MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 904, 25 August 1910, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

.(Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.) THE WILLIS STREET ROBBERY. : A PLEA OF GUILTY. Thomas Fitinwty, oil. remand, was charged: with breaking aiid entering tlio shop .of" Frank Grady, Willis Street, on Saturday evening, August 20, and stealing therefrom biii>.. pearl ring, value £9, oiie diamond, and' ruby ring, value. £15 los., one ruby:and "diamond. ring, value £12 15s.', one pearl, and diamond ring, value £11 12s. 6d., one diamond, ring,' value £23; one turquoise .and diamond ring, value £12 los., total value fSi, 17a. b'd., the'property of Frank Grady. . . .Raymond .Wood, driver, residing at the , ' Dominion Private Hotel, ,'in Manners Street, gave evidence to tho effect ■that ho was standing near the Hotel AVindsor"on Saturday / last, about;,, 6 p.m.,. when he saw accused'break -the window .of, Mr.. Griuly's,'slio[j. Ho detailed tlio'thcft, the nightj and tlio.subsequont arrest. ■' Arthur Jacobs, auctioneer, 41 Thorndon Quay, who captured accused and detained ::him until tho arrival of tho constable, gave an" outline of tho circumstances attending the occurrence. Corroborative evidence mis given by! Harry Sliaw .Grady, Eric Kdcir, Edith' Emily .Hollis, and Constable .M'Allistcr. \ Mr. Grady stated that after stock-taking there was still a ring missing from the window. ' . . . Accused had no questions to ask any of tho witnesses except Constable, M'Allister, .who liad. stated,that accused- was not drunk, though he smelt of liquor. "You say I-w.as.iiot; drunk," said Finnerty/ ■ "How can you account for anyone doiug- a thing like that when sober?" • : ' ■ "' "You were not drunk," returned tho constable. ■ ■'• " "I was mad with drink," was. tho accused's concluding remark. When the: evidence had been read over, accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to: the Supremo Court for sentence., ■'■" /TWO; MONTHS FOR THEFT. ' Charles': Minchinton appeared on remand to answer a charge of theft of a gold chain, value £7, and ss. in money, the property of Austin George Kempton, licensee' , of the Shepherds' Arms Hotel. On .Monday, Minchinton had admitted taking" tho money, but stated that lie knew nothing of the chain. Chief-Dotectiye Broberg called May Kemptoii, wife of the licensee of tho Shepherds' Arms, who gavo.' evidencn as to tlio theft, and John ICeir, labourer, of Northland, who had been an . eyowitness to the occurrence. Detcctivo Cassolls gave evidence .as to arrest of accused, and also handed in a statement signed by accused. The policu report gave .Mmchiuton a rather bad charaotcr.' ■ His Worship advised accused to leave drink alono, as it was apparent from Uie present caso and from a previous conviction that .drink had partly been responsible for his- lapse. . Accused was convicted and sentenced to two months' imprisonment. • OTHER CASES.. ' Andrew Larson, who was deemed to bo a habitual drunkard, was sentenced to twenty-one.days' imprisonment, a prohibition order to issue against him for twelve months. Kate Calvery appeared on remand on n charge of importuning. She was convicted, and ordered t<> come up for sentence when called upon, on condition that sho entered tho Salvation. Army Home, and remained tliero for three months. ...