MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 471, 1 April 1909, Page 11

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

' (Before Mr. -W. G. Riddell, S.JI.) "A RACECOURSE GUESSER." A TOUT,* mail named David Thos. M'Gavin entered a plea ot not guilty to a c )!?l Ee ,, being nil idle anil disorderly person witlmi tho iheaning. of tho Police .Ofteiiccs -Ac , > thnt lio 'has insufficient lawful means of sup P °chief Detect ivo Broberg conducted the ease for Uio prosecution, aud Mr. Ayson appearp Selective' Connolly stated that, in several years, he had nover known accused to do aiij work. He was a well-known racecourse guessti, and an outcast from a rcspectablo family. Detectivo Cnssclls, >n evidence, state 1 that accused was always well dressed, many of his class, it was Ins clotlies that carried him' through: , . . Edward Casey, farm labourer, deposed that ho went to the Trocadero in answer to an advertisement asking for a farm labourer, saw accused, who stated that ho was a lan agent, and was entitled to ss. for gc_ttin„ -,V - noss .a job. Witness gave him 'tho ss. Accused then took witness.to the Central Jlolel to meet the man for whom ho had lo work. Ho lei witness at the front door, and disappeared out of tho bad;, door Detective Andrews also gave evidence. Accused said that he had received £20 from his mother within the past-sis months, and had also received .C.Vfor acting ns clerk to a bookmaker on St. Patrick's Day. He also gave other evidenco as to 1 means and friends m Dunedin. ~ His Worship stated that the evidenco was against accused. He would be convicted and ■ sentenced to three months" imprisonment.

THE NGAHAUKANCA STATION CASE. Alfred Burneclo appeared 011 remand 011 a chnrgo thai, on -•?. ho did break and enter Hio Njjahnurnnjra Railway Station by night, and steal therefrom two overcoats, and a pair of gloves, of a total value of Jl-i 4s. Cd., the property of Richard Kearney. : Chief ,J)eteotivo Brobcrg conducted too case for the prosecution. Richard Kearney, stationmaster at AgahauranjTa, stated that on March 2.'!. he left the station at 1 a.m.. The premises were securcly locked up. Returning at 10 a.m. the same morning, witness's was drawn to a broken window on the sea side of the station. Witness missed his waterproof, also blue overcoat and a pair of gloves. The mackintosh and gloves (produced) wcro part of the missing property. ' Herbert Ames, clerk at the Ngaliauranga. Station, gave corroborative evidence. Thos. Wm. Clapham, liceuseo of tho Ngahauranga Hotel, staled that accused was in f.lio bar of tho hotel on the evening of March 22, and left at about 10 p.m.- Accused was fairly sober. Wm. Uislop, barman at the City Hotol, Wellington, stated that accused came to the hotel on March 2;i, and witness purchased tho mackintosh (produced) from him, and accused said the mackintosh was his own. After evidence by Detective Andrews, accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to tho Supremo Court, for trial.

• BREAKING, ENTERING, AND THEFTS. A •strong-looking young mail Richard Lynch appeared on remand on a charge that, 011 March 2D, ho did break and enter tho dwelling of Benjamin Campbell by day, and steal therefrom a iratch and chain, a ring, and a pendant, of a total value of JCIO 10s. ' Hub-Inspector I'hair conducted- tho case for tho prosecution, , Benjamin Campbell, of Palm Grove, Berhamporo, staled that on March 2S he went to bed at'9.3o p.m., hanging. his. ; coat and Test, in the wardrobo in his room. A watch, chain, and pendant, and a ring were in tho room when witness left for work morning, but on returning home in tho evening tlie watch and chain and othep articles were missing. Accused had been working for witness's father, ami slept in an outhouse. "Wm. Harris, pawnbroker, stated that accused called at his shop at i p.m. on March 29, and wanted to pawn tho ring produced. Witness gavo accusod (is. for the ring. Accused gave the ntimo of Andrews, and said his address was Kilbirnie. . ' t Evidence was also given by Fanny Whi taker, secondhand* dealer, to whom accused tendered a watch and chain (produced),-which witness purchased for 155., and by Constable. Taylor and Alexander Fraser. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed •to the Supreme Court for sentence. Tho same accusod was also' charged (1) with stealing an oilskin coat, value 10s., the property of Henry Hay wood, an employee of Mr. Camphell, and (2) with theft of a travelling vug, value 205., the property of Benjamin Campbell. Accused pleaded not guilty to tho first charge, saying that it was raining, and that he found the mat in the cart,and used.it, having ho intention of stealing it. Ho pleaded guilty to the second charge. His Worship discharged accused on the first count, and,'on the second, sentenced him to li days' imprisonment. i .THEFT OF TABLE LINEN.

A stylishly-dressed woman named Madge Foster, a dressmaker, pleaded guilty to having, on or about' March 25, stolen table linen and lace, valued at .A tho property of. Eva Cunliffe. Chief-Detective Broberg^-said accused rented a room from complainant's parents, and took tlio articles from complainant's room. Detective Cameron found the property- in accused's room. Accused belonged to Christcliurch, and had never been before the Court previously. 1 His Worship entered a.conviction, and order to como up for sentence when called on, on condition that tlio goods were returned. VAGRANCY CHARGE DISMISSED. A stylishly-dressed young woman named Lizzie Leith, alias M'Laughlih, was charged (1) with insobriety, and (2) "with being an idle and disorderly person with'insufficient lawful means of support. Accused, who was defended by Mr. Kirkcaldio, pleaded not guilty to tho second charge, and,'after-.evidence bv tho_ police, his Worship said that thero was some doubt about the matter, and accusal must have tlio benefit of it. The charge of having insufficient, means would be. dismissed, and on the other charge accused would be-liued ss. INSOBRIETY. Isidore Jacobus, charged with insobriety, i pleaded for another chalice, and was convicted I and discharged, with a warning that if ho came before the Court on a similar charge again he would bs sent to the I'akatoa Inebriates' Home. Two first offenders wero each fined 55., with the alternative of 2-1 hours in gaol. CiVIL BUSINESS. (Before Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M.) CLAIM FOR RENT. i G. H. Baylis claimed lis, from Kcllis and Bitossi, dealers, for money alleged to bo due for two weeks' rent of a shop and dwelling in Rerngs Street.- Defendant alleged that there, was an agreement with plaintiff by which he was to be relieved of the liability, and another man was to take ov-r the tenancy. Judgment was given for plai.ialf, with costs XI Bs. Mr. Weston appeared for plaintiff, and-Mr. Dunn for defendants. A COLLISION. George . Clark, shopkeeper, Khandallah, claimed eft!!- Gs. 7d. from Frederick A. Bates, carrier, for damages alleged to have been sustained through the unskilful driving of a horso by defendant's servant. The result was a j collision with a horse and cart, owned by plaintilt, the latter.'s horse being injured. Tho claim included veterinary surgeon's charges, bandages, and ointment, also hire of another horse, feed, and train freight for goods, also depreciation in tho value of (ho horso. After heariii'.' tho evidence, his Worship gave judgment. for defendant with costs ,C 2 2s. Mr. Buddlo appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Blair for defendant.