MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1828, 23 December 1919, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

TO-DAY'S CASES.

Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court this mornfcg. Drunkenness. —Samuel Ledshain, a third offender for drunkenness, was convicted and fined 40/-, in default seven days' imprisonment. A prohibition order was also ordered to be taken out against him. * Shop-lifting. —Mary Allen was charged with, on December 2, stealing from the D.I.C. goods to the value of £5 9/6. She was also charged with the theft of goods to the value of 22/-, the property of J. E. McKenzie. Chief-Detective Mcllveney stated that the accused had been caught in the act of stealing the articles from McKenzie's. When searched, the property she had taken from the D.I.C. was discovered. She was a married woman with two children. Her husband earned £4 a week.

Mr McCarthy: number of apparently respectable "wpmen are going about New Zealand who are nothing leas than professional shop-thieves, and you, apparently, are one of them.' You are convicted and fined £5, in default one month's imprisonment, on the first charge, and convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon on the second. The goods will be returned to the owners. If this sort of , thing does not cease, I shd'll send the women to gaol. It won't be my fault; lit will be theirs.!

JUVENILE COURT. At the Juvenile Court this morning, Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., presided. Not Under Proper Control. —A family of five children, aged nine, seven, five, three and one and a-half years respectively, were charged with not being under proper parental control. Sergeant O’Grady stated that he called at \ the parents’ house on October 17. He saw the children, who appeared well nourished, but they were very dirty. He also saw the mother, who was dirty, and had not made any attempt to clean her house. She did not appear to he of average intelligence. Some few days later he saw the father of the children, who, like his wife, considered it,was not necessary to keep children clean. Witness warned him that the children would probably be sent to a home, when ho replied, “I have not got a bank behind me, and I consider the children are all right.” The eldest boy, continued the witness, wandered about the picture theatres and the streets half-way through the night, and the father had

several times had to come to the Police Station to inquire as to his son's whereabouts. All the children were committed to the Christchurch Receiving Home, to be brought up in the Church of England faith. RANGIORA. At the Rangiora Magistrate's Court this morning Air V. G. Day, S.M., presided.

Threatening Behaviour. —Harry Murfit pleaded guilty to a charge of using insulting language and threatening behaviour in High Street. He was fined .10/- and costs.

Speeding. —Frank McTeague was fined 20/-.and costs for driving a motor car at an excessive speed through the borough.

A Charge Dismissed. —John Fahey pleaded not guilty to having stolen a hen and 11 eggs, valued at £2, the property of W. F. Richards, of Southbrook. Mr T. C, Kincaid appeared for the accused, who stated that his small son found the hen and eggs and took them home, placing them in the fowl-house unknown to his parent. The charge was dismissed. Obscene Language. —James Quinn was convicted and discharged for being drunk while in charge of a horse and cart. The same defendant was fined £3 in default 14 days' imprisonment for using obscene language. "Happy." No Longer. —Happy Man,tello was fined 0/- and costs for riding a bicycle on the footpath.