MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1014, 2 January 1911, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Dr. A. M'Arthur, 5.31.) PARTICULARLY MEAN THEFT. ROBBED HIS BENEFACTOR. Alfred .Sinyfli, who on "Wednesday Inst Imd pleaded guilty to theft on December -7 at Wellington 'of clothing valued at .£2 Is. 10d„ tlib property of Sydney Hognn, came up for sentence. He also pleaded guilty to the theft of £2 10s., the property of Isaac. Dixon. Chief-Detective Broberg stated that the second. charge was in connection with a theft at Johnsouville. Dixon had obtained employment for Smyth, and the latter, "by way of showing his gratitude," had gone home late one night, and, after taking this money of Dixon's, had left. No previous convictions had been traced to accused, but he was not given a good character by the / police. Ha had informed the police that he came to New Zealand a few months ago cti the dredrr Eileen Ward, but, though a man named Smyth had been on the articles of the dredge, it had been ascertained that accused was not the man. The Magistrate imposed a sentence of one month's imprisonment on the first 1 charge, but decided not to be lenient with : prisoner for tlio second offence, which •his AVorshin regarded as a "particularly mean theft. The sentenco for that offence was three . mouths' imprisonment, the sentences to be concurrent. THEFT 01' ; A COPPER,. -. 'William Cotter, pleaded guilty to : tlie theft of a 1 copper,, valued. Nt ■ 155., : the .property' of William Kyau. , Sub-Inspector Norwood stated that the theft .was identical with that for which a man named Hunter had been sentenced to three months', imprisonment some little time back.. . The. copper had been taken from an untenanted property in Abel. Smith- Street by Hunter, who was accompanied by Cotter. The latter had not previously been convicted of dishonestv, but Hunter, who. received the sen- ■ tence of three. months, had a long record. Tho Magistrate imposed a sentence of one month's imprisonment. ■ SHOPLIFTER IMPRISONED. Catherine Hastings .pleaded - not guilty to' a charge ..'of theft, on Friday last, of a pair of gloves valued at 25., the property of Lucy Penlington. The evidence .was to the cfFect that accused had' bsen caught in tho informant's shop with the. gloves in her possession, and without money to pay for them, r She asked to be permitted to go' home, 1 arid obtain, ijioney, but she -was handed over to tho police. Accuscd had no defence to offer to- tho Court other than - that which sho had put forward in the shop. . • f Only. the day before the woman had been' ordered to. come up for sentence when called on.on a charge of theft on December 29 of a pin-box, a trinket-box, anil a phrse, of'a total value of :14s. 6d:, the property, of. Vqitch and Allan. A sentence of seven days' imprisonment was imposed. - ATTEMPTED. SUICIDE. George Moorcroft, who appeared in court-with his-threat bandaged, pleaded guilty to a charge that on December 20 .lie attempted :to commit suicide.. . Sub-Inspector Norwood'stated that accused, who was. a tailor by trade, had been drinking heavily previous to Dccem- , bcr 20, and at about 1 a.m. on that date he inflicted certain wounds on himself. Ho had been discovered at 1) a.m. and removed to t,he Hospital, where ho received medical attention, and was watched continuously by, members of. the police force. Though accused was well, enough to appear before the he ' would still have to continue at the Hospital as an out-patient. Medical expenses had been .incurred to . the extent of .£1 Us. 1 ' .Vi/llicS Magistrate convicted and discharged " accuscd, ordering him to pay the .medical expenses. THREATENING BEHAVIOUR. ' Joseph John Tobin, Leslie Brown, William John Wade,, and AVilliam Thomas were jointly charged with using threatening behaviour in Taranaki Street, whereby a breach of tho peace was occasioned. All four admitted the offence, but Brown stated that he had acted under provocation. ' Evidence was given to the effect that Tobin, while in company with Wade and Thomas, had made an insulting remark to Brown, and, on the latter re-, senting it, a fight had occurred, in which Brown.was alone'against the other, three. Neither Tobin nor Brown had previously been convicted, but Wade and Thomas both had records. . ' The 'Magistrate diseharged'lßrowh, but, each of the 1 other accused was sentenced' to-seven days' imprisonment. , ' OTHER CASES. A middle-aged . man, named George Fletcher, pleaded guilty to a charge' of -j disorderly conduct whilo drunk. The offence took place at Lambfon Station on Friday night. Fletcher hart bearded a train that was to go to Hutt, but he .was under the. intluence of liquor, and, on account of his objectionable behaviour, he was ordered off. On tho railway platform ho created, a further disturbance, and " was 'subsequently placed under arrest. The Magistrate imposed a fine of 20s:, the alternative being seven days' imprisonment, . Jlary M'Kogney, with 75 previous convictions against'"hor, pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness, and to a further charge of procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. She was convicted and, ordered to cbme up for sentence when pilled upon, on conditiOn'that she left for'Christchurch by steamer the same evening. Arthur Jarris, charged with drunkenness, was convicted and discharged. One first offending inebriate was lined ss„ .with the alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment, and another first offender, who did not appear, was ordered to' forfeit His.bail, 10s., or to undergo 48 hours' imprisonment. • 1