CHARGES DISMISSED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 273, 19 February 1941, Page 5

CHARGES DISMISSED

TWO YOUNG MEN IN COURT . COSTS IMPOSED When two young men, James: Warren Anderson Roper and Leo Trevor Simpson appeared in the local court before Messrs G. A. Brabant and J. G. Mulliolland, J's.P. yesterday charges of wij fully damaging a window and being unlawfully on

premises were dismissed, the young men being ordered to pay court costs and told lhat they had behaved foolishly.

On a recent Saturday evening,, according to Mir Leonard El Evans, of Piripai, a car had stopped, footsteps had been heard rounding his house and then the household had been disturbed by the breaking of a window. He staled that the two voung men in court had been guests at his house, Simpson frequently and Roper on a couple of occasions. He had given instructions to his family that the latter was not to be admitted.

The young men denied having wilfully damaged the window. They had both wished to visit the house, Roper to speak to Miss Eivans and Simpson to Mr Evans son. As they rounded the house they had knocked at Miss Evans window with the unexpected result that the glass broke. Frightened at what they had done they had run away, later resolving to return, repair the damage, and explain. Before they had done so the matter had been reported to the police. Simpson claimed to be a friend of the family and a frequent visitor, while Roper stated that he had been made welcome by Mrs and Miss Evans and had seen Miss Evans

frequently. Mr G. O'tley appeared for the young men vnd pleaded tlVit they had not been on the premises unlawfully and had no intention of damaging the window. He felt that the charges were trivial in that both defendants had been made welcome at the house had not been told to keep away. The Bench stated that the young men had not intended to commit a crime, but had been foolish and illmannered in their approach to tlv, house.