night of December 11 he called' at the Crown 'Hotel and asked to see Hoggan, another traveller. Accused went up to Hoggan’s room,' and the night porter heard, them talking' together. As he was, going out Hoggan called out to the night porter to slop him, aa ho had stolen his watch. Accused started running but was caught by the porter, who found the watch in his possession. It was the porter who laid the information, and not Hoggan, who left the next night and had not been seen since. He understood that Hoggan ow r ed accused some 'money. Accused had not been before the court before, and bore a good character. — AlrTrwin said Hoggan owed accused a. considerable sum of money. Accused went and demanded his money, on some security for it. and, not getting the money, took the watch. Accused realised that it was a stupid act. Ho had been quite candid about Hie whole matter, and had gone voluntarily to the police.—Senior Sergeant Alathieson gave evidence as to accused’s good character. —The magistrate said it was more a stupid than, a criminal act, and fined accused £2, with the alternative of seven days’ imprisonment. He- also granted Mr Irwin’s request for an order prohibiting publication ( of accused’s name.