THE COURTS. HAD FREE BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20625, 28 May 1935, Page 10

THE COURTS. HAD FREE BOARD.

False Pretences Charges Follow. OFFENCES ON WEST COAST. “We have given this young man every latitude and every opportunity. If he had sincerely intended to make restitution he would have done so a long time ago.” The probation officer addressed the Magistrate’s Court in these words this morning, referring to the case of Albert Naisbitt. Naisbitt, 22 years of age, a m§chanic, faced two charges of false pretences, one of obtaining credit by fraud and one of failing to comply with the terms of his release on probation. The* accused was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for fraud and one month’s imprisonment for breach of probation, the terms to be cumulative. Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., was on the Bench. The charges of false pretences, on which Naisbitt was convicted and discharged, read: Between May 10 and May 16 at Greymouth obtaining board and lodgings to the value of 25s from Jessie Martvn by falsely representing that his name was Robinson and that he was employed in the office of the I Public Works Department and that | he would pay the amount on May 17; and that between May 10 and May 16 at Greymouth he obtained from Ivy Ethel Coffey board and lodgings to the value of £2 by falsely representing that he was employed" by the Post Office on secret business in connection with wireless. The fraud charge was that between February 27 and April 4 at Hokitika, by incurring a liability of £6 Ss 6d to John James Mclntosh, he obtained credit by fraud. Chief-Detective Dunlop outlined the circumstances of the case. At the time, he said, Naisbitt was on probation for theft from his employer. The probation officer said that Naisbitt had given frequent promises, but the promises had not been carried out. Mr R. A. Young said that Naisbitt had been out of work for some time. A sister of accused was prepared to pay the full amounts mentioned in the charges. The accused did not seem t obe a criminal but was of an excitable, nervous temperament. BROKE INTO HOUSE. Offender Committed for Sentence. THEFT OF MONEY-BOXES. Four charges of theft and one of breaking and entering were preferred against Norman Leonard Eden in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. On the charge of breaking and entering he pleaded guilt}-- and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. On the summary charges he was remanded until after sentence by the Supreme Court. Eden was charged with stealing a bicycle, valued at £2, the property of Robert Grigar; stealing a woman’s handbag, cigarette case, a powder compact, and £2 15s in money, to the total value of £9 15, the property of Mary Edith Douglas; stealing a dress ring, a string of pearls, a powder compact, a powder puff, rosary beads and case, of the total value of 15s, the propertj r of some person unknown; receiving 6s on terms requiring him to pay it to or account for it to, the Christchurch General Agency and failing to do so, thereby committing theft, and finally with breaking and entering the dwelling of Thomas Grainger, 523, Worcester Street and committing theft. The last charge was the only one heard. Clothes and Money Missing. Thomas Grainger, a telegraph linesman, said that he and his wife left their home in Worcester Street early in the afternoon. They returned at five o’clock and later on it was found that the house had been entered. Clothes and two money-boxes, containing about £2, had been stolen. Entrance to the house was gained by the back bedroom window’. Eden: There was only 7s or 8s in the money-boxes. The Magistrate (to witness) : Are you sure of the amount? Witness: No. We are not sure, but there was more than Bs. Acting-Detective N. Thompson said he interviewed Eden. Eden admitted breaking into the house. Eden said he went to the house to get some clothes as he w T as hard up. The Magistrate (Mr E. C. Levvey) said he w’ould hear the facts of the other charges later. Eden pleaded guilty in each case. “ STOP THAT NOISE.” Court Not a “ Chattering House.” On several occasions recently Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., has complained of the murmuring of voices among the spectators at the Magistrate’s Court. “ Stop that noise,” he warned them this morning. “ One would think this was a chattering house the w 7 ay they are going on.” Sentenced for Theft. William Andrew Sutherland, a labourer, 24 years of age, appeared for sentence this morning in the Magistrate’s Court on three charges of stealing bicycles and one of stealing £ll Ss 4d in money. He w r as sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, with hard labour, to be followed by twelve months’ reformative detention.