MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1172, 6 July 1911, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.) ALLEGED WINDOW SCRATCHING, THE CUBA STREET CASE. YOUNG MAN COMMITTED. Arthur Vincent Evans, 23 years of age and said to be employed in tho city as a draper, appeared on remand to answer eight 'charges of wilfully damaging plate-glass windows in Cuba Strwt ou tiie night of June 30. The informations were laid under Section 339 of tho Crimes Act. The windows mentioned ill tho charges were as follow:--One plate-glass' window, valued at Jjj 75., the property of' Ifennie and Josephson. Three plate-glass windows, valued at £Yi 125., the property of C. Adams. Two plate.glass windows, valued at JEI6 135.; Pearce and Co. One plate-glass window, £" 125.; Lindberg . and Co. Ono plate-glass window, JEB 155.; Lindsay and Co. One plate-glass window, ,£18; Georgo and George. One plate-glass window, jCo 75.; Maddox and Co. Five plate-glass windows, .£6O; Te Aro House Co. Sub-Inspector Sheehan prosecuted, and Mr. A. L. Jlcrdman appeared for accused. Expert on Glass-Cutting. ' Nelson Jackson, glass-cuttar in the employ of Smith and Smith, Ltd., who made an examination of the window at Maddox and Company's shop, stated that the glass had been scratchcd by some sort of an instrumsnt that was not "a diamond set for cutting." "Witness was shown a diamond ring (produced in Court), and he mado some tests with it on glass. He also made tests with a diamond "set for cutting," and with a steel wheel "set for cutting." Afterwards ho measured-tho scratches, and found that the one 011 the window corresponded in width and depth with tho scratch made 011 the glass by tho diamond in tho ring. Measured through tlio microscope it was l-61in. ;n width, 'the window was now worth .£! 135.. and it, would take ,£7 to replace it. _ In regard to the other windows mentioned in the chargcs, witness p;;ve similar evidence as to the marks and value. lie did not. however, valuo the windows iu To Aro House. To Mr. Hordman: He. could not Ml when the scratching had been done. A scratch was not so serious as a cut. The scratches on the windows which lie had examined disfigured t.licm, but did not seriously affect their strength. ■ Geoig'e Ifenry Jackson, glass expert, gave evidence as to tho value of tho windows in To Aro House, and the extent of tho damage done. Robert Lowe, shopfitter and windowbuilder. who was present when t.ho nrevious .witness made the tests on tho glass, also gave evidence. Nightwatchman on the Beat. John Sheedy, nightwatchman for Cuba Street and Manners Street, declared that he had been in comnnny with Constabl®

Kenealey in Cuba Street about 11.30 p.m. ou Juno .'!0, and Lis attention had hern attracted by a scioi'diing sort of a noise, coming from across (lie street, and, as it seemed. from To Aro llousc. Witness thou observed accused coming up llio street, anil when he (aecined) gut as far as J'earceN. witness noticed him raise his hand to the window. The same thing happened at Lindbergh The constable then approached from behind, and caught I'vans by the arm, and, simultaneously, he (witness) turned 011 a bull's-eye lantern. The ring produced was the rin;> f which had been taken from accused that night. Witness was specially employed _ to watch To Aro House ami Lindsay's at ' night time, and, when ho observed the ' windows of those shops at 11 p.m. on June HO, there were no marks ou them. . To Mr. Herdmau: He and the constable ; had followed Evans up the str«ct after . he passed them. They were about six yards behind liim, and they had followed ; him for about twenty yards. It was possible that Evans did not hear them, 1 as they both were wearing Tubber heeto on their boots. Accused then appeared 1 to witness "to have' the ring on his , finger," but it was from his pocket that Constable Kenealey actually took it. i The Arresting Constable. Constable. Kenealey, who arrested ac- ' cused, gave evidence 011 similar lines. ; Just as he was about to make the arrest, Evans looked over his shoulder, and immediately thereafter put his hand in his pocket. AVitness caught his hand, and, by the light of the nightwatchman's lamp, noticed that there was no ring 011 his finger. "T put my hand in accused's pocket," continued the constable, "and discovered a ring set with a diamond." "What's the matter? I've done nothing.'' remarked accused, and witness told him that he would be charged with wilfully damaging the several windows in the street. Robert Bagg, proprietor of the business known as Ronnie and Josephson, gave evidence as to tho condition of the windows of his shop on the evening of June 30, and evidence of like nature in respect of other shops was given by Charles Adams, Lucy Tyler (Maddox ami Co.), Edward Walter Pcarce (I'earco and Co.), James Mason (Lindberg and Co.). Arthur Georgo (Georgo and George), Arthur Carver (Lindsay and Co.), and Herbert Henry 'l'ompsett (Te Aro House). 011 being formally charged with the offences, Evans pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.' Bail was allowed in the sum of ■£SO, and one surety of J!SO or two of iUO each. THEFT OF POSTAL PACKETS. TELEGRAPH MESSENGER CONVICTED. Two telegraph messengers, 'fefc'ryi lit'.;iv'■JJM 15J years, nnd eta V/tlltm JJURtu*, IUJ_ years, appeared 011 remand 111 the Juvenile Court yester-day-on four charges of theft of postal packets, containing money, etc., from the To Aro Post Office. The evidence against the lads was conclusive, and it appeared that', since their arrest, tho stolen money (,£5 155.) had been refunded to tho police. Both lads pleaded guilty and were committed to tho Supreme Court for sentence. Each was admitted to bail in ,£2O and one surety of. .£'2o. Mr. E. P. Bunny appeared for the accused. A STOLEN" GOLD WATCH. A middle-aged woman, named Jessie Watson, appeared on remand on a charge of stealing, on June 25, a gold watch, valued at .Co, the property of Elsio Heimbrod. A plea of guilty was entered. Chief Detective Broberg informed the magistrate that the watch had been taken from a boardingliouse wliero accuscd went to stay for tho night.- Subsequently it was recovered from- a pawnbroker, with whom it had been pledged for 15s. •Mr. J. J. .M'Grath, who appeared for tho accused, put forward a pica for leniency. Drink was his client's principal trouble. She had not previously been convicted of dishonesty and, if given a chance, would be willing to refund Hie 15s. obtained, from ■ the . pawnbroker. Tho magistrate recorded a conviction and ordered accused to come up for sentence when called upon, 011 condition that she refunded tho 15s. within 21 days. A prohibition order was issued against her. VAGRANCY. A young man, named James Crawlov, described as a steward, pleaded guilty to a charge, of being a rogue and a vagabond in that ho was found by night without lnwful excuse ou premises in Taranaki Street. Tho magistrate cautioned accused to look for work, recorded a conviction, and ordered him to come up for sentence when called on. OTHER CASES. Frank Bruford, who was taken ill, and . had to be removed to tho Wellington Hospital while on the way from Duuedin to Iluntorville to answer a charge of false pretences, was still too.unwell yesterday to appear. Ou the application of Sub*Inspector Sheehan, he was further remanded until July 12. Charles Dane, charged with committing an unnatural offence, was remanded until July 12.

A firsf-offending inebriate, who did not appear, was ordered to forfeit his bail (10s.) in default 24 hours' imprisonment. Another first offender was fined 03., with the usual alternative.