CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24221, 13 February 1940, Page 15

CITY POLICE COURT

Monday, February 12 (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.)

Drunkenness Charged with drunkenness, David Alfred Brown and Norman Richard White were each fined £l. in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. Admitted to Probation Christopher John Kilgour, who on Friday was convicted of theft and remanded to allow the probation officer to submit a report, appeared for sentence.—Mr J. P. Ward, who appeared for the accused, said that Kilgour had previously borne a good character, and the week-end he had spent in custody had had its effect. —The theft, the magistrate remarked, was a shabby one, but in view of the probation officer’s favourable report, and the fact that the week-end in custody had probably taught the accused a lesson, he would be admitted to probation for 12 months, restitution to be made as directed by the probation officer. Theft and False Pretences Harold John Salmon appeared for sentence on a charge of theft and one of false pretences.—Detective Sergeant Hall stated that the accused had been sentenced to a month’s imprisonment on another charge at the present sitting of the Supreme Qpurt.—Mr W. H. Carson, who appeared for Salmon, said that his client appeared to be on the way to becoming a social problem, as there was a probability of his becoming totally blind. —The acr cused was sentenced to one month s imprisonment, with hard labour, on each charge, the terms to be concurrent. Intoxicated Motorist James Patrick Sheehy aged 42, who was represented by Mr O. G. Stevens, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated while in charge of a motor lorry. Outlining the charge. Sergeant Johnsen told the court that on Saturday evening, shortly after 6 o clock, the accused was seen by a traffic inspector driving a motor truck through Green Island in an erratic manner. He stopped the truck and got out. but he was in such an advanced stage of intoxication that the inspector had m, alternative but to arrest hnmand take him to the Central Police Station, where he was certified as unfit to drive The accused, who resided at Balclutha, was a carting contractor.— Mr Stevens said that Sheehy, by sb® er hard work, had succeeded in building up a small carrying business, and in the circumstances suspension Ox his licence was going to _ be a serious matter.—" There is nothing fresh to be said in these cases, either by counsel or by the Bench,’’ his Worship remarked, “ and the publicity given to offenders should be sufficient warning. —A fine of £2O. with medical expenses (£1 Is), was imposed, and the accused s licence was suspended for 12 montns. Theft of Watch John Alexander William Forrester, aged 25. for whom Mr L. R. Simpson appeared, pleaded guilty to having, at Middlemarch. stolen a wristlet watch valued at £7, the property of Gwendoline Roberta Tisdall.—The facts, as explained to the court by Detective Sergeant Hall, were that on the night of February 3. the accused, in company with two other men named Crossan and White, went to Middlemarch to attend a dance, but finding that it had been postponed they called at tne home of the complainant, who was a 'friend of Crossan. The complainant was in bed. but Crossan and Forrester were invited in to see her and they remained for about 10 minutes. On hit. way out. Forrester took the watch from a sideboard, and also took the girl s skirt, telling her that if she wished to get it back she could come out to the car for it. She did so. but after she had been talking for a few minutes her father came out and ordered her into the house again, at the same time telling accused and his companions to go away. When interviewed by the police. Forrester at first denied any knowledge of the watch, but finally he admitted having taken it. The accused had been before the court on two previous occasions. —While the accused did not seek to implicate Crossan. Mr Simpson said, it was as a result of his accompanying Crossan that he had become involved in the escapade. It was Crossan who had suggested calling on the girl, and when they were in her room. Crossan. desirous of getting her outside, asked Forrester to take something belonging to her when he went out, The accused thereupon took the skirt and the watch, and subsequently the girl went outside and talked for a few minutes before her father told her to go inside again. Forrester had intended going to another dance at Middlemarch. and proposed returning the watch when he did so. and in vieiy of the fact that he had had it for over a week and had made no attempt to dispose of it. it looked as if the offence was unpremeditated, and at the same time exceedingly foolish. —The magistrate said that the circumstances of the theft were unusual, and it was probable, that the matter was more one of fooling than of a criminal nature The accused would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence at anv time if called on within six months.