CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21264, 19 February 1931, Page 17

CITY POLICE COURT.

Wednesday, February 18. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. John M'Sweeney, a statutory first offender for drunkenness, was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment, Thomas Edward Thompson, who appeared for sentence on charges of drunkenness and a breach of his prohibition order, was convicted and discharged on each charge, and ordered to i pay 10s 6d medical expenses, in default 48 hours’ imprisonent’ THEFT OF BICYCLE. John Hugh M'Quilkin appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing a bicycle, Valued at £6, the property of Gordon Edmund Knowles.—The accused stated that he took the bicycle for the purpose of going into the country to look for work.—Chief Detective Cameron stated that the youth had been wandering about the country for some years earning his living, with the result that he was not amenable to discipline. He appeared to be quite indifferent as to whether he went to gaol or was admitted to probation. —The magistrate said that if the accused was allowed to continue as he had been going he would develop into a useless individual. _He would be sentenced to two years in the Borstal InstitUtG‘ YOUTHS IN TROUBLE. Robert Allister M'Donald and David Stewart were charged with having, at Clyde, broken and entered the shop of Edward John O’Reilly and stolen a quantity of cigarettes, tobacco, and'cigarette papers, of a total value of £3 18s 7(l— - M. Lloyd appeared for the two accused, who pleaded guilty. l —Chief Detective Cameron stated that the boys were about 17i years of age. They had been living with their parents at Milton, but recently had left home for Clyde, where they had been employed fruit picking. On February 7 they were in Clyde, and after the billard saloon, which was attached to a tobacconist’s shop, bad closed, they broke into the billiard room, and from there entered the shop. They broke open the till, from which they took about 12 coppers, and then took the cigarettes and tobacco. They later threw the till into the river and hid the tobacco by the river hank. Later, when interviewed by Detective Roycroft 1 and Constable O’Connor, they admitted the theft. M'Donald seemed to be amenable to discipline, but Stewart was a clour sort of lad. A report on M'Donald’s character had been received from the Milton police, who stated that he was inclined to be somewhat of a larrikin, but otherwise he was not bad. Stewart came from Scotland with his parents six years ago. He had been before the Children’s Court in Balclutha three years ago on a charge of theft. The chief detective suggested that in view of the circumstances of the case the charge might be amended to one of theft, in order that it might be_ dealt with by that court. —The magistrate stated that it would be quite unnecessary to send a charge of this sort to the Supreme Court, and sanctioned the reduction of the charge to one of theft.—Mr Lloyd stated that M'Donald was quite amenable to discipline, but Stewart had proved so stubborn that he would not avail himself of the bail offered by his father. Counsel was convinced that it was more a case of mischief on the part of the two accused than an actual criminal offence.—The accused Stewart’s father stated that until his son had gone to Clyde he had had no trouble with him, but since he had been brought to Dunedin he had refused to accept any advice from witness. —Stewart was remanded until Saturday in order that the probation officer might prepare a report, the magistrate saying that he was obviously something of a problem. M'Donald was admitted to probation for two years, on condition that he paid £2 of the total damage of £3 7a 6d, and that he ceased frequenting billiard saloons.