MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1822, 7 August 1913, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

GHUZNEE ST. SENSATION. CHARLES MINIFIE IN COURT. HIS BANK OPERATIONS. What is popularly known as tho "Ghuzneo Street sensation" was mentioned in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when Samuel Charles Minifie was charged with attempting to murder his wife. ChiefDetective Broberg stated that Mrs. Jlinifio would probably not bo able to quit the hospital for another month. A remand till August 30 was therefore granted, bail being fixed at £150. Mr. 'I'. M. Wilford appeared for the defence. Minifie was subsequently charged wit'h three cases of false pretences, having, it was alleged, presented cheques, wnicli had been dishonoured, in exchange for eoods and cash. 'l'he evidence of Wm. Thomas Quinton, draper, Lambton Quay, George Nivon, manager for Messrs. Hannah and Co., boot importers, lambton Quay, and Herbert Price, Willis Street, was to the effect that Minifie had purchased goods and presented a cheque on tho Bank of Australasia, Masterton, signed "S. C. Minilie." In each case the cheque had been returned marked "not sufficient funds." Hardwick Dwyer, accountant in' the Bank of Australasia, Masterton, stated tlfot accused had 7s. 3d. to his credit. He had opened an account on October 20, 1910. This account had, however, been closed on September 30, 1911, ly reason of the bank charging ss. each half-year. From October till the following February twenty-four cheques, to the value of M", had been signed by accused, but hnd been dishonoured, and, during last month, eight more cheques to the value of .£27, had also been signed by accused, and dishonoured. '■

Mr. Wilford: Then if a man save 3 £2 10s., deposits it in your bank, and goes away,, hoping to keep it for a rainy day, tho whole amount would bo eaten up by the bank in five years? Witness agreed that that would be so. lfr. Wilford: And all that time the bank would bo londing the money out at something like G per cent.? Witness: That is the bank's business. His Worship: If accused kept his bank book he would know the rules. Mr. Wilford: Don't you think it is absolute audacity to take ss. from an account of 7s. 3d. when the depositor is not operating on his acoount?—"l do not." Mr. Wilford: May I ask whether, since the ban]: introduced this scheme, your clerks' salaries have been increased? . His Worship held that such a question was irrelevant. ( ' When arrested, accused stated that ho had expected .£25 to bo placed to his ■credit, and later said, "I don't want to put you to any expense; I must admit passing the cheques; you have my sympathy. When charged with an additional offence last Monday he replied, "I admit issuing tho cheque, but I thought that there was sufficient money in the bank to meet it." Mr. Wilford then said that that was his' defence. Accused .had.,written ;|o hia brother, asking him - to>, pufc r jto-lwa l credit, and he had every reason to suppose that that would be done. ■ .: Accused was committed to .the Supremo Coiirt for trial. ANGEL DOEL'S CASE. , WOMAN CHAEGED WITH BIGAMY. Angel Millis Doel (28 years of age), who was married when, nineties, was charged with bigamously marrying Albert Edward Davios. Mr. Wilford, who appeared for accused, said that he proposed to reserve his defence, and go to tho Supreme Court for trial. • Evidence was given to the effect that on January 25, 1904, accused had been married at the Registrar's Office, Blenheim, in the name of "Angel Doreen," to Alfred Wm. Doel, tho witnesses being Mary Manley, mother of accused, and Sarah Doel, mother of the bridegroom, whilst oh October 2 last, in the name of "Angel Manley," she went wvrough ft form of marriage at the Wellington Registrar's Office with Albert Edward Davios, plumber, of 7 Nairn Street, Wellington, i the witnesses being Albert H. Tyson and J. V. Carmody. Accused and her first hus. band lived in one rcom at the house of tho letter's mother, but separated lit the end of 1908, whilst she was separated from her second -Husband after living together two months. Accused pleaded when arrested that several people had told her that the second marriage would be valid if she had been, away from her first husband seven years, and that her first liusband was the caufeo of her downfall. Mr. Wilford commented upon tho fact that the first husband had not been called by the Crown, whose object it should bo to see that a "square deal" was given to prisoners, By keeping Doel out of the witnesi-box, they nad skilfully prevented accused from putting before tiro Court her reasons for what had happened. He congratulated the Crown on the slimnesa with which tho thing had been done. . Chief-Detective Broberg calmly retorted that accused's husband was not a competent/ witness. .He could not call him without the consent of the accused Mr. Wilford contended that accused had started with a prejudice against her. His Worship (Mr. W. G. . Riddell) thought that was not the case; it was a matter for the jury. . Mr. Wilford: Then it is a question whethor your Worship or I is the best judgo of public opinion. Accused was then committed to tako her trial at the Supreme Court, bail being allowed in tho sum of .£25. ChiefDetective Broberg asked for tho first husband (who was in Court) to be bound over to appear at tho Supremo Ccmrt, but his Worship saiil that he Tiad no power to do that unless he was a witness. MAN OF MANY PARTS. CONFRONTED WITH HIS DEEDS. Herbert T. Porteous, alias 'otaig, a motor mechanic, pleaded guilty to three charges of theft and three charges of forging and uttering cheques. Henry Brown, boardinghouse-keeper, stated .that accused had boarded with him for five weeks up to July 21, when ho uttered to him a cheque for £2 12s. on the Bank of.Now Zealand, Te Aro, and signed "E. M. Stewart." . Ho gave accusod credit for £2 25., and handed him 10s. in cash. Accused told him that Mr. Stewart was manager of tho New Zealand Motor Car Company. Wallace Herbert Stewart, motor-car manager, Cuba Streot, denied having signed tho cheque produoed, but stated that ho missed the blank form from the firm's cheque-book about a week ago. ■ Accused was working for him about that time. Leslie Harold King, clerk at the New Zealand Te Aro Bank, stated that the cheque was presented, and marked "no account" on July 2^. Edward John Knowsley, of Young's Hotel, Lambton Quay, carrying on business as a draper in Featherston Street, said that accuscd purchased goods, valued at 14s. 9d., and ordered a suit, presenting in payment a cheque for £2 12s. Gd., signed by "Frank Burnsids," whom accused said was an auctioneer and motorcar dealer with plenty of money. Witness deducted .El deposit for the suit, and Its. 9d. for the goods, and handed accused 17s. 9d. change. Subsequently, accused purchased a hat and shirt, valued at 17s. (id., and presented a cheque for -El Bs., signed "F. Burnside." Witness gave him the goods anrl 10s. 6d. in cash. Next day lie met accused, and told him that he was suspicious as to the cheques, whereupon accused retorted "they wore

