CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24723, 27 September 1941, Page 7

CITY POLICE COURT

Friday, September 26 (Before Mr H. W. Bundle. S.M.)

Drunkenness A first offender charged with drunkenness was fined 20s. Placed on Probation A girl, aged 24 years, was charged with the theft of a gold watch and a pair of silk stockings, valued al £5 7s lid. —Detective Sergeant Hall said that lhe articles were the property of a housemaid employed at a boarding house. She shared a room with the accused s sister and left the watch and stockings in the room The accused visited her sister, ana was left alone in the room She took the articles, and later pawned the watch and received a loan of 10s. The watch had been recovered, but the girl stated that she had given the stockings to a friend.—Captain Dickinson stated that the accused was very weak, and had al one time been in a special school.— The magistrate said that it was a despicable form of theft and the accused would be placed on probation for two years, restitution of 17s lid to be made as directed by the probation officer. The magistrate suggested that the name should be suppressed on account of the girl’s mentality and state of health. Theft ot an Overcoat

George Anthony Silva was charged with the theft of an overcoat, valued at £5, the property of John Henry Allen. Mr C. J. L. While represented the accused, who pleaded not guilty.— Detective Sergeant Hall said that the complainant left his overcoat in his car on July 5. The car was left unattended at times on Dunedin streets and it was not until the next morning that the complainant discovered that his overcoat and a rug were missing from the car. Early in July the accused was in the New Club Hotel, and was asking people in the bar to buy an overcoat. The accused finally sold the coat to a barman for £l. When interviewed by the police the accused denied having seen the coat before.—Mr White said that he had strong feelings over the case, as he regarded it as being a matter of “ giving a dog a bad name. The accused. he said, strongly denied that be knew anything about the coat. Counsel contended that the barman bought the coat for the ridiculously low price of £l, and when approached by the police had named Silva as the person from whom he had bought it because he knew that the accused had been in trouble frequently. Mr White said that for six days prior to July 8 Silva had been confined to bed, and evidence would be given to that effect. —The magistrate said that the barman had no right to buy such a coat for £1 in a bar. and he deserved strong censure for his action, if not more. After taking all the evidence into consideration. he stated that he had no reasonable doubt that the accused was in possession of the coat about the time it was stolen. He either was guilty of theft or of being in possession of stolen property. He would be convicted of theft and sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment Young Girl’s Lapse

Charged with the theft of a hatbox, a rug, a suitcase, and a pair of slippers of a total value of £3, a young girl, whose name was suppressed, pleaded guilty. She was represented by Mr C. J L. White.—Detective Sergeant Hall said that the accused rented a room from the complainant, who went into hospital and left the accused in charge of the house While the complainant was absent from the house, the accused left Dunedin and took the articles with her. She later wrote to the complainant stating that she had taken the hatbox and expressed the hope that the complainant would not mind. She did not mention having taken the other articles. A search was made, and it was found that the other articles were missing. When interviewed by the police, the accused admitted having taken the hatbox. rug, and slippers, but did not mention the suitcase. The accused had not been in trouble before.—Mr White said that the circumstances of the case were strange. The accused came of a well-known and highly-respected family, and was well educated and a good pianist. He described how she had formed an attach- 1 ment with a man of whom her parents did not approve, and this had caused a break between the girl and her people. She took a room with the complainant and they became such friends that she took a loan of the articles when she left town with the intention of making a break with the man, who was a friend of the comolainant. Mr White suggested that the complainant should have gone to the girls’ parents.before going to the police. It was suggested by the parents that tiie man, from whom she had cut adrift, was responsible for the charges having been made against her In view of the facts, he asked .that the accused be placed on probation and that her •name be suppressed.—ln view of the accused's age and the circumstances of the case, the magistrate said that he would adjourn the matter for 12 months, and he prohibited the publication of the accused's name Motorists* Offences

For not possessing warrants ol fitness, the following motorists were fined 10s and costs (10s):—Mervyn Leslie Bnyes Harry James, and Robert Leslie Sim. David Alexander Russell was fined 7s 6d and costs (10s) and Leslie James Brown 10s and costs (12s). Fines of 10s and costs (10s) were imposed on the following for driving in restricted lighting areas without dipning (heir headlights:—Peter Dalliessi, Frederick George Fox. Cecil Henry Moseley, Guv Hellyer Nash, and yictor Alexander Vertinan. Howard William Reeves was fined 15s and costs (10s), and was also convicted and discharged for having no warrant of fitness. For driving without a licence. Archie Aspro was fined 10s. and costs (10s), and Lyall Thompson Allan A. Campbell, Robert R Kofoed. and Robert George Penny were .ned ss. and costs (10s). Morris Williamson and James Clement Wilson were each fined 10s and costs (12s) for driving without a licence, and 5s for having no warrant of fitness. Stanley Butler was fined ss. and costs (12s) for driving without a licence, and 10p for not bavins a warrant of fitness Jack Hutchison was fined 10s. and costs (3s). for having no warrant of fitness, and 5s >nd costs <3s) for driving without a licence. Other charges against motorists were dealt with as follows:—Charles John Kerr, incorrect parkins of car, ss. and costs (10s); Stan. King, unlicensed motor truck, convicted and discharged, and for driving without a licence ss. and costs (TOs): Andrew James King, driving without due care and attention, £2 costs (13s). and witness’s expenses (12s (id). Gordon Proudfoot. operating unlicensed motor vehicle 15s and costs (10s): Olive Alice Rein overtaking a vehicle without having 300 ft visibility. 20s, and costs OOs): Albert Edward McMurray exceeding the speed limit for heavy traffic. 30s and costs (10s); Wing Choon Kwok, for assisting Stan King in the commission of an offence. )os, and costs *(10s): Peter Thomas Richardson, exceeding 30 miles per hour in restricted area. 20s. and costs (10s).

Charge Dismissed

Albert George Walmslcy who was represented by Mr O. G. Stevens, was charged with knowingly supplying false information in a rental agreement for the litre of a motor car. in that he signed an agreement containing a statement that he was 21 years of age. Mr Stevens stated that the defendant was not questioned as to his age and did not know that he had to be 21 years to hire a car When he signed the agreement he did not know that it contained a condition that he should be 21,—Mr Bundle said that the clause should appear in the agreement in large type, because if anyone went to read it as it was at present he would almost need a magnifying glass. The question of age should alwavs be out to voung men hiring a car. He could not hold that the defendant knowingly supplied false information, and the charge would be dismissed.