MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1053, 16 February 1911, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Bcforo Mr. W. , 0. Biddril, S.M.) A NOISY HOUSEBREAKER. CAUGHT IN THE ACT. A scafariiiß man, nnmed Allnn James Dix, was ehnrged that on February 0 ho broke into the shop of Mary Costollo in Manners Street by night ami stole therefrom 19 shirts, an undershirt, a pendant, and ;i lint, valuo M. Station b'erstnnt Darby prosecuted, accused not being represented by counsel. Mary Costello, fccond-liand dealer, enrrying on business at 101 Manners Street, stated that she left the. shop at 9 p.m. on February 6, and the. lilaco was theii secure and in order. About 7.30 a.m. on February 7 witness returned and found tho nlace in disorder, while a bundle of shirts was missiug,;aml also a hard hat. Later witness learned that an , underskirt was also gono. The articles missing wcro valued at about .£3. The gold pendant (produced) was nlso in the shop'on February 6. No ono had authority to enter tho shop or tako tho articles. Robert Stead, .confectioner. Manners Street, said he heard n window smash about 11 o'clock on tho night of Februnry 6i and on going to the back of Mrs. Costcllo's shop saw that the window was wido open. Witness obtained a constable from the Manners Street Polico Station, and subsequently saw a constable bring the accused out of Mrs. Costello's shop. : Constables Shnw nnd Hall, who were called to the shop to arrest the accused, also gave evidence. Accused, when charged, stated that ho must havo been drunk at tho time, as he bad n good ship to go to, and'there was no, reason for him to steal. He pleaded'guilty, and was committed' to tho Supreme Court for sentence.. IMPRISONED FOR THEFT. A- young man, named narold Spencer, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft, ono charge concerning a pair of shoes, valuoi 205., and tho Qther being in respect to twenty-ono sacks, valuo 10s. 6d. There were eight previous convictions against Spencer, including four, for theft. He wns sentenced to a month's imprisonment on each charge.

A RECENT ARRIVAL OFFENDS. John M'lntire admitted charges of drunkenness on the Queen's Wharf, obsesno language, and indecency. Accused was a recent arrival by one of tho Homo boats, and, according to tho police report, had attempted to stow away on the Mapourika on Tuesday afternoon. On being turned off the steamer ho committed the offences with which he was charged. For tho first offence accused was convicted nnd discharged, for the second ho was finod JC3, witnesses' expanses 12s.i in default 21 days' imprisonment, and for tho third ho was sentenced to ono month's imprisonment. OTHER CASES. An adjournment until March 1 was granted in tho. case against James Hesscy, charged with, on January 2, wilfully damaging two panes of glass, vnluo £10, tho property.of Geo. Howe. Mr. H. F. O'Lenry appeared for tho accused. .Layington M Williams, appearing on remand, was charged with assaulting a girl undor tho ngo of 16 years. On tho application of Chief-Detective Broberg, a further remand until February 22 was granted,- bail being allowed as before. Mr> E. J. Fitzgibbon appeared for tho accused, William Hnining,- nn old man between CO and'7o years of age, was charged with, on February 8 last, indecently assaulting n girl five years of age. Station-Sergeant Darby prosecuted, and Mr. C. R. Dii appeared for tho accused. When the eviuenca had been read over, accused , pleaded not''guilty, reserved his defencf, and was committed to tlio Supremo Court for trial. ■ One first-offending incbriato wns fined 55., with tho alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment. Another first offender (a woman) was convicted and discharged. ; . Mary Wilson was called on to answer ,rJ»?gc?'.Qf drunkenness and obscene language, and two charges of procuring liquor (luring tho currency of a prohibition order. On the charges of drunkenness, sha was declared a habitual inebriate, and remanded until Friday nest for sentence. . On the other charges she was convicted and discharged. • ■ '