MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1893, 30 October 1913, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

POLICE CASE. THE OPERATIONS OF A BOARDER. • George Edward Westlake appeared before Mr W G. Riddel], S.M.'at t'he Magistrate s Court yesterday morning to answer charges of a series of thefts committed by him in this City and at Ihe thefts were as follow: —From "William Little, a watch and chain valued at £4 10s.; from Alfred Jackson, a lvatph and chain valued at ~~ nt l 5 s - silver; from Frederick Moody, a chain and sovereign case valued 30s. ] from John Burke, n watch y -chain, locket, and sovereign case of a total value ot £12; from Thomas ohanahan, a watch valued at 505.; and on September 28, at. from Daniel Diggins, the tfheft of a silver watc'h, rolled gold chain, and a pendant valued at £4. Ohief-Detective Broberg prosecuted, wliilo accused conducted Ins own case. Mrs. M. Moody gave evidence to the ofrect that slio was a boarding-house *^PP. or ) that Alfred Jackson and >\ illiam Littlo were two of her boarders. Accused had come to her house on October 4, and had asked whether he could have lodgings. She replied that he could, on condition that 'he Bliared a room with two lodgers. Accused, expressed his willingness to share the room and was shown up to it ,by witness. There wero two beds in the room use d bv Little and Jackson and her son. alio had left accused there and shortly after he had come downstairs and stated he was going down, the street to see about some luggage, and would pay her when he camo back. She did not see him again. Alfred Jackson, William Little, and Frederick Moody stated that the, stolen property (shown them in Court) belonged to them, and they described how it disappeared during their absence, and on the day that accused had appeared at tho boarding-house. On October 15, at another boardinghouse in Uifidiford Street, a similar procedure had been gone through' by accused. He had called on a Mrs. B. Moloney, the proprietress, and had asked for lodgings. He had been shown his room accupied by two other hoarders, John Burke and Thomas Shannon. Shortly after he !had come downstairs and had left the house, leaving his name as 'Wootman, and stating lie would return shortly. Later the watches, etc., wero .found to be missing. Tom Burke and Thomas Shannon gave evidence as to having been relieved of the property shown them in Court on the day that accused had visited their room. Westlake .had nothing whatever to say, through tho whole of the Court proceedings, and at its conclusion entered a plea of guilty. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Detective Broberg applied for a remand until November 5 for tho hearing of t'he Wanganui case, as there wero other similar charges that would then be preferred against accused.

OTHER THEFTS. "I was drunk at tho time, and didn't know nothing about it," said George Melville, when charged with tho theft of a swag and its contents from one Alexander Wilson. He was fined 40s. and ordered to pay witnesses' fees 12s. An option of seven days' imprisonment was allowed. A plea of guilty was entered by Michael O'Sullivan, charged with tho theft of a hurricane lamp valued at 12s. 6d., tho property of tho Government. A fine of 20s. was imposed, with witnesses' fee.

INSOBRIETY'. John Harris, a prohibited person, appeared to answer a charge of drunkenness, and of being an idle and disorderly person. He was described by Inspector Hendry as having given away completely to 1 ' drink and of his person being in a filthy condition. On the first charge accused was fined 10s., and on tlio second ho was remandod to November 5. For drunkenness, George Lucas was fined 205., and ordered to pay 17s. 6d., the cost of medical treatment. A prohibition order was ordered to bo taueii out against him. For insobriety, Florence M'Aiially was fined 405., and Neil M'Laughlan 10s. .Jam?s Borrissown, alias Stevenson, alias Borsam, failed to appear on a

! charge of drunkenness. He was fined 205., and ordered to have tile amount of liis bail (205.) estreated, MAINTENANCE CASES. 'A cliarge of disobedience of a maintenance order ill respect to his wife, Mary Ann Harlcn, and ono child, was preferred against Jesse Harleii. The arrears to September 15 amounted to £21 17s. 6d. Defendant was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended as long as he paid os. a week off the arrears. Costs amounting to £2 2s. were ordered to be paid. Mr. R. H. Webb appeared for complainant, and Mr. P. W. Jackson for defendant. Another application was that against Andrew Archibald, aged 62, a casual labourer at tho wharf, and now on strike, to contribute towards the support of his four grandchildren. Tho case was adjourned to November 25.