CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19199, 16 June 1924, Page 3

CITY POLICE COURT.

Saturday, June 14. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) Theft of Money.—Margaret Gumming appeared on remand charged with the theft of a £1 note, the property of Percival Harry Moody, her employer.—Chief Detective Lewis said that accused had been employed as a waitress in a restaurant in the city during Winter Show week. She had been handed a £1 by a customer who wanted change, and she got tho change from the till, but retained the note. The money had since been recovered. Nothing was known against the accused, but it was rather remarkable that at two other places at which she had been employed there were cash shortages, but nothing had been proved. The accused had been living with her mother, and had been assisting her from her earnings.—Ensign Coombs (female probation officer) submitted a report for his Worship’s perusal. —Tho Magistrate said that in view of Ensign Coombs’s report he would give the accused a chance, but he lionet! that her appearance in court on the present charge would be a warning to her. She would be admitted to probation for a period of two years. A Probationer’s Failure.—James Burford was charged with failing to comply with the terms of his probationary license. Accused had been placed on probation on May 15, 1923. —The Probation Officer (Mr F. G. Gumming) said that the accused had not reported since December. He had been wandering about the country, and had caused no end of trouble. He appeared to have treated the whole matter with the utmost possible contempt.—Accused made a statement from the clock. Ho said that when he left JNinedin he went to Port Craig, Ho hud not been there long before lie had to go to Riverton Hospital, where he remained for three months. He had intended to write to tho probation officer while he was at Port Craig, but when lie had written half a page lie had to go out in the bush and work, and it was while there that he met with the accident which necessitated his having to go into hospital. When ho was discharged from/ hospital ho returned to Pert Craig to look for his license papers, hut could not find them and ho did not know what to do or to whom to report.—Mr Gumming said that was all nonsense. The conditions of his license were thoroughly explained to him. He thought tho accused’s probationary license should lie cancelled,—The Magistrate said that tho accused had had every chance, and had ignored the terms of his probation license. He would be sentenced to one month’s imprisonment on tho original charge and his probation license would be cancelled. Drunkenness. —A first offender, who did not appear, was fined the amount of his bail (£1). in default 24 hours' imprisonment —Two other first offenders were fined 10s and 12s 6d respectively, in default 24 hours' imprisonment.—Archibald John Kirk, a statutory first offender, was fined 10s, In default 24 hours’ imprisonment