MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23969, 9 June 1943, Page 4

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

TUESDAY (Before Mr E. C. Levvey. S.M.) REMANDED

"He’s a thorough young scoundrel: you cannot believe him. and he has taken down everybody he can.” said the Probation Officer. Mr W. H. Darby, when John Francis Harnett, aged 22 years, was charged with non-compliance with the terms of a probation order issued in January, 1942. In January, 1942, said Mr Darby, accused had been released on probation, after a charge of theft had been proved against him, he had been ordered to make restitution of £4 12s. and ordered to take out a prohibition order against himself He had reported only twice personally and once by telephone. He had pushed his way into a family and had left without paying his board and he had take" down various persons who were now looking for him. The Magistrate said the Court could not concern itself with matters that might be'the result of civil proceedings Mr Darby: This is merely to show the type of man we are dealing with. Accused said he had paid his board and could secure the receipts. He was remanded in custody till tomorrow. THEFT OF PETROL Henry Harold McGrath (Mr D. W. Russell). a rubber worker, was charged with the theft of one gallon of petrol, valued at 2s 9id. the property of Victor Charles Curtis. He pleaded not guilty. Senior-Detective Nuttall said at 8.45 p.m. on Saturday. Detective N. Thompson had seen accused walk away from a car In Cambridge terrace and he then noticed a tin with tube attached to a car

Detective Thompson said he saw accused walk away from the car and later he asked accused to accompany him to the police • station. When within a few yards of the station McGrath bolted, ran down Montreal street, and Jumped a fanee into private property. Here he was arrested. He charged accused with siphoning petrol from a car, but this the accused denied. The car was at the police station, but the petrol tank had not been tested. To Senior-Detective Nuttall. accused said he had been discharged from the Arm, and was wearing Army uniform because it was warmer than his own clothing. He had previously been Inter-, viewed by the police for a similar offence. He had 17s 6d in money and owned » motor-car.

To the Magistrate. McGrath said he had had the car for four months and had purchased two gallons of petrol on Frldnv, The detective had told "a pack of lies." The Magistrate said he must enter a conviction, and accused was remanded in custody to appear again to-morrow.