POLICE COURT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18488, 1 February 1930, Page 18 (Supplement)

POLICE COURT.

TIMARU, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31 (Before Messrs D. McLennan and T. W. Satterthwaite, J.P's.).

Theft Charge Dismissed. Edward Joseph Duggan, farm labourer, was charged that, on January 25, at Timaru, he did steal one suitcase and swag, valued at £lO, the property of George Page, otherwise known as Mark Brand. Senior-Sergeant Gibson prosecuted, and Mr L. J. Cameron appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. George Page, in the witness box, said that he was a farm labourer, and that he came to Timaru last Thursday week. Accused and witness lived together in the same boarding-house. Accused suggested that witness and accused should go to Ashburton on Saturday, and witness consigned his luggage at the railway station to that place. Later witness missed accused, and he also found that his luggage tickets were not to be found. On going to the railway station, his luggage was missing. Witness could not say positively that Duggan had stolen his luggage, but he had reported his loss to the police as a theft. In reply to Mr Cameron, witness admitted that he had been drunk on Saturday, and that he had been warned by the police to leave the town. It was possible that the luggage might have been consigned by the accused. Witness had had a few drinks on the Saturday morning before the two men went to the station to consign the luggage, and he (witness) was a bit hazy as to what actually was done. Mr Cameron: —Do you “go under any other name? —No! Are you quite sure about that?—l don’t in this country. Have you ever been convicted?— That’s got nothing to do with this case. The Bench: You must answer the question. Witness: I’ve been convicted for theft * and drunkenness. The Senior-sergeant: What is your other name? —Mark Brand. Asked by the Senior-sergeantr why he had made such statements against Duggan, and had had him arrested for a crime which he did not commit, witness said that all he had wanted was his property, and he did not think that it was possible to get it by any other means. Constable A. C. White, Ashburton, gave evidence relating to a statement he had obtained from accused. Constable White said that the writing on the consignment form was that of accused, and that the luggage had been found at the Ashburton railway station. Mr Cameron submitted that there was no case, and the Bench dismissed the information. Intent to Defraud. Ernest Maurice Mason, a labourer, of Milford, was charged that, between October 25 and November 5, 1929, at Wellington, with intent to defraud, he did incur a debt of £2 for board and lodging to one Rachael Judge, by falsely stating that he had been robbed of £2O on the LytteltonWellington ferry boat on the night of October 24 and 25, 1929. On the application of Seniorsergeant Gibson, accused was remanded to appear before the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday next.