all right," and went with him to the Bank of New Mouth Wale.-, whore tiie teller said that the chcque would have to go to Auckland. JMeclive-Scrgcant liawlo slated that when arrested accused said: "It is my intention to plead guilty," and when charged with the other two offences, signed a lengthy statement, in which ho admitted writing out t'he cheques, and signing them. Accused, who pleaded guilty, but made no defence, was committed for sentence at the Supreme Court. Tho three charges of theft, to two of which accused had pleaded guilty, were then heard, it being stated that accused, whilst employed by the New 'Zealand Motor Company, stole from there two tools, which ha sold for 65., a bicycle, winch he sold for 155., other tools, on which he realised 95., a magneto, for which, he got £2, and an electric-iron, which'he disposed of for ss. Chief-Detective Broberg stated that accused cams from Edinburgh, and landed in Queensland in January, 1910. There he joined a theatrical company, and came to New Zealand in 1911, since when ho had not done much good for himself. On the first charge of theft, accused was fined 205., and on the other two he was committed to prison for a month. PROLIFIC THIEF. SENT-UP TO HIGHER COURT. A native of "Old Ireland," named John. Coulter, alias Ronald Stewart, pleaded guilty to'.four charges of theft, tho stolen . articles including opera-glasses and razors, valued at 7s. fid., a man's overcoat, valued at £2, an overcoat and pipes in case, valued at -£3, and a man's . gold watch-chain and electric-pipo lighter. In. addition he was charged with entering the house of Mrs. O'Reilly, Whiteraan's Valley, and stealing therefrom two lady's gold rings, valued at -C 2, and three sovereigns, this charge being first proceeded with. Mrs. O'Reilly stated that last Wednesday afternoon she was absent from tho house about an hour, and on her return missed tho two rings and three sovereigns. Constable Marney, Upper Hntt, who arrested accused, found tho two stolen rings and 17s. 9d. in his possession. Accused admitted going into the houso and stealing the money and rings, adding, "Take me and put me in gaol; I want to get reformative treatment." Accused pleaded guilty, and was sent to tho Supreme Court for sentence. In. tie other four cases of theft, it was stated that accused took the articles from the owners' bedrooms, and pawned or sold them. Accused was sent to prison for four months. f COURT ODDS & ENDS. "You had better leave drink alone, if it is goin» to affect you in this fashion," was tno advice given by Air. Riddell to Henry M'Kenzie, articled fireman on the s.s. Wahine, who was charged with dsobcying the lawful commands of Chief-Engineer Prophet. It appeared that accused, who was very drunk, refused to leave tho Btokchold whilst the Wahine was at sea between. Lyttelton and Wellington last Sunday, and when approached brandished a shovel over his head, and threatened to "do" for the third and sixth engineers. A fino of 4fls. and 7s. costs was imposed. May Tobin, a well-dressed young woman, who made her first appearance on (V charge of being drunk and using certain language in Willis Street, was allowed twenty-four hours in which to pay the fine of 10s., on the appeal of Mr. p. Jackson, who pleaded that accused had no recollection of what happened except that she was annoyed when tho constable dragged her along the streets. _ A prohibition order was made against 'Martin Samuelson; who was charged with drunkenness, there being six convictions against him during the last six months.