POLICE COURT NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12061, 17 July 1917, Page 6

POLICE COURT NEWS.

TO-DAY'S CASES

MAINTENANCE DAY. | (Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS AND ASSAULT. John Davidson, alias Dalton, charged with drunkenness, was also charged with assaulting James Savage by kicking him. The accused was convicted on both charges. He was fined 10s on the first charge, and sentenced to twenty-one days' imprisonment on the second. ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCE. Benjamin Bronkhurst (Mr Goodman) was charged oil the information of Andrew Ernest Young with obtaining three gold rings from the informant, valued at £'27 10s, by false pretence, stating that they were for a man from the bays. Detective-Sergeant MTlveney asked for a remand until July -o. The remand was granted, bail being allowed in one surety in self of £IOO and another of £IOO. DRUNKENNESS. Samuel Vance, who appeared on remand, was charged with having been found in a state of helpless drunkenness. He was ordered to pay medical expenses, and a prohibition order was issued against him. A first, offender was fined os, in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment. MAINTENANCE CASES. Fred. George Frost was ordered to pay 7 s (id a week and medical expenses for the upkeep of his illegitimate child. George Samuel M'Cullagh (Mr Donnelly) was charged with failing to support his wife. Mr Hunt appeared for the wife, and said that the defendant married the complainant last September. She was only eighteen, and they lived in lodgings. One day on arriving home she found a note telling her to get out. The defendant said that he could not keep the house going, as his wife always wanted furs and good dresses. He did not smoke or drink and did the best he could for his wife. The mothor-in-law was the cause of the trouble. Witness bought five dresses in six weeks for his wife.

To Mr Hunt: He had four cottages and received a wage of £2 18s per week.

To Mr Bailey: Ho was paying £2 a week off a mortgage. Witness, continuing, said that he was drawn in the ballot, and as his mother-in-law was afraid of his going to the war. she took the present proceedings, in order to' get .some money. The complainant was recalled by Mr Donnelly. Mr Donuellv (to witness): Do you intend to work? Witness: Yes. Mr Donuellv: You don't intend to live on the order? Witness: No, sir.

Mr Donnelly: Did yon leave your husband in the street and go away with another man ?

Witness: No, I didn't. Mr Donnelly: Would you have instituted proceedings? Witness: No, T would not. The .Magistrate: Did your mother make any rows in the house? Witness: Yes.

Mr Donnelly said that the affair should he made \m and leave the mother-in-law out of it-. The Magistrate made an order for 15s a week, at the same time expressing the opinion that the parties would live together again. LYTTELTON. (Before Captain R. Hatch well. J.P., and Mr W. C. Clcarv, J.P.) DRUNKENNESS. David John Ilildyai'd was convicted and discharged, and a prohibition order was issued against him. ASHBURTON. ASHBURTON, July 17. (Before Messrs R. Clarke, J.P., and W. Oakley, J.P.) THEFT AND FORGERY. Montague Henry Yates appeared on two charges of theft at Rakaia and ten separate charges of forging cheques Jor various amounts on the Bank oj; Zealand, Ashburton. The accused had previously served a term of six months' imprisonment at lnvereargill for breaking and entering. He had subsequently escaped from the Burnham Industrial School, had then enlisted and put in some time in Trentham training camp, and had subsequently again escaped from Burnham. The checiues forced purported to he drawn by J. M'Elhiriey and varied in amounts from 7s 6d to £lO ]7s._ A number of them were cashed at various business places in Ashburton. About fifty witnesses are to be examined and the proceedings are expected to last all day. The accused was sentenced to a mouth's imnr; "D'lTncnt on ope of the charges of theft, and remanded on tho other. The r barges of forgery are being proceeded with. Tho accused pleaded guilty to the first two charges of forgery and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.