MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1059, 23 February 1911, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W. 0. Riddell, S.M.) HOW "MINE HOST" WAS GULLED. EX-JOCKEY'S MODE 01' FINANCE. Robert Ilioll. alias Hell, alias Snell, an ex-jockey, wns charged: (1) with forging (on January 11 Inst) tho namo of M. Baigent to a promissory lioto for «£'St, and littering tho same to Charles Bird; (2) with forging (on December 20) the name of N. Williams to an authority for payment of .Elfl lfls. and littering the same to Charles Bird. Chief Detective Broberg conducted the prosecution, accused not being represented by counsel. Martin John Baigent, sawmiller, Akatarawa, stated that, in December last:, accused was working on the property at Akatarawa. All moneys owing to accused were paid to him when ho left the job. Ihat was about tho middle of December. The promissory lioto produced had not been made by witness, and it had not been mado with his authority, and did not bear his signature. Norman Randolph Williams, farmer, Akatarawa, stated that ho knew tho accused, and' had worked with him at Akatarawa. The order produced had. not been made by witness nor by his authority, and it did not bear his signature. Charles Bird, of tho Foresters' Arras Hotel, gavo evidence to tho effect that accused came to live at his hotel hbout December 20 • last under the nam of Ibell. A few days later accused mado representation to tho effect that he was n bush contractor, and had been working for Mr. Baigent at Akatarawa, and thai certain money (which ho could not obtain) was owing to him. On tho day before Christmas witness advanced him -£15. and nccused gave him ail order on Ilamerloii, Andrew, and Webb. Accused continued to stay at the hotel, and stated that Baigent had told liiin that tho land where the. hushfelliug had been performed was in the hands of trustees, and that- he (Baigent) was unablo to get n draw from tho trustees until after Christmas. Accused subsequently told witmjss that he had obtained a promissory note from Baigent and, on tho strength of thai security, witness lent nccused another .£lO. Sometime later, nccused informed witness that Mr. Williams, of Akatarawa, was one of tho trustees of the property, nnd had given him. an order for tho money which he (accused) was unable to ■obtain from Baigent. A request fqr more money on tho strength of that order wns refused. Subsequently .witness went with a solicitor to see Mr. Baigent and, as a lvsult of thnt visit, tho matter was reported to tho police, and the documents were haudcd to Detectivc Cnssells. , Detective Cassells stated that he had arrested tho accused at Reikiorangi on February 13, and had charged him with the offences. Accused replied that lie liiid been drinking, nnd intended to plead guilty. On the evidence being read over, accused entered a plea of guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for tence.GIVEN A CHANCE. A young married man pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing -E2, the property of E. P. Cody. • Chief-Detective Broberg stated that Mr. Cody had intended to send soino money to a friend in Nelson, nnd so had enclosed .£2 in a letter, which he asked accused to register and post. Tho letter reached its destination without the money, and tho matter was then reported to tho police. Accitsoil, on being intervewed by tho dotcctives, admitted' that ho had opened the letter, abstracted tho money, and then closed tho letter again before registering it. The money had sinco besn refunded. Hitherto, accused lind borne nn' excellent character.

| Mr. T. 11. Wilford, who appeared for tho defence called n previous employer, who stated that, during tho time that accused had been in tho employment of his firm, no moneys liad ever been missed. ;Mr. Wilford said that this was not a cisa.-ofift person taking advantage, of a position of trust. Cody was not accused's employer. It was nothing mon>: than a simplo case of theft.' and counsel submitted that his Worship.was not boundto inflict a penalty, 'as tho Supreme Court ruling about a pen.il.ty for theft only applied to theft in n position of trust. Accused and his relatives-keenly felt the trouble that had fallen on them, and .is tho money had been repaid, counsel tuggestcd that accused 'should bo convictod and ordered to come up for sentence when called oil. Tho employer, who had spoken on his bohalf, was ready to give tho young mail; employment again. The magistrate remarked that lie ,was prepared to give the yojing man a chaiice, and tho future would be in his own hands. Accused was accordingly convicted, and ordered to. come up for sentence when called on. ' FURTHER REMANDED. A further remand until March f was granted in the caso against Lavingtcn M'Wlliams, charged with an offence against a girl under the ago of sixteen years. Bail was allowed in tho samo sum ns previously stipulated. Mr.'E. J. Fitzgibbon appeared for tho accused.