MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 479, 12 April 1909, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr.vW. G. Riddell, S.M.) CHARGE OP THEFT DISMISSED. A well-dressed young woman named Bertha Harris, a barmaid, appeared on remand ona charge of stealing a lady's fur, yarned at i.-, tho property of Molly Daly. Evidence was called to show that defendant and informant wcra both barmaids in the same hotel, and had occupied the same room one evening. Subsequently tho fur was missed, and Miss Dalj placed the matter in the hands of the police. Defendant said she had asked Miss Daly for a loan of the fur, and took it out one night, biu as sho did not return to the hotel to work anj more, Bhe went back on two occasions to return the fur, but once Miss Daly was out and the next time sho had left the hotel. On the morning of the day sho was arrested accused had met Miss Daly in Cuba Street, and had told her she would return the fur in the afternoon. , , . , , His Worship said accused had' pleaded not guilty, and although there was a considerable amount of suspicion about tho matter, and that suspicion might be strengthened by the lact that accused had been in trouble before, she made some attempt to return the fur. 11l view of tho.doubt, accused must bo discharged. Mr. Meredith appeared for accused. IDLE AND DISORDERLY. . Mary .Tano Hill, alias Bennett, alias Florrie Hill, was brought forward for sentence on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person with°insufficient lawful means of support. Accused ■ had previously been convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called on, on condition that she went into the Salvation Army Home. Sho had left tho home, and consequently was brought forward for sentence. A sentence of three months' imprisonment was imposed.

OTHER CASES. A strongly-built man named John O'Hagan pleaded not guilty to a charge of being deemed a rogue and vagabond within the meaning of the Police Offences Act, 1008, in that he was found by night at 9.45 p.m. on Friday, without lawful excuse, on the premises of T. G. M'Carthy, Tory Street. Station-Sergeant Darby stated that accused was found sleeping on the premises, nfter having been turned out of another place in Tory Street. Accused said ho was drunk, and went to sleep on the premises. He detailed severalplaces at which he .had been working of late. His Worship granted a remand to Monday to enable the police ..to., verify accused statements as to where he had been working. A voung man named Walter Williams pleaded guiltv of having, on April 20, committed theft of two clothes' props, value 25., the property of Catherine Horner. The same accused pleaded not guilty to the following further charges: (1) Theft "of a newsagent's bag; (2) theft of a razor.strop; and (3) theft of an emery wheel. On the application of the police, accused was remanded to April 14. Ono first offender for drunkenness was fined 10s., and another was convicted and discharged. . MOUNT COOK POLICE COURT. At the Mount Cook Police Court on Saturday, before Mr. T. S. Lambert, J.P., James Alexander Driscoll pleaded guilty to being found drunk in Cuba Street, for which.offence he was mulcted in the sum of 10s., or 48 hours in gaol. Isadora Jacobus pleaded guilty to being helplessly drunk in Cuba Street, this being his fourth similar offence within six months. As an habitual drunkard, accused -was sentenced to two months in gaol with .hard labour. George Allen pleaded guilty to being found drunk in Ghuznee Street. Accused was fined 10s., or, in dofnult, 48 hours' imprisonment. William Black pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in Taranaki this being his thirtyfirst appearance in Court, and his fourth conviction in six months. As an habitual drunkard, accused was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour. Charles "Kyling pleaded guilty to being found drunk in Webb Street, for which accused was fined 10s., or, in default, 4S hours in gaol. A first offender, who did not answer to his bail, for being found drunk in Riddiford Street, was fined 10s. or 4S hours in gaol. Five first offenders, whose disfigured faces witnessed against them, were each charged with drunkenness, but as they had been in the cells since Thursday they were each convicted and discharged.