COURTS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 1 September 1908, Page 5

COURTS.

(Per Press Association ) At P t t™ RSJpN, N. } August 31. g^SS^ l^V^T^ W- H- Hancock, said ho did not wish to proceed with the prosecution, as the money had bee*

Mr Cooke, counsel for accused, said the money had been paid in this morning unconditionally, and he supposed, ?, oam? would not be proceeded withMr Thomson, S.M., pointed out that 7, tne payment of money did not necessariJy end the case, and he added that , another information had been laid by the police. • Mr Cooke said he had had no information on the matter till a few minutes beforehand he would ask for a remand. Bub-Inspector O'Donovan said there was a prima facie case to answer. The S.M. said the police had adopted * the proper course, and so the charges - were substantially the same. A remand could be only granted till'M two o'clock, which was done.

Later. i- O. E. Harden, solicitor; was charged ' to-day, before Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M., with theft of £250 from a client. The police prosecuted, and Mr Oooke asked for a further remand on behalf of the accused on the ground that he was - physically r unfi^y for / the ordeal > . Mr Thomson refused a further remand, and Mr Cooke withdrew from the ■ . case on the ground that it was impossible to do it justice under the circum-- - stances. Dr. Q'Brien gaye^ evidence that . though the accused^ was in a state of collapse in the morning. his condition had ' sufficiently improved: to allow the case - to go on. ~'-. A large amount of evidence was. taken, the most important witness being Mr Hughes, accountant of the Bank of Australasia, who produced entries---showing that only £114s lOd was in the - trust account prior to paying in the£2so, and a cheque for £100 was drawn - against that., Several other debit en-- , tries were also shown, and the credit balance of the, account on the 30th July last, when transactions ceased, was. - 14s. ■■ ■■■-.■/• .. - ''~;>•-■" ',". Accused was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, and, while reserv- - ing his defence, made a lengthy statement in. which he stated that his book* and' affairs had not been looked after - owing to illness andl continual absence -' from town. "It was a considerable • shock," said he, " when I went to thebank and discovered my position." He also laid stress on the fact that he, had 1" made,no attempt,to shirk his aiesponsibilvty. ■•-~ , %> , , , :. ,-fT. .TIMARt, .August-31. ' - A farmer m this district who has - F je^ way *° <*rink was to-day committed by> the Stipendiary Magistrate to--tho Pakatoa Home, Auckland, for two- - years as an habitual drunkard WELLINGTON. August 30. »i «r « Magistrate's Court vesterdar Mr W. P. James, S.M., sent John William Croker to prison for 14 days, without the option of a fine, for using ob- - scene language to a barmaid.