CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24762, 12 November 1941, Page 9

CITY POLICE COURT

Tuesday, November 11 (Before Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M.) Attempted False Pretences A young man, aged 21, pleaded guilty to having attempted to obtain £5 by false pretences.—Outlining the charge, Detective Sergeant Hall explained- that the accused had answered an advertisement for a private inquiry agent, and was later employed by the advertiser to gather evidence for a divorce against his wife. The accused made inquiries and submitted reports, and received £6 10s in payment, but he then wrote a letter to the wife, alleging that he had evidence which would enable her husband to secure a divorce, and asking her to send him £5. The police were communicated with, and when the accused was arrested he admitted the. offence. "It was a despicable offence," Mr Hall added.—On behalf of the accused, Mr Stevens said that the accused had acted stupidly and had no real criminal intent. In view of the accused's youth and the fact that he was on the threshold of his career, counsel asked that the charge should be held over his head The magistrate agreed that the offence seemed to indicate a juvenile state of mind, and was hardly one that an adult would have committed. In the circumstances, he said, a conviction would be a serious matter for the accused, and the case would therefore be adjourned for 12 months and publication of the name prohibited. "You must realise," his Worship told the accused, "that you are being treated with exceptional leniency." Intoxicated Motorist Cyril Edie, aged 31, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated while in charge of a motor truck.—Senior Sergeant Vaughan stated that the accused, in a state of advanced intoxication, was arrested in Hanover street while in charge of the truck. —The accused, who had no excuse to offer, was fined £ls, with medical expenses (£1 Is), and his driver's licence was suspended for 12 months. Threatened with Firearm William Cecil Tucker, for whom Mr D. J. Simpson appeared, was charged with having unlawfully presented a firearm at Victor James Barker;—The facts of the case as placed before the court by Senior Sergeant Vaughan. were that the complainant had returned to the defendant's flat in the early hours of the morning in company with the defendant's wife, and the defendant had pointed an empty rifle at him. "It appeared," the senior sergeant said, "to be a case of domestic strife."—Mr Simpson said that the defendant, when he pointed the rifle, was actuated solely with the idea of frightening Barker.—The defendant was convicted, and ordered to come up for sentence at any time if called on \ within six months.