CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24255, 25 March 1940, Page 13

CITY POLICE COURT

Saturday, March 23. (Before Mr W, A. Scott, J.P., and Mr F. W. Mitchell, J.P.) Drunkenness “This man has had 78 previous convictions for offences varying from allowing a horse to wander to being an incorrigible rogue,” said Senior Sergeant Claasen when Francis McCluskey appeared on a charge of drunkenness. “He was before the court_ for drunkenness on March 19 and 21,” he added. “On the last occasion he promised to leave town and not to get into trouble again. Now he is here for the third time, and it is time he learnt not to come here again.”—A fine of £l, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment, was imposed. George William Collie, a statutory first offender, charged with drunkenness, was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. Remand Granted A young man, whose name was suppressed until the facts of the case were gone into, was charged with incurring a debt of £l9 19s for board and lodging in Christchurch by fraudulently representing that he was a lieutenant in His Majesty’s Naval Forces. He was also charged that he unlawfully wore the uniform and badges of a lieutenant in the Royal Navy.—-Detective Sergeant Hill said that the accused had been arrested on Thursday and he asked that a remand until Wednesday next be granted.—The accused was remanded until Wednesday, his name being suppressed. Assault on Daughter “It is a deplorable thing to find a father before the court for assaulting his daughter,” said Senior Sergeant Claasen, when David Johnston Gunning pleaded guilty to assaulting his daughter, Margaret Gunning, on Good Friday.—Senior Sergeant Claasen stated that the accused returned home at 1 p.m. on Good Friday and went into his daughter’s bedroom. He asked her why she was not getting his dinner and then attacked her. He punched her on the law and knocked her to the ground. He told her he would slit her throat and held her down while he produced his pocket knife. He then ran the knife across her throat. Presumably he used the back- of the knife. Senior Sergeant Claasen said, for no injury was inflicted. The girl, however, received a great fright. The accused then locked her in her room, but she climbed out of a window and told a neighbour what had happened, and the police were sent for. When Constable Hamilton arrived the accused was still under the influence of liquor. He had been before the court before for assault, and had 18 previous convictions.—The accused was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment.