LAW REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1982, 12 February 1914, Page 7

LAW REPORTS.

.-—: MAGISTRATE'S COURT. I CAREER QF A BOGUS LORD. a ' ' . ■. - ■ . " I EPISODE ON STEALER. s ' ■J: ''This nian. is well known to the i police,' l said eilicf-Detcctivc Biobcrg, ■ when Evelyn Vyno Kitson appeared to • answer-' a cliargo'of attempted suicido : - on s.s. Aoraiigi-'on'January 30.' ,' B The Chjef-Deteetiye proceeded to read i. a long list of aliases used by Kitson, > and added that he chiefly favoured the > name of ''Lord Innes-Kerr,'' and usually posed as a lord. He was known in -. Australia, and. between 1007 and 1911, •. he had a record there showing eleven con- > victions, chieily for forgery, false pre--1 toiices, and tlieft. .During the. latter" • year he came to Now, Zealand, and when at Auckland lie was charged with theft 3 and attempted suicide, and. was sen- , tonced to seven years' reformative i. treatment. -He was .subsequently ad- • jnittcd to probation, and came to Wel- • liugten. In the'mcaiitimo it was air ) leged that he bad been guilty af false > pretencos at Hamilton.' He escaped to ' San Francisco, but' appeared ~'tp have 1 agaiq ; Jived by misrepresentation, for he was deported from the country by 1 He Toft'the vessel at. ' Tahiti, but finally arrived in' Wellington j by the A'orangi on January 30. Ho was ■ in his nsuaj health before, the steamer • arrived, but.when the police (who, knew ', that ho was coming) weiitto thq stcanii er for him, he was not to be found. ' After a coupjq pf 'hours' search, l,owi ever, ho was discovered in a recess, behind a lot of disinfectant poison. Ilp appeared to haye taken sonic of this, for ho was in a weak,state.' .After rcpciviug mcdicnl attention ho was dispatched to the Hospital.. . In one of > his coat pockets tboro was a letter adr i dressed to the' captain 'of the ship, i stating that he intended to cut his thrpat aud jump overboard. ' He had, however, apparently changed his mind! Accused was convicted, and ordered . to come' up for' sentence when called upon- On a charge pf false pretences at Ham|jton, he was-remanded to appear there pn February 13." ' . UNAUTHORISED." COLLECTOR. An old mail named John Reuben Ingrani appeared' as defendant in a somewhat unusual case.' He was charged • with being a roguo and a vagabond, in ■ that he did endeavour to impose upon : the charity of the' Hon. H. D. Bell by false and fraudulent representation, with a view to obtaining money.' Henry .Dillon'Bell' gave evittoneo thatIngram came to his oiiico and exhibited a subscription listj which' showed an ■ entry of J;l from Mr. G. Hunter, M.P. Ingram explained that the subscriptions . .wore for an pld pioneer' (Mrs, Robinson), who was iri pppr circumstances: • He also stated' that, as Mrs.'Robinson owned the house which alio was living in, she. was unable to obtain a pension. He, (Witness) declined to contribute, but promised to make further inquiries. Adelaide Robinson, on behalf of whom defendant had alleged that he was collecting, stated that she arrived in New Zealand in tho ship Bolton, seventy T thrco years ago. ' Ingrain had lodged with her for fivo or six years, and .owed some £60 or £70 for 'board and lodging. Slip was part-owner-of , tho.housu which she lived in, and received ;a : pension of 13s. 4d. per month. Ingrain had helped her to obtain tins. He,'had, however, never mentioned tho , .(j'pllectioh to her,' but, ho her with groceries/ etc.' " ' ' ;' -Accused gave "evidence in defence. -He stated thought his duty to looU : after these old identities. "As to the amounts which ho had collected, he had spent all pn giving assistance. To Mr.'Broberg: He had'only'collect-' ed 255., and ho had paid Mrs. Robinson's insurance, and .had bought coal for her during'tho strike. lie had expended the collected money in.groceries, etc. Mr. Broberg: I suggest that you mado tho collection on behalf of' Mrs.' Robinson, with' the idea i that /you should' get..a portion yourself ?—"i\'ofc at all." ' • ' • ■' You went to Mr. Bell, and said that the old lady-could not-get the old age pension?— -"i. explained her position, . and thought it hard that an aid pioneer should'bd'in such'straits." If Mr. Bell's evidence is correct that you said she could hot got the pension, you made a mis-statement, as you. ikuew-that she was getting 18s. 4d. a jnonth pension ?—"Yes, assuming that Mr. Bell's evidence is correct.''' ' You are now an inmate of Qhiro Homo---.') Yesj unfortunately." ' Mrs.. Ro'binsoii,' recalled, said; tliat she could not say what was tho value of the goods brought, to her by defendant since December. She, however, ■ got two lots'of coal. "7 ' ■ -..Tho Magistrate.'said that-defendant's' intentions might have been perfectlygood, but he did not put the matter in the .proper, light before Mr. Bell. , Ho would be convicted/and 6rderedtp come up for sentqijice when called upon. "You seem to have a good deal.of intelligence, and no doubt will avoid acting in this manner in the future," coneluded His. Worship. '' LONG LIST TO~ ANSWER, A man named- Arthur Douglas was charged on twenty-live counts of break- • and entering and theft. The list of charges, read was- as follow s.:—(!), Oir August 26,. 19.13, did .breakaiid enter the'dwelling of Howard ■ James Jones, with intent/ to commit' theft; (2) on September' 8; -1913, did • bfeak and enter, the dwelling of-Frank ■ William Bedford, Hataitai, and steal therefrom a brooch and-charm; valued at 255.; (3) on September 8, 1913, broke - and entered the residence-of Joseph Charles Minifie, and stole property valued at £28 10s.; (4) theft of 10s.' from ■ the residence of Thomas Noel Broderiek, in Salaniaucj, Road,; (5) theft from tho ■ residence of .Hugh Francis Lowe, cf . Loiyer'Hutt, .of property 'aiid money, to ■ the,total value, of £22; (ti) theft from the residence of Abraham, Bennan (Wel- , lihgton) of'property tp tjie total value of £34; (7). theft from the residence of' .' Charles'Doudas Morpetli of property ' , valued, at.£'6 Ss, (8)' .theft; from the / .(hrellinghduso of Richard/ Erpwir of mpnpy, and. property.valued at £8 55.; i (9) tlieft frou\ 'tho dwclliiighouso' <jf ; James M'Koq of property valued at £35 ; 10s.; (10) on October 2, at Napier, stole property and money valued at £8 ss. from tho dwellinghouse of Janes Berry, ! of Faraday Street, Napier; (11) stole ■ from the residence of Joseph Stephen Ruttor, property' valued at- £2;- (12), tlieft from the dwellinghouso of Harry . Edgar Nichols of properly - valued at £20; (13) tlieft from the dwellinghouso .' of Richard Morris Griffiths of property 1 'vnluedat £17 3s; 6d.; (14) theft from I the-residence pf Arthur Marshall, Lower Hntt, pf property'valued at 12s.'Gil.; (15) breaking and entering the residence of Walter James Rocers, with intent to ' commit a crimo; (16) theft from tho ' (Kvellingho'iso -of Elizabeth Maud Stent t of property valued at £32 lis.;, (17) • theft-' from rosidenco of. John Lancelot • Barlow. Lower Hutt, of property valued at £2'l2s. 6d.';-(18) theft from tho rei sidence of William George David Brown, ■ Lower Hntt, of property valued at £11; ] (19) theft from the' residence of William Eraser of property valued at £13; (20) > theft from tho rosidenco of Arthur r Hawthorne of a tin pin valued at £3; (21)-theft from the residence pf Walter Clements Hampton of .property valued ~ at £4; (22) theft from tho residence j of Maud Kain, Wellington, of jewellery and money'to the total value-of £62.; » (23V theft from the residence of Georce Pirie of property valued at £12; (24) 1

