STOLE FROM COAT POCKET

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1931, Page 3

STOLE FROM COAT POCKET

MAORI YOUTH AT OEO HALL

“NOTHING BUT ATTEND DANCES.”

POLICE CASES TN NEW PLYMOUTH

“He won’t work, and will do nothing but attended dances,” said Senior-Ser-geant McCrorie, when Samuel Nuku, ao-ed 18, a Maori, was charged before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., at New Plymouth yesterday with the theft at the Oeo public hall of £6 135., belonging to Lawrence Hughes. On October 9, said the senior-sergeant, there was a dance in aid of the hall funds. Hughes, the secretary, was oiven the proceeds, amounting to £l4 ]3s. 3d., and these he placed in the pocket of hi,s overcoat hanging in the kitchen. About 2 a.m. Nuku went into the hall to see a waltzing competition, and it was when passing through the kitchen that he put his hand into the pocket of the coat and withdrew some money. Later he tendered some stolen postal notes to a man named Simpson as payment for driving him home. Simpson informed Hughes and Nuku was arrested at Normanby Road, Normanby. A £5 note, a cheque for £1 and postal notes for 3s. and 10s. were recovered. Another cheque for £1 was still missing. Nuku pleaded guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. The senior-ser-geant said the boy’s father could do nothing with him. All he would do was to go to dances and picture shows. A conviction was entered. Later in the day counsel appeared in the case and asked for a remand for a week before sentence was passed. This was granted, the magistrate saying that the probation officer had yet some inquiries to make before presenting his report. Nuku will be held in custody. DESTROYED BEFORE SUMMONS MAN WITH UNREGISTERED DOG. The time of the court and. officials was wasted by cases of this kind, said Chief Inspector Day, when Claude Hoskin pleaded not guilty to a charge of keeping for more than 14 days without registering it a dog over the age of six months. Hoskin had no money and had not been able to pay his unemployment levy, said Mr. Day. Yet he failed to destroy the dog when he could not register it. Then he came to court that morning and said he had recently destroyed the dog. The magistrate: Do you agree with what the inspector says, Hoskin? “No, I don’t,” said Hoskin. He explained that six weeks ago he told Inspector Blyde to take the dog away and destroy it. It belonged to bis daughter, but he had. no money with which to register it. His daughter did not want it “destroyed, but he did destroy it three, weeks ago, before the summons was received.. Inspector Day: The dog was alive before the summons was issued, on October 3. The inspector saw it. The magistrate said that on this occasion he would not order Hoskin to pay the costs, as he was hard up. Hoskin: I haven't a penny in the house. The magistrate: And other people are hard up, too. Hoskin: And Mr. Blyde knows it. Hoskin was convicted and discharged. He had not approached this matter in the right way, observed the magistrate. He should be courteous to Messrs. Day and Blyde. TWO MOTOR COLLISIONS. DRIVERS BROUGHT BEFORE COURT .1» . / Failure to keep to the left of another vehicle on the Junction Road, Mangorei, on September 14, was responsible for Arthur Gorney being ordered to pay costs 18s. It was explained by counsel that there had been a collision. Corney was looking towards the Mangamahoe Lake after crossing a bridge. There was a sharp corner in the vicinity. He admitted he was negligent. He was not insured.; On Tuesday he had paid £59 10s. for damages to the other car. His own car was wrecked. In the circumstances it was suggested the penalty might be made light. A fine of 205., with 16s. costs, was inflicted on Wilton Amor, who on September 20 did not give way to traffic on his right at the intersection of Powderham and Brougham Streets. There was a collision between a car driven up Brougham Street by Sisarich and.Amor’s motor-cycle, which was proceeding along the cross street. Amor, who pleaded guilty, said he thought he was nearer the intersection and had the right-of-way. The magistrate: Do you realise now that you did not have it? Amor: Yes. He was advised to procure a copy of the regulations.