CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19242, 5 August 1924, Page 11

CITY POLICE COURT.

Mondav, August 4, {Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) Drunkenness. —A first olTender for drunkenness was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. Maintenance Order. —J. S. H. Woolford was proceeded against for disobedience of a maintenance order. The arrears amounted to £55 15s 6d—After hearing evidence, the magistrate reduced the arrears to £2O, and sentenced defendant to three months’ imprisonment, the warrant to bo suspended if ho pays 15s per week, 10s 6d on the current order, and 4s 6d off the arrears.-—— Frank Wm. Stockdalo was charged with disobeying an order for maintenance and applied for a variation of tho ordyr in existence. Ho was £l2 in arrears in his payments.—Mr Irwin appeared in support of the application for an enforcement of She order —The Magistrate said ho was not at all satisfied in regard to the bona tides of tho application to vary tho order. Defendant would be sentenced to six months imprisonment, the warrant to bo suspended on payment of £2 5s a week £2 on tho order current, and 5s towards tho arrears. By-law Cases.— Charles J. Lowery was fined 40s and costs (7s) for driving a motor oar across tho intersection of George and Union streets at a greater speed than six miles an hour. Wm. M’Laohlan was fined 10s and costs (7s) for leaving a car in Dowling street without lights. Tredcnck Tanner was fined 6s and costs (7s) for a similar offence committed in Dowling street A Rogue and Vagabond.—Lindsay Duguid appeared, on remand, charged with being a rogue and a vagabond within tho meaning of tho Police Offences Act; in that he placed himself in Princes street to beg, and that ho had been previously convicted at Christchurch on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person—The Rev. O is. Moroton (acting probation officer) said tie had made inquiries, and had ascertained that accused had been employer! at 1 embroks, and while there had broken his leg He had been treated at tho Pembroke Hospital, and had then come to Dunedin, where ho had been drinking and bogging Ho had approached many loading citizens of tho city, including the Mayor. Taking everything into consideration, he recommended that accused be detained foi some time. He had had previous convictions against him, and had been in Ko o Roa at one time.-Accused domed that he had been at Roto Roa.—The Magistrate said that from the records ho had not been at Roto Roa.— Senior-sergeant Mathicson said that accused was probably being confused with his brother. The Magistrate said it was quite apparent that accused would have to bo looked after-Accuse,in!beaded for a chance, and said he would take out a prohibiten order, and would get a job in the country .-The Magistrate said on looking up accused a record ho would have to place him under proper control. Ho would be convicted and sentenced to a period of reformative detention not exceeding 12 months. , • A Serious Charge—John Joseph lleming pleaded guilty to a charge of casting offensive matter in High street on July 19. Senior-sergeant Mathieson said he had received numerous complaints, and the otfenco was being perpetrated every clay.— After haaring evidence tho magistrate adjourned tho case until Friday to allow accused to call a doctor to give evidence as to his state of health. _ Theft of Watch and Cham.—Samuel Thos. Hodges pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing an Elgin watch and a silver chain, of a total value of £5 10b, the property of John Robert M’Culloch.—Chief-detective Lewis said the owner of the watch was in tho habit of wearing it on a fob, and had probably jolted it out of bis pocket. His name was on tho back of the watch.John Robert M’Culloch identified the watch produced as the one he lost on Juno 11. He advertised for it, and also complained to the police. He valued the watch at £3 10s. As far os be know, he may have jolted it out of his pocket. Robert Laurie Calder foreman watchmaker, employed by Peter ’Dick, said ho received the watch from accused for repairs. Accused called back for it. but in the meantime the police had been, making inquiries, and ho did not get it back. Accused gave the name of M'Culloch.— Detective Lean stated that he interviewed accused on June 23, and in a statement ho admitted finding tho watch near tho Victoria_ Hotel, in Cumberland street. —Accused said he had no intention of keeping the watch, and had seen nothing in the papers. If he had, ho would have returned it. —The Magistrate said accused would not make a criminal, and the fact of his finding a watch did not entitle him to keen it.—The Rev. G. E. Moreton (acting probation officer) said accused had been before tho court before on charges of failing to maintain his wife.—The Magistrate said that in view of tho circumstances he would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months, if called upon, and to pay witnesses’ expenses (20s).—An application by accused to have his name suppressed was refused, the Magistrate remarking that the man was of mature years and should have known better.