theft from the dwelling of Charles Corden I/.'irmour of property valued at £14 ; (25) theft from the residence of .Frederick John Evans of property valued at £10 8:. . Formal evidence was given, and the case's were adjourned till Friday mornius. UN'PUUVOKjSD ASSAULT. Joseph Barntiß-i was charged withhaving aseaulted Andrew Al'Uralh at Wollington, so m ta cause hiiii actual bodily'harm. - ' Dr. Shand gave evidence that en February' 6 fi« was called to attend M'Uratlt nl tho-Mniuwrs btieut Police Station. The man Was sul'cring lum an open Hpund, whieh he »aid hail been caused by a ki-clj. It was in a dangorwus place, but no sorisvl.s results v.ern likely to follow. 'The charge was - reduced to one of common assault, and i-.aui.-ii/d pi«ided guilty. Inspectpr Hendiy fttnted ffia-t it appeared-tliat accused went to a huuso iii'Taranaki Street to see a friend. Complainant came to the door and 'ivas assaulted witkout provocation. A sentence of six wce ; ;.s' imprison* meiit was inipgsed. DESIWIEP HJS.SHIP. Edward Eerdiuand Runnstroni pleader! gliilty to a charge of descrtiii;; frpip the Ara)va. Chief Detective Broberg said that on'the same day that accused deserted sis etheis left, and within a, fortnight a total of' fourteen had deserted, The owners were eonseciueiftly put to a great deal of trouble. -There appeared to ha-ve bee'i-i sonio ciilispirac.y. Accused was cDiivictetJ, and seiuen'cec) to one month'* iniprispnmoiit.' . SENTENCE. Thomas .O'Noill.and Frederick She}-., drake, pleaded gtlilty to breaking'-anti' entering the sjiop of pja-nde Brpiv'n, a-n.cl stealing one e:hc.o,ue for ill, (ne postal nqte for''ss. f two p.osta.l notes for Is. each, and £19 iii mpijey, and pile purse, of the total value 1.05., iind were committed ia the -Suprcfne Court for sentence. O'Noil} iyas lined 10s. for thretttcnjiig teliavipHr in Je-vveis Quay, ' MISCELLANEOUS.' A young woman named Esther Qp-i----lier was sentenced te fourteen days! imprisonment on a flhargg of using certain language-, ' 3he was convicted aiid discharged i'pr insobriety. Julia Schultz; was coiivieted cf being an'idle aiid disorderly persmi, in 't'liat she was the occupier <jf a, hpiißO in I'rcderick Street, vvirich was frequented be reputed t,hieves, and persons Haying ne visible nieaus of sjippoii;. A seri-l toiico of three months' imprisonment was imposed. Thpuias Frederick Everest charged with having broken 'into the residence. pf Robert Eeid, 02 Webb Street, and stplen a gold watch and si ■ gold ring. A I'eiuaiid for a week was granted. _ James Skilliug, Itiefcard Pynct, and Arthur' Manning were each filled Ills., in default 48 Iwurs* iniprisonmeivt, for drunkenness; Oliarlec l/indergre-i-U was fined ss. for a siinijar -O'lfenceV'-a-ntl five first offenders were- convicted and discharged UPPER HUTT CQUiIT, BUSHFELLER. STIUKES EAEMIR. , At 'the Upper Hutt Jjfagist.rate's Court yesterdrty, before Mr. E. W. Burtcn, S.M., Cleo. Samuel Ph-i-Hips, a farmer,' ■of Kaitokb, prqeeesfed against -James Judge, bushfell.pf, to recover tho sum of'£1(1, as .damages for an alleged assault. Mr. P. W, Jackson appeared for plaintiff, and Mr- A. H. Ifi'iidmarsh for the (.lofeiidant. Tho evideiico was ijo the effect,that a dispute had arisen, between the two parties'pver't.lVe remo'val of some tipiher, and tlio 'ipkcep of a,road. Plaintiff said, defeiid'iiht struck' hjin,in.the face,. knocking him do-iv.hj. aii'dj. iu'g oiip. of his t'eetli..'Dofenaaiit 'admitted striking tho blow, but said lie had .been provoked considerably. T ; ljo Magistrate held that the charge had been proved., awl judgment was given for plaintiff, for ka, with. Court costs £2 175.. ,'■..'