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Magistrate’s Court PRISON FOR THEFT OF PRAYER BOOK

William James Henderson, aged 40, a workman, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to a charge that on April .22 he stole a prayer book, valued at 10s, the property of Richard Craig. Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M., sentenced Henderson to one month’s imprisonment. ' Senior-Detective G. C. Urquhart said that at 7.15 p.m. on April 22 Traffic Officer Warren, of the Christchurch City Council traffic department, saw Henderson looking through cars parked in Moorhouse avenue. The traffic officer detained Henderson and the police were notified. A detective went round and found Henderson to have the stolen prayer book. Henderson said he arrived from Dunedin on April 18 with £l2, but had only 7s 6d left. Apparently he had been on a drinking bout. He said he had been looking for things to steal and sell for a few He had slept in a railway carriage one night and in Hagley Park another night. He had previous convictions. MOTORIST FINED £l5 Samuel Thomas Henry Hodge, aged 47, a welder (Mr A,. K. Archer), pleaded not guilty to a charge that on April 20 he drove a motor-car in road while he was under the influence of drink. He was convicted and fined £l5. His driver’s licence was cancelled and he was disqualified from obtaining another for 18 months. Hodge was also fined £1 for not having a warrant of fitness, to which he pleaded guilty. Inspector C. H. Reardon prosecuted. The case for the police was that Traffic Officer W. Wilson was driving east along Riccarton road at 7 p.m. on April 20 and a car was driven out of Yaldhurst road and failed to give way. The traffic officer followed this car, which weaved about the road, and he sounded the siren to stop the car at Clyde road, but the driver did not stop until he was on the city side of Puriri street. The driver of the car was Hodge. The traffic officer considered him to be under the influence of drink and took him to the Central Police Station. A sergeant and two constables were of the opinion that Hodge was unfit to drive a car because of the effects of alcohol. He was examined at 7.34 p.m. by a doctor, who considered he was not unfit to drive. Mr Archer said the defence rested mainly on the certificate of Dr. K. J. Wilson, who examined Hodge at the police Station. The doctor considered that Hodge was fit to drive a car. He considered

him a borderline case, but there was such a doubt that it had to be resolved in favour of Hodge. That being so, the Court could do no less than resolve any doubt in favour of the accused, submitted Mr Archer. Hodge would say that he was at the West Melton Hotel from about 4.45 p.m. until before 6 p.m. and had four or five 7oz beers. His companion would give corroborative evidence The Magistrate asked Hodge how many beers he did have, as the doctor’s certificate said Hodge had stated he had seven or eight, and now Hodge said he had four or five.

Hodge said it might have been seven or eight. It was in Hodge’s favour that he was a man of good character, said the Magistrate, Further, Dr Wilson was not prepared to certify him as unfit to drive. “The test is not the doctor’s opinion at 7.34 p.m., but the circumstances that brought him under notice at 7 p.m. My view is that when he was apprehended he was under the influence of drink and must be convicted. Ey reason of his diseased lung he is unfit to send to gaol and a fine will be imposed.” said the Magistrate. BIGAMY ADMITTED

Lawrence Leonard William Nicholas, aged 34, pleaded guilty to a charge that on July 22. 1955. at Wanganui, he committed bigamy. He was remanded to May 6 for sentence pending a report by the Probation Officer. Senior-Detective G. C. Urquhart said that the accused, under the name of Larry Peterson, married a woman on May 29, 1952, while he was a soldier at Burnham Military Caihp. He went to Korea and returned in January, 1954. coming to live in Christchurch with his wife. Later he was charged with assaulting his wife She obtained a legal separation In 1955 he met a woman in Wanganui whom he had known for some years. She knew him as Larry Peters, a single man. He went through a form of marriage with this woman at Wanganui on July 22, 1955. Nicholas was at present serving a sentence of two years’ imprisonment and was due for release. SHIP DESERTION

Clive Rogers, aged 27, a seaman (Mr R. Twyneham), who had pleaded guilty to deserting from the overseas ship Persic at Auckland on April 4, was ordered to be detained for one month unde’the provisions of the Shipping and Seamen’s Act.

Mr J. R. Woodward appeared for the shipping company. ADMITTED TO PROBATION On a charge of obscene exposure in Cranmer square on April 10, William Mari Berry, aged 23, a presser (Mr G. S. Brockett), who appeared for sentence, was admitted to probation for two years and ordered to undergo medical treatment as directed by the Probation Officer. DRUNKENNESS

Thomas John Ballantyne, aged 38, a labourer, who was found drunk in Colombo street on April 27, was remanded till today for a medical report pending committal to Roto Roa Island. Ballantyne was making his fourth appearance on a similar charge within the statutory six months period and his ninth within the last 12 months. ASSAULTED HIS WIFE

John Phillip Mattison, aged 31, an electrician (Mr C. M. Roper), pleaded guilty to a charge that on April 27 he assaulted Ethne Josephine Mattison. He was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within two years if called up, conditions being that he takes out a prohibition order and abstains from intoxicating liquor for that period. Inspector C. H. Reardon said that Mrs Mattison was asleep at 7 p.m. and was wakened at 8.30 p.m. by the noise made by her husband who had come home drunk. She got up and found a bottle of sherry which she emptied out to stop him from drinking any more. Mattison punched her. She telephoned the police and, while she was doing so, Mattison again punched her. The police arrived and found him drinking beer. He admitted hitting his wife.

Mr Roper said there was harmony in the home except over Mattison’s drinking habits. Mattison did not come out of the assault unscathed. He had no previous convictions for an offence of this nature and it was quite out of character. He repented what he had done. The Magistrate warned Mattison of the consequences if he broke the conditions of his suspended sentence. FINED £lO George Francis Williams, aged 17, an apprentice panel beater, appeared for sentence on a charge of unlawfully taking a motor-car valued at £B5. He was fined £lO, admitted to probation for two years, and ordered to make restitution of £ 10. THEFT OF CYCLES Sydney John Ball, aged 54, a workman, pleaded guilty to charges that on April 22 he stole a bicycle valued at £lO the property of John Free, and that on the same day he stole a bicycle valued at £l2, the property of Hazel Frew. He was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment. The Magistrate said that Ball had 21 convictions including several for theft. Inspector C. H. Reardon said that Ball was seen taking a bicycle from outside a house in Madras street. He was stopped by a traffic officer and when the police arrived they found that Ball had already stolen another bicycle. REMANDED A woman, whose name was ordered not to be published meantime and who was represented by Mr B. J. Drake, was remanded on renewed bail to May 6 on a charge of obtaining goods by false pretences. James Munro Kerr, aged 42, a clerk (Mr W. S. P. Cuningham) was further remanded to May 2 on a charge of stealing goods worth £6 7s 8d the property of Woolworths (N.Z.), Ltd. Bail was renewed. Walter John Gibson, aged 20 (Mr J. G. Leggat), was remanded by consent on renewed bail to May 8 on a charge of unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl aged 14.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19570430.2.65

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28264, 30 April 1957, Page 10

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,401

Magistrate’s Court PRISON FOR THEFT OF PRAYER BOOK Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28264, 30 April 1957, Page 10

Magistrate’s Court PRISON FOR THEFT OF PRAYER BOOK Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28264, 30 April 1957, Page 10

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