CHARGES IN POLICE COURT

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1930, Page 9

CHARGES IN POLICE COURT

OBTAINING CREDIT BY FRAUD. YOUNG MAN’S STAY AT MIDLAND. A young man whose name was suppressed pleaded guilty in the New Plymouth Police Court yesterday before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., to having obtained by fraud credit to the extent of £4 19s. 6d. in Wellington on May 22. Sentence was deferred until the magistrate obtains a report from the probation officer. Accused, who had been a porter In a hotel in New Plymouth, had been in hospital in April, said the-Senior-Sergeant. He had put up at the Midland Hotel in Wellington after leaving New Plymouth with £5 in his pocket. The tariff at the .Midland was 255. a day, and accused had run up a total bill of £lB 19s. 6d. The manager had spoken to him about his bill and accused had replied that a cheque was coming to him from New Plymouth. On May 25 he left the hotel, taking his things, without paying. The position was that from May 22 to 25, said Mr. A. A. Bennett, accused had technically committed a fraud. After his hospital treatment he had been ordered to take three weeks’ holiday. He had expected to receive money and had, in fact, written away for it, but it had not come. Counsel suggested that this was a case in which probation might be considered. ( CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS. Charged with being drunk in New Plymouth and having broken his prohibition order on May 21, Alfred Avery was convicted and discharged on the first charge and fined £2 on the second. Apart from his indulgence in liquor defendant was a painter of good character, said the Senior-Sergeant. Charged with carrying on the business of his shop and failing to close it at one o’clock on the statutory half-holi-day, A. H. Huggett was fined 20s. (costs ‘los.). Defendant was a coal and firewood merchant, stated the inspector of factories. Huggett had been found delivering coal after one o’clock, and, under the Act, the shop was not deemed closed if a man was still delivering his goods. This was Huggett’s second offence, though in extenuation it might be said that he was delivering the last load of the day.