MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17349, 14 May 1924, Page 7

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

CHRISTCHURCH. DRUNKENNESS. A first offender, who pleaded guilty, but said he was not properly drunk as he could remember everything that happened after half-past four the previous day, was fined os, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. AFTER HOURS. John M’Donald, who did not appear, was charged with being found on the licensed premises of the Lincoln Hotel after hours After hearing the evidence of Constable tSmither, the Magistrate imposed a fine of £2 and costs, remarking that it was his custom to impose this maximum penalty on offenders who encouraged licensees to break the law. Ernest Ivan Watkins, a youth nineteen years of age, was similarly charged in respect to the same hotel" Hie Bench said defendant had com, mitted nearly all the breaches of the licensing act at- the one time. In consideration of defendant’s age, a fine of £1 and costs was inflicted. THEFT OF SPOONS. Edith M’Marron, for whom Mr Connal appeared, pleaded not guilty to * charge of stealing sixteen table spoons valued at 30s, the property of Thomas Dodd.

Detective Connolly said accused had taken the spoons and disposed of them tp a second-hand dealer. She had been employed in the kitchen at the Trocadero Hotel.

Thomas Dodd gave evidence as to nlissing the spoons. He recognised the spoons produced in Court as hia property. To Mr Connal, witness said accused worked at his hotel under the name c-f Mrs Naims. He did not complain about his loss the day after it was discovered.

Mrs Payton, second-hand dealer, 108, Oxford Terrace, said accused went to her shop on March 13 with the spoons. She said sho had been keeping a boarding-house, and the spoons were all she had left. Witness gave her 8s for the spoons. Those produced in Court were tho same spoons. At this stage, Mr Connal said lie would withdraw the plea and substitute one of guilty. Addressing the Magistrate counsel said accused had two children. She was addicted to drinking spirits, and this had been the cause of her downfall. She had never been before the Court before. In answer to the Bench, Detective Connolly said the police know nothing against accused apart from the present offence. The Magistrate said accused would he convicted and placed on probation fox twelve months, conditionally upon her taking a prohibition order out against herself forthwith, and paying the sum of 8s (received from the sec-ond-hand dealer) to the probation officer with one month. In further remarks, the Magistrate said it wa? very satisfactory to the Court to find the police adopting such a fair attitude towards accused.

The Mayor has received £IOO from the Hyman Marks trust for the coal and blanket fund. A microphone, so delicate that it will pick up sounds so slight that the human car cannot distinguish them, such as the voices of tiny insects, is now being perfected in America.