THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20489, 7 March 1932, Page 4

THE COURTS.

MAGISTERIAL. SATURDAY. (Before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M.) THEFT OF BICYCLE. ' John Joseph O'Donnell wae charged with stealing a bicycle, valued at £lO, v the property of M. O'Brien. Sub-Inspector G. B. Edwards eaicl that accused,-ft labourer, aged 46, had been eceJi taking the bicyclo from outside O'Brien and ( Co.'a boot factory by a civilian. _ _ Accused was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, and on two charges of failing to pay the unemployment levy was convicted and discharged. STREET SINGER FINED. John Robert Johnson was charged that he be deemed an, idle and disorderly person, in that.be had insufficient lawful visible means of support, and with singing in High street, so as to cause an obstruction. The police etated that accused's own story was that he had stowed away in the Wainui from Australia in November, and had a mother and sister in Australia. He had been singing in the streets in the City -in order to secure money for his people. Accused repeated this story in the box. The idle and disorderly charge was dismissed, and accused waa convicted and disqharged on the other offence. FINED FOR FIGHTING. Patrick Murphy, a labourer, aged 45, and Graham Spurgeon Scott, a labourer, aged 31, were charged with fighting in St. Asaxili street on Friday. Murphy was convicted and fined £2 and costs, in default 14 days' imprisonment, and Scott £1 and' costs, in default seven days' imprisonment. REMANDED. John Henry Hitchinge, a watchmaker, aged 49. charged with stealing cheques to the value of £l9 17s 2d, was remanded until March 18th. It was stated by the police that the cheques and a sum of money wore reported 'stolen from Mr Rountree's house on the day previous to accused's arrest. Accused had boer. arrested when trying to realise on the cheques in a tailor's shop. Stanley -Gibbard Hateldine, a labourer, wag remanded until March 15th on a charge of breaking and entering the dwelling of John Joseph Cotter, at 441 Colombo street, and committing theft, therein. Bail of £IOO with one surety of £IOO was allowed accused, who was ordered to report daily to the police.' MANY THEFT CHARGES, i John Arthur Crawford, who pleaded guilty to fourteen 'harges of theft, involving goods und money -totalling £75 Bs, was 'sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. Chief-Detective J. J. Carroll stated that tho articles had bten taken by the accused from motor-cars, show-cases outside slfops, and from hotels. Crawford had finished a term of impiisonment on February 10th, and had started the thefts on February 12th. He had been arrested on February 26th, in the act of taking a bag of instruments from a car belonging to Dr. Marks. He was theD well under the influence of drink, but on the • following morning had made a clean breast of everything and had greatlv assisted ,t!ie police in tracing the goods. Unfortnnatelv he had a long lift of previous convictions. During the time the present thefts were committed accused h»,d been more or less stupid with drink. He had been on license from prison, but this bad been cancelled after his arrest. STEWARD CONVICTED. George Wilson, a steward, a??ed 44, charged with being a rogue and vagabond in that he had insufficient lawful visible means of support, waß convicted and ordered to come up for sentenee if called upon within six months. CYCLING 'WITHOTJT LIGHT. Samuel Baird was fined 10s and costs for cycling at night without a light. CHILDREN'S COURT. (Before Mr H. P. Lawi?, S.M.) THEFT OF GRAPES. Pleading guilty to a charge, of stealing giapes valued at 30s, three hoys were admonished - and discharged. They gave an undertaking to repay the value of the grapes. SHOES STOLEN. Two girls, one aged 18, and the other 15, admitted the theft ■of a pair of shoes fiom a shop. The elder girl, was placed on piobation for six. months and the other placed under the supervision of the Child Welfare Officer for a similar period.