MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 29 April 1927, Page 11

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

TIMARU, APRIL 28. (Before Messrs A. L. Gee and G. Hastie, J.P’s.) DRUNKENNESS. Michael Delaney pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness, his second offence within six months. Senior-Sergeant Gibson said that tho defendant was a stranger to Timaru. He was before the Court in February last, when he was convicted and discharged. A fine of 10s, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment, was imposed. THEFT. John Henry Avery was charged with stealing ono set of trotting harness valued at £5, the property of A. Ricks. He wa,s further charged with forging an order for £l9 4s 2d, purporting to be signed by Ivy Edith Peach, with intent that it should le acted on ns genuine, and causing TV. D. llevell to act on it as such. In respect- to the first charge, Detective Walker said that in February accused was working for Mr Hicks, and noticing tho harness underneath the house, he put it in a sack and took it away and sold it. Arthur Hicks, labourer, residing at 30 Latter Street, Timaru, stated that he had a set of trotting harness which he kept in a cellar. The last time lie saw it was 18 months ago. The value of the harness was about £5. Detective Walker, in evidence, said that lie interviewed the accused on April 26, in connection with the theft of the harness. He admitted that he had sold the harness to a man named Mncnainara, and it was later recovered from Macnamara.

Regarding. the second charge, Detective Walker said that in December last accused aproached Mr llevell, secretary. to the South Canterbury War Relief Association, asking for a loan from the Society. He represented that he had contracts with Mrs Peach to the value of £7O, and Mr Revell informed Avery that he would have to give an order as security. A loan was arranged, accused giving an order as ■security, purporting to be signed by Mrs Peach, of the Pleasant Point Hotel.

William T. D. Revell, secretary to the War Relief Society, stated that accused came to him and said that he was short of funds, and asked for a loan. Ho represented that he had contracts valued at £7B IQs, and one of these, wins with Mrs Peach for £35 10s. Witness placed the position before his committee, and was authorised to make a grant on the strength of Mrs Peach’s order. Accused called at witness’s office on December 24. and brought an order with him, which was purported to be signed by Mrs iroftoji. On the strength of the signntnro he ndvnneed the money. Ivy Edith Peach, wife of tho licensee Peasant Point Hotel, stated that .she knew the accused, who was working at the hotel up till December x wrus only doing odd jobs at. tho hotel, and had arranged to do the work for £5. This was the only money that was ever owing to him The signature on the order was not her signature. Evidence was also given by Detective \\ nlker. Accused pleaded guilty to both charges, and was committed to tlie Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was not asked for.