LAW REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1756, 22 May 1913, Page 9

LAW REPORTS.

STRANGE CASE.

BAILIFF, LANDLORD & TENANT.

GILDED SOVEREIGNS,

A. strange case, involving tho, transactions of a bailiff, a landlord, anil a tenant, was hoard by Mr. W. G- K-iddell, S.M., at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, 'i'ho tenant was Mary Brady, married woman, residing at No. 82 Kent Terrace. Sho was charged with having uttered six counterfeit shillings, and ono counterfeit sixpenny pieco ■ to liobert Corkill, bailiff. Chief-Detective Broberg prosecuted, and Air. T. M. Wilford appeared for Mrs. Hradj% llobert Corkhill stated in evidence that ho had been instructed by tho landlord (John Esau Miles) to distrain on. the furniture of Mary Brady, as she was in arrears with her rent.- On Tuesday, May 13, ho proceeded to the house. Mrs. Brady asked him what he wanted, and he replied that ho was the bailiff acting for Mr. Miles. Mrs. Brady then said: "If that's the case you can 6top hero a' month if you like.'" Sho then told him to go into the dining-room. At this time (9.15 a.m.) tho landl6rd was in tho house, but in another room—the kitchen./ He heard Miles call out: "Corkhill, I am being assaulted," and ho at onco went to tho kitchen and found Mrs. Brady and Miles there. Ho did not see the alleged assault, but was told later that Mrs. Brady had attempted to hit tho landlord with a broom. Tho sum due for rent was £a 155., plus 9s. costs. At the time of the alleged assault Mrs. Brady was excited. Sho said: "I won't pay him," but finally remarked that she would pay half-a-crown a week. She left the liouse at U a.m. and returned later with another woman, and remained in tho house until 4 p.m. She then went out for a quarter of an hour. Witness and landlord remained on the premises, and when she returned she said that she would pay tho money due—she would pay it to him (Corkhill) not to Miles. She then put down six gilded shillings in front of witness, which he took to be sovereigns. He thereupon informed Miles that accused had paid „CG. Miles replied that 4s. more was due. Witness informed Mrs. Brady to this effect, and she then gave him a gilded sixpence, which he took to be a half-sovereign. Ho put tho .money in his pocket and returned Cs. change. Tho landlord then gave Mrs. Brady a receipt, and he and Miles then left the premises. As the latter was going, Mrs. Brady showed him a pawn ticket, which sho said was for jewellery which she had pawned to raise the rent. Ho (witness) subsequently found that the coins were counterfeit. He interviewed Mrs. Brady regarding this, but she denied having given him the gilded coins. Ho thereupon reported the matter to tho police. . , ii. i To Mr. WiJford: It was not true that lio (Corkhill) had been a "holy terror to tenants since the Pipitea Street shooting case. He did not carry a revolver Similar evidence was given by 'tho landlord, John E. Miles. • Mr T. M. Wilford then addressed tho Bench. He stated that Mrs. Brady (whom Miles knew could not pay the money duo) had been much distressed over 'the mntter. After having been worried by tho presence of the landlord nnd bailiff, she thought of a "strange and unique idea." She purchased a bottle of gold paint, gilded her few remaining shillings, and paid tliem over as sovereigns. Miles accented them as such. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, nis Worship remarked that any question of mitigation should bo laid before tho Judge. He allowed bail in her own recognisances.

SOAP OFF CHEMIST'S COUNTER. For stealing a ninopenny cake of soap from a chemist's counter, a young man named Thos. Header (represented by Mr. P, O'Leary) iras fined 10s. . It was stated that the accused, irho pleaded guilty, had gone into Sir. G. Castle's pharmacy and asked to be supplied with a certain article, and wlule the chemist's back was turned Header picked up a cake of eoap and vanished. In extenuation of his offence, the accused pleaded that he was under th« influence of liquor at the time. . OTHER POLICE CASES. A man named Herbert Cecil Jeffrey appeared on a charge of having assaulted one George Burt with intent to rob liiui. The accused was arrested on Tuesday evening by Detectives Lewis and Andrews. Tho alleged offence was stated to have been committed in tho vicinity of the To Aro Reclamation, on Mondav evening. The accused was remanded till May 28, in order to allow of further inquiries being made. «... Jessio Burns and Arthur Short, described as habitual'drunkards, were each fined 405., with the option of 11 days imprisonment, on charges of drunkenness. Three first offenders were convicted for drunkenness and discharged.