CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19784, 8 May 1926, Page 23

CITY POLICE COURT.

Friday, May 7. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. For drunkenness, Thomas Crawford Young was convicted and discharged. It was stated that ho had been previously convicted on April 2. and had just been discharged from hospital. A first offender was convicted and fined 14s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. Robert Bell, who was charged with having been found drunk on Thursday, denied the allegation. He was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. On a charge of breaking a prohibition order, he was fined 10s. BY-LAW CASES. For cutting a corner, Alfred David M’Gregor was fined 10s, with costs (7s). William Thomas Waldren was fined 20s, and costs, for passing a stationary tram. For leaving his motor cycle unlighted, William Wedderspoon was fined ss. Similar offences cost William Lawson ss, with costs (7s), and Gordon Kirkpatrick Neill, costs (7s). John Wilson Adams was fined ss, with costs, for driving his car without a tail light. A cyclist, named Ernest Mackie, was ordered to pay costs (7s) for riding without a light. Edwyn Bennet, the owner of a wandering horse found in Beaver street, was fined ss, with costs. For leaving his car without lights, Arthur Stuart Masters was fined ss, with costs 7s. The case against Douglas Ramsay, who, it was alleged, left his car unattended in High street, was dismissed, the Magistrate saying that the charge should have been laid under the By-laws and not under the Police Offences Act A HOUSEHOLD REVOLVER. “The statements are absurd,” said Mr B. S. Irwin in defence of Alexander Maitland Johnston, who. it was stated, had threatened his wife with a revolver. The defendant was charged with a breach of the Arms Act by failing to notify a change of the address under which he had registered the weapon.—Mr Irwin added that the parties were before the magistrate on proceedings for separation, and the wife was trying to make capital out of the fact that there was a revolver in a cabinet in the house. _ The defendant had forgotten all about it.—“ Under the circumstances I will enter a conviction only,” said the Magistrate. WITHOUT LAWFUL EXCUSE. “For five nights the defendant has -been sleeping in a Harbour Board shed near the Portobello road,” said Senior Sergeant Quartermain in charging John Alfred Thomas Miller with being found on premises without lawful excuse. —The Defendant pleaded guilty, and said that after coming from the country and finding no work in town he had set out to return. He was waiting for the weather to clear, and so had called a halt.—Miller was lazy according to the statement of Detective Russell, who said that the defendant’s father would not have him at home.— The defendant was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence without one month. The Magistrate warned him to 'md work. A CHARGE OP THEFT. William John Duggan, charged with the theft of a signet ring, the property of Jessica Wells, on April 3o was again remanded, bail being allowed in self of £IOO and two sureties each of £50.—“1 am sure this man is not the ringleader—he is remaining silent through a mistaken sense of loyalty,” said Mr B. S. Irwin, who appered for Duggan. THEFT WHILE .TOXICATED. A charge of stealing £8 from Samuel Clarke on April 50 was preferred against Donald Hercules MTnnes. —A plea of guilty was entered by Mr Irwin, and i accused elected to be dealt with summarily.— For the police. Senior Sergeant Quartermain stated that the accused had taken the money from Clarke, who was sleeping in the same room as the accused at the Windsor Hotel at the time of the Exhibition. He had got up during the night and committed the theft.—Mr Irwin said that MTnnes would r.-t admit the theft from tne man’s pocket. His record was a good one, and he was an employee of the City Corporation. On his way out of the room c. -ing the night he found the wallet lying on the floor, there being money in it. Drink which he had consumed during the evening influenced him to yield to the temptation, and he took some of the money. He was so drunk that £lO in the wallet was left on the floor.—The Complainant said that £7 of the money had been recovered, but he thought that £8 was still missing, MTnnes and another man had finished t j bottles of beer and a bottle of whisky between them.—“ This seems to be the case of a man yielding to temptation while under the influence of liquor. The hr ' feature of the case is that some of the money was hidden under the bath,” said the Magistrate.—MTnnes was fined £5, in default seven days’ imprisonment, his previous good character being taken into consideration. A GIRL FROM WELLINGTON. Edna Eileen Johnson, a girl 18 years of age, pleaded guilty to being an idle and disorderly person without sufficient moans of support. She also pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a crepe-de-chine frock valued at £3 15s, the property of Rebecca Marion Bond.—“ The sum of 5s was paid as a deposit on the dress when the girl went to purchase it,” said Chief Detective Lewis. “She did not take delivery of it, and on returning later she stole another dress—the one she is wearing.”—The Chief Detective added that the girl’s sister, with whom she was staying, was not anxious for her return as she had stolen and sold her brother-in-law’s overcoat. She had been running wild down at the Exhibition, and unless something was done she would end by associating with anyone who picked her up. She was a Wellington girl, but did not get on well owing to family affairs. — The girl said she wished to return home, and after the first charge was withdrawn she was convicted on the second charge and admitted to probation for two years under the supervision of the Probation Officer. An order was made for the restitution of £3 15s. CHARGES OF THEFT. After being sentenced to five years reformative detention, in the Supreme Court, Arthur Angrove appeared for sentence on charges of theft of a silver watch and chain valued at £2 from William Hugh Williams, and £46 from Golda Henry at Auckland.—Chief Detective Lewis said the accused had already been dealt with by the Supreme Court. He had committed thefts all over the country.—The accused, who had pleaded guilty, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment on each charge. HELPING TO DRINK. After being interrupted in the course of a “musical evening” in a house in York place, William I "’>d Phillip Wilson appeared to answer the rim’*'- ot helping William Clark—a prohibited person —to drink liquor.—Sergeant Eonisch and Constable Potts stated that they appeared in response to a cal! from Mrs Clark, who objected to the party, and found the defendants, their host, and a marine from a visitii warship. There was an empty beer bottle on the table and a glass of beer.—Wiilira Lee, painter, said he was invited into Clark’s house by Wilson. A marine was present, and after witness had produced two bottles of beer the marine and he drank together. Prior to this Clark had pone “ and he dm not return until after the police had arrived. Witness had never met Clark beforehand did not have the faintest idea that he Svas a prohibited person.—Senior Sergeant Matheson: “You arrived at 11 p.m., and the police got there at 1.30 a.m. Do you mean to suggest that a man possessing th» chronic thirst of Chirk would wait all that time with one bottle of beer?”—Phillip Wilson, who gave as his reason for visits to Clark’s house that they were all “musical,” said Clark had consumed no drink in his’ presence. The beer was for Lee and himself hut Lee, in ignorance of the position, had produced it in the house. Clark was out of the room at the time, and did not return until after the police had arrived. —Mr J. P. Ward, who appeared for the defendants, submitted that as they did not drink with Clark, they could not be connoted.—The Magistrate said that Lee would receive Die benefit of the doubt that existed in his case, but Wilson would be fined £o and costs.