MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 898, 18 August 1910, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W. G. ; Riddell, S.M.) ■ "POLICE! ARREST THAT MAN!" GHUZNEE STREET AFFAIR. James' Kenwood was charged with bieakiug and entering the dwelling-house of Emily Chater on August 16 and stealing therefrom a lady's silver watch, gold locket, gold cross, pair of gold-rimmed spectacles, and 15s. in money, a total value of £2, the property of Emily Chater. The evidence of Emily Chater was to the effect that sho had had- occasion l"> leavo the house to go. into, the yard to yet firewood about 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday. '.When she, re-entered the house a few minutes later she saw accused in her bedroom. She caught hold of him and asked him what he; was doing there. He got away, but she .pursued him into the street, calling: ."Police! Arrest thaiman!" He was, quickly arrested by a constable who happened to bo close at hand. On searching her premises. she discovered that money and articles of. jewellery were missing. . She saw them recovered from accused, later.

When asked if lie hod any questions to put, accused, who hud been showing signs of emotion, remarked that bo was a little hard of hearing and had not heard what; was guing on. "I was very drunk at the time and did not know what I was doing," he added.. Constable Coles gave evidence ' as to the arrest of. accused. The evidence was read over-to ILcnwood. lie entered a plea of guilty, reiterated his plea of drunkenness, and was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence.

- A STOLEN RING. Ethel Parker 'appeared on remand to anstfer a charge, of theft of a diamond ring-value £'i the property of .Charles Franks. Herbert Parker, husband of accused, was -charged with .receiving the ring knowing it to have been stolen. Tho cases were taken together. Both accused pleaded not guilty and elected to be tried summarily. Chief Detective Broberg called Charles Franks, traveller, who deposed that on the night of August 8, he was. in tho Railway Hotel, Thorndon Quay, with accused, Ethel Parker and another woman. Accused asked him if she might inspect the ring and he took it off his finder.and showed it to her. Shortly • after she made an excuse to leave the room for a few minutes, and going -out,' did not return. Kathleen Stanley corroborated the previous witness's evidence regarding. tho taking of tho ring, and-also gave evidence as to subsequent occurrences. ■ Geo. Newton, assistant at the shop of W. Smart, pawnbroker, recognised the male accused as the man that pawned the ring -on August-12. .•-,„■ ■ The female accused, stated .in defenco that she. had returned to the Railway Hotel on' tho night of August .8, but had been unable to find Franks. She had also understood that the ring had been given to-her. Herbert Parker stated that he had received the ring from his wife in good faith. Chief Detective Broberg gave both accused bad characters. The man. he said, bad been living on the proceeds of his wife's, prostitution. . There was a previous conviction against eaeli of them;His Worship convicted them, the female accused receiving a sentence of one month's imprisonment and the male accused two months' imprisonment. ■ , INSOBRIETY. ■Valentine Moisor, charged with insobriety, was convicted and discharged on account of the fact that she . had to stand her trial at ,the Supreme Court the same morning. Two first-offending inebriates were each fined 55., in default 21 hours' imprisonment.