MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Southland Times, Issue 23732, 2 February 1939, Page 7

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

WEDNESDAY (Before Mr R. C. Abernethy, S.M.) Reuben Curtis Warnock was charged with the theft of £3 10/-, the property of James Peterson, Ltd. Tire accused pleaded guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. Detective T. Smith said that the accused collected £3 10/- and converted it to his own use. He receipted his books to show that the money had been paid in, but this was disputed and the accused later admitted the offence. He was going to take a risk and give the accused a chance, said the Magistrate. It was rather a contemptible theft that he had committed, but it was 16 years since the accused was last in trouble. A request by the accused for the suppression of his name was refused. The accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within 18 months, if called upon, conditional on restitution being made within three months. PROHIBITED IMMIGRANT Alex McLeaman was charged with being a prohibited immigrant within the meaning of the Immigration Restriction Act 1908 in that he was an insane person. The accused pleaded not guilty. The Collector of Customs (Mr K. H. Smyth) said that the accused was a member of the crew of the Waipori when she was at Bluff on December 30. He was examined by Dr A. R. Ross, of Bluff, who certified him to be suffering from a mental illness. The accused was sent to the Southland

Hospital at Kew, where he was under the observation of Dr L. C. McNickle, who made a report stating that MeLearnan was definitely insane and was likely to remain so for some months or years. If the Court made an order for the accused to be deported, arrangements could be made to have him sent back to England. The accused was ordered to be remanded in custody until February 8, 1939, for medical observation.