MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1359, 21 June 1918, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

TO-DAY'S CASES. Mr T. A. n. Bailey, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court to-day. Theft.—Bessie Scott (Mr C. S. Thomas) and Maud Hammon (Mr J. A. Cassidvi were charged with the theft of articles of clothing to the value of £3 1 9, the property of Pope's, Ltd. Maud Hnmmon plerided guilty, and Ressic Scott not guiltv. Chiof Detective Mcllveney said that 'the two women had gone into Pope's shop, and after their departure certain articles were missed. One of the partners of the firm followed the two and overtook them in a right-of-way, and the missing articles were found in a parcel carried by the woman Hammon. Ruth D. Hodson, partner in the firm, said that when she had overtaken the two, Bessie Scott had willingly shown her parcels, but the missing articles were found in a parcel carried by the other woman. An assistant in the shop said that she remembered seeing the two women in the shop several times during the past few months. Mr Thomas produced a passport showing that Miss Scott had only arrived from Brisbane on May 22 last. He admitted that Miss Scott was with the woman Hammon, but she knew nothing about the theft until the goods were found in Mrs Mammon's parcel. There was not the slightest evidence against Miss Scott either of theft or of having anv connection with the theft. The Magistrate said that there was not sufficient evidence against Miss Scott to justify a conviction, and he would dismiss the case. The woman Hammon was fined £5, and ordered to report weekly to the probation officer for 12 months.

By-law Cases.—For cvcling at night without a light, Charles Bloom was fined 1"> - and costs. Robert Lyness, charged with driving a vehicle by night without lights and with driving over a railway crossing while a train was approaching, was convicted and discharged on the first charge, while on the second charge he was ordered to pay expenses amounting to 30/-. Alleged Cruelty to Animals.—William Henry Poninghaus (Mr Mallevl was proceeded against by the S.P.C.A. (Mr H. J. Beswick) for omitting to supply a calf with proper and sufficient food, and with illtreating a cow by neglecting to milk it for a period of 2! hours. Mr Mallcy contended that Poninghaus hud been called away from his home in Springston South, and had been detained longer than he had expected. He was lined 40/- and costs on each charge.

of Timaru. Many of the men wrote post-cards expressing their thanks to the donors, but these suffered badly in the rain and mud, and most will never reach their destination. Under the circumstances, it gives me the greatest pleasure to be the medium of conveying the thanks of all concerned here to these kindly and thoughtful Timaru women. Of the nine places the association now has running here, one is in a large hut, two are in marquees, and the remainiler in barns and cellars. Eighteen thousand cups of cocoa are given away every day, and this is ouly one item. At the same time the association is endeavouring, under great difficulties, to

carry on as many of the ordinary features of its work as possible. There is a nightly entertainment in the big hut, which is, of course, a considerable way behind the front, and large supplies of literature and writing materials are distributed at all branches. For the wounded, in the vicinity of the various dressing stations, a special supply of comforts is alwavs available.

In a letter that I have just received from him, the young manager of the association writes: "Naturally, many of the ordinary features of our work are impossible under the conditions that obtain, but we are doing our hest to fill a niche. We have practically none of our own equipment here, r- have to manage on what we hav< ained by salvage. When we got time to think of establishing our office we found that our gear was not in the peaceful little village in which we had left. it. The | enemy had made a rapid advance in i the direction of this village, and as we; did not wish to lose our office records and equipment we had again to run the j gauntlet to rescue it. We are still minus : our typewriter, which is cruising about • 'somewhere in France,' and have had; to resurrect a 'dugout' which is suffer-! ing from shell-shock."