CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22479, 25 January 1935, Page 5

CITY POLICE COURT

. Thursday, January 24. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle. S.M.). ‘ ' ’ DRUNKENNESS. V ' Charged, with < drunkenness, Robert Wbitelaw, a statutory first offender, who agreed to take out a . prohibition, order against himself,' Was convicted and discharged; ~ • • - • '• v . i r- ; Angus M‘Kay pleaded.-guilty to a charge, of drunkenness for the seventh time in the past six months. He was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment, Mr Bundle remarking that this would be the accused’s last chance. ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING. Clifford William Hill, aged 18, was charged with breaking and entering' the premises of William Thomas Allan at Otokia on December 25 and stealing the sum of £2 15s. —Detective, Sergeant Doyle stated that there were seven charges against the accused, but the police were unable to locate the occupants of one of the houses and could not proceed in the matter.—A remand until February 3 was granted.—An application for bail was refused. Detective Sergeant Doyle stating that thg accused was at present on probationary license from the Borstal. ■-V FALSE STATEMENT. * A young man, aged 18, was charged that on August 10, 1934, he did wilfully and knowingly make a false declaration for the purpose of procuring a registrar’s certificate for marriage.—Arthur Roderick , Ellis, registrar of deaths and marriages, gave evidence > that oh August 10 the accused had called on him to procure a certificate for marriage. He informed him that he would have to make a declaration and this was done. The age given on the statement was 21.—Detective Marsh stated that, on December 1 he had examined the"marriage book and noticed the entry. He interviewed the accused two days later and he stated that he was 21 years old on August 17, and ad--mitted that he was under age-when he qiade the declaration. He later made a statement in which he stated that he was 18 years of age on August 17, 1934. — A birth certificate was produced which confirmed this statement. —The accused pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence. Bail was allowed ’on the accused’s own recognisance of £25. An order was made for the suppression of the name in the meantime. BREAKING AND ENTERING. William Edward Ward, aged 23, and Andrew Ferguson Gorrie, aged 22, were charged with breaking and entering the shop of John Butler and stealing the sum of £4 3s 8d and a quantity of cigarettes and tobacco amounting in value to £l2 12s Bd. .Detective Sergeant Doyle conducted the case for the police. Mr W. Ward appeared for Ward and Mr Stevens for Gorrie.

Nancy Gordon, a grocer’s assistant employed by Butler at his shop at the corner of Frederick and Leith streets, gave evidence that she was last on the premises on the night of January 8. She locked the doors at 10.5 p.m., and left the premises secure.

John Butler, owner of the shop, stated that when he was returning to his shop at 12.10 on the same night he noticed someone standing in an adjacent door-way, and turned the car lights on to a man, who immediately walked away. When he approached his shop door he noticed that the gauze above the door had been burst open, and .he beard a ' noise inside. He watched the door while he sent for the police, and on their arrival he entered the .shop- and. found ,the two accused in the storeroom at the rear. He also found a sugar bag partly filled with cigarettes and tobacco, Which had been removed from the shelves. The sum of £4 3s 8d was missing from the till. Constable Beckett gave evidence that in response to a telephone call he w-ent to Butler’s shop in company with Sergeant Thom and Constable Cbaytor. He entered the shop and noticed that the till had been opened, and he later asked the accused where the money was. One of them told him it was in the sugar bag, and witness found it there along with the tobacco.

Constable Chaytor gave evidence of finding gloves, an electric torch, some cotton waste, and a pocket knife in the possession of the accused. Detective Marsh stated that he interviewed the accused Gorrie the following day. Gorrie was very frank about the matter, and had made a statement to him.

Both the accused pleaded guilty, and

were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. ’ Bail was asked for in the case of Gorrie, who, it, was stated, had no previous criminal record. Courisel for .Ward also risked for bail. Detective Sergeant Doyle stated that Ward was known to the police, and that he did not think it was a case for bail. Mr Bundle stated tha.t as the Supreme

Court would be sitting shortly bail was hardly necessary. If, however, there was any delay, he would reconsider the question of allowing Gorrie, bail.