POLICE COURT NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11254, 7 December 1914, Page 5

POLICE COURT NEWS.

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. Mr T. A. JB. Bailey, S.M.. dealt with tho cases which came before tho Police Court this morning. DRUNKENNESS. One first offender for drunkenness was fiued 5s or in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment, and three who had been in the colls since Saturday were convicted and discharged. A DOUBLE CHARGE. Daniel Morgan pleaded guilty, to a charge of drunkenness hut not guilty to a charge of stealing a watch guard, valued at £2, the property of one Frederick Baker. Sub-Inspector M'Kinnon said that on Saturday the man Baker came to town and had too much liquor. Accused, who made a practice of following ''drunks" about, got into conversation with tho man, put his hand into his pocket, got the watch guard and made off. Baker followed, caught the accused, and they fought. The guard was found on tho accused. Tn tho colls accused had been overheard trying to "square" P-'cr. Frederick Bukir. farm labourer, of Brookside. said thai bo did not know the accused. He met him on Saturday. At tho door of the A.l. Hotel, accused took the watch guard out of his pocket and'mado off. Witness followed and hung on to accused. "When the police came up witness gavo the accused in charge. Police evidence showed that the two men had been found at the corner of Cashel and Colombo Streets, whom a disturbance had been caused. Accused said that the man Baker gave him the guard to sell, as ho had no monev. At the watchhouse accused handed' tho guard to the watch-house keeper. Evidence was given that in the cells the accused had endeavoured to get Baker to say that the whole thing was due to drink.

When asked if he wanted to give evidence, the accused, who had been interjecting all alone protesting that the charge was trumped, up and so on, started for the witness-box. but changed l-fk mind. He stated that the <niard was given him to sell. He would not do such a thing ns steal it. The Magistrate said that accused had a lonnt record. "You don't deny that?" "No: that's correct," was the reolv.

A sentence of three months' imprisonment was imnosed on the cha»•<*<» of theft, and a fine of os. or in default t,wentv-fouv hours' imnrioomuent inflicted on the charge of drunkenness. A VAGABOND. Julia Hunter, aged fifty, was convicted and discharged on a charge of being a rogue and vagabond in that she was found by night without lawful excuse on the enclosed premises of John Lloyd. LYTTETON CASES. At the Lyttelton Magistrate's Court this morning, before Messrs W. O. Cleary and C. Ferrier, Justices of the Peace, Patrick M'Grath was fined os on a charge of drunkenness. Samuel Colwell, charged with the theft at Wellington on November 10 of Bs, the property of the New Zealand Automatic Bakery Company, was remanded to appear at Wellington tomorrow. Robert Franck pleaded guilty to charges of stealing a meat mincer, valued at 7s fid, and zinc, valued at 16s 4d, and damaging a door, all the property of Stevenson, Stewart a<nd Company. Accused, who had been employed on tho John Anderson, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment on each charge, sentences to be concurrent.