MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1899, 6 November 1913, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THE "TOUR OF DEPREDATIONS."IN BOARDINGHOUSES. Gecug© litlwnrd Westlako was charged at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday with having committed a series of thefts enumerated as followOn September Jo, at Wanganui, a watch and chain and monoy valued at £4 10s., tho proporty of Albert SidcJal; 011 September 2-J. at Wanganui, a watch, chain, and sovereign case, valued at £3, the property or James Cole; 011 October 9, at Port Chalmers, a watch and £1, tho property of Georgo Stevenson; and 011 September 28, at Wanganui, ono silver watch, ono rolled gold chain, and one pendant, of the total valuo of £4, tho property of Daniel Diggins. Accused, who had pleaded guilty last week to like offcnucs committed in Wellington, entered a similar plea t-o the new charges. As with tho Wellington eases, similar procedure had been adopted by accused in committing tho thefts, lie hud called at different boardinghouses, asked for - board and lodgings, stating that he preferred to sharo a room. lie would be shown up to tho room by the landlady and left there. Shortly after ho would como downstairs and inform tho landlady that he was going down the street for his luggage, and would then disappear. Nothing provio'jsly had heon known against the accused, who had arrived in the Dominion from England in IDOG. Chief Detective liroberg stated that accused had made a tour of depredations, yijitdug Auckland. Najjior.

ugaiiui, Wellington, C'hristcliurch, and. l'ort Chalmers in turn.

His Worship sentenced accused to two months' imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to ho concurrent. THE BARMAN'S GOLD WATCH. A plea tf not guilty was entered by Arthur Roddy, charged with tho theft ot a gold watch, valued at £10, from I 0110 Robert Lawson, on October 28. Accused was represented by Mr. J. F. W. Dickson. It was stated during the proceedings that tho theft had been committed in an hotel bar in which Lawson was and, according to Lawson's evidenco, accused had snatched the watch out of his hand and mado off with it. Accused, who is a vendor of cheap watches, stated that ho had only exchanged ono of his watches for Lawson's. 1 His Worship held that accuscd hnd been guilty of theft, and convicted nnd fined him 405., and ordered him to pay two witnesses' expenses Ss. Tho option was seven days' imprisonment. COMMITTED FOIT SENTENCE. George Smith was charged with stealing from the Hotel Bristol ono silver watch, ono gold chain, oi;o sovereign case, and two sovereigns, of a total value of £7, the' property of. Edmond Earl Furness. Accuscd pleaded guilty and was committed to tho Supreme Court for sentence. MONTH IN GAOL. James Pom tret, with ft long list of dishonesty against his name, was sentenced to one mouth's-imprisonment for the theft of an overcoat from Hope Bros. SERIOUS CHARGE. Evidence was taken in the case against William Birch, a married man, who was charged with a certain offence on a girl of 11 years at Johnsonville on September 19. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr. P. W. Jackson. After hearing evidence accused was committed to the Supremo Court for trial. OTHER COURT CASES. Thomas Patterson appeared on two charges, ono of insobriety and another of using certain language. On the first eliargo he was fined 405., and on tho second £3. The alternatives were fixed at seven days and 14 days respectively. "I might as well plead guilty," said an old man named John Harris, in answer to a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, with insufficient lawful means of support. "Aro you agreeablo to bo sent to the OhimHomo for a period?" inquired his Worship. "Well, Sir, I ham, camo tho answer, and John, Harris was convicted and ordered to tho home of his choosing, for six.months.

For insobriety Robert Griggs and Alexander James Smith wero each fined 20s. For similar offences George Broiighton was fined 405., and a first offender ss.