Police Court.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12439, 17 December 1903, Page 6

Police Court.

Mr R. L. Stanford, S.M., presided jin the Police Court on HccJnesday morningTHEFT OF MONEY. Joseph Burke, a young -nan, en remand, was charged, that on December 14th, at Waitara, he stole the- sum of £3, the money of AValter dairy* He pleaded guilty. Sergt. Haddrell said the accused, j who was of Portuguese or Spanish descent, had come to Waitara from ; Auckland to look lor work. He put . up at the Masonic Hotel, and after he had left a lodger named Clairy, j whose room accused shared found , his box had been rifled, and the j money stolen. Accused was arrested on the Earawa at New Plymouth, and , he then stated that he had laken £2 1 15s, an dhad spent the money in a j ticket to Auckland, and buying a Pair ,of boots. Accused's real name was Peters, but his father altered his name when he came to New Zealand. ■ The,, 1 . police had made enquiries, but could , not find any previous complaints a- j 1 gainst accused. j I Ilis Worship said he would admit accused to probation for six months, ' , and would order him to i'efun>d the £3 : ! stolen. He advised accused to go back to Auckland, and find vv o vk. CRUEL DESERTION. Arthur Thom a s, a comparatively j ! young- m a n, on remand from Auckland, ' \ was charged, that ou April 15th, ] 1902, at Kimibolton, near jc'elMing, hu ' did desert his wife Annie and vis tU:cc children and leave them wn'iout adequate means of support. Accused, who is very deaf. sa?d the charge was correct. Sergt. Haddrell said the (.••sa was a bad one. The accused, during the wife's absent on a visit fir her health, sold up the home, practically stripped ; the house, and cleared out with his i wife's younger sister, ' lea v ing his three children to the mercy of aryone. The accused was working on a farm j at Franklin Junction when arrested, j but the sister of his wife Lad left j him some time before. The wiia was willing to forgive the accused. Accused, in answer to written questions, said he was willing to if join | his wife and family. j Sergt. Haddrell said the accused had > expectations under his mother's ■will. j His Worship said that 'hose inter- ' ests could not be tied up. He would ' remand accused for a month, i,\ order ' to allow him time to provide a home for his wife and family. i The accused's wife, who was nicely dressed, and the three children, two girls and a boy, who looked well cared j for and nicely dressed, were in Court, j f His Worship said he would remand accused for a- month in order to give him an opportunity to provide a home for his wife and family. ' Mrs Thomas said she could manage for a month, as she had to support herself and children for the past IS j months. I j Accused : All I wish is a chance to make amends. His Worship : You have got it. BREAKING AND ENTERING. Heta, a Maori boy, who was arrested and brought in lrom Opunake by j Constable Uickman, was charged that , on December 12th, at Pihatna, he did . break and enter the house of Hans Kiolter, and commit theft. Accused, who had an expansive smile that reached right across his face, pleaded guilty. Mr Freeth interpreted. Constable Hickman, stated that accused, who was 14 years of age, had owned up to a series of theft in the Piihama district. Accused's father w a s anxious that the youth should be sent to the Industrial School in preference to gaol. His Worship ordered the accused to be sent to' the Burnham School at t'hristchurch, and the question of the father paying so much per week was clpforrcd till the S.M. sat at Opunake The Court rose.