LAW REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1988, 19 February 1914, Page 9

LAW REPORTS.

TRIALS FOB SERIOUS OFf EUCES. THREE CONVICTIONS. Crimes of a revolting cliara-eter were proved against three offenders in tho Supreme Court yesterday. Onii prisoner was charged with offences against other males, and the other .two with offences against' children. .; His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) Was on tlib Bench. Mr. P. S. K, Macassey conducted, the- p'roscpution oil behalf of the Crq'wji. , ■ Sidney Hall, a young man- formerly employed, as a waiter in one of _tb.o din-inn-cars on tho Main Trunk, trains; waft charged on two counts with having committed certain assaults upon two cadets in the service at Okafeine; on or about .Tunc 1 last. Mr. T. M. Wilford appeared for the accused, who pleaded "not guilty," Tho Court was cleared dnriug the hearing of tho case. Tho jury found the prisoner guilty of attempt in both cases. Prisoner was remanded for soiltenco until to-day. In giving their verdict the, jury rccommendetF that the Railway Department should make certain provision for tho accommodation of railway cadets at Ohakiine and at other places at ;wlnch it was. ifocessary for minors to spend tli© night. His Honour said that the fcG.Qinirrie-n----datioii seemed to jiim a very proper one, and he would see that it was forwarded to the Department.' ANOTHER CASE. David Meuzies. a iiian about 30 years of age, was charged with having attempted to criminally assault a girl eight years of age. Mr. V. R. Meredith, with Mr. W. A, Sim, appeared for the prisoner, who pleaded " not guilty." The offence was alleged to have beeii committed on January 3, and the child was the daughter of ",T Woman With whom accused, lived, Thcro was conflict of evidence'as to whether tho mail was drunk at the time or not. There wore alternative counts iu theindictment, and tho jury found tho p"isoncr guilty on tho lesser count. Prisoner was remanded for sentence until to-day. . - GUILTY OF ATTEMPT. A middle-aged man named William Birch was charged on two counts that on Soptember 19, at johnsGiiyille, lie: committed a certain assault on a girl eleven years of agp. Accused., who was defended by Mr. T. M. Wilford., plead* ed "not guilty." ' . The child went from a Receiving Homo iu Wellington to live with the prisoner and his wife. It was alkgfid that the offence was committed on several occasions, and was eventually observed by prisoner's Wife. The child was at onco taken back to the. Receiving Hpijib by Mrs. Birch, aiidrsn.coiissquence of something'said' by hei;.. tin prisoner left his.homo and his employ, and went to Ngaiauwahja," whero lie was arrested six weeks lator. • Prisoner was found guilty of attempting to commit tho offence alleged', and , ivas remanded for sentence • until • to I day. -

'• MAGISTRATE'S COURT

i 0?■? MEAN,DEVICE- ' ] PLAUSIBLE PERSON WITH A PAST. ' Mr. W. G.. RiddcH r -S.M., presided at yesterday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court. j A young man named William Abhott was charged-before' Mr," W. G. Riddell, S.M., ' : at the .Magistrate's Court yesterday with having; on February .9, by meaiis of,a valueless cheqtio f<ir £o, drawii on the Bank of Australasia, obtained' £2 and goods to the value of 3s. 9d. from Nellie George, tho keeper of | a.confectionery, shop in Moleswortb Street. He was also charg?jd.. .with ob- ; taining £4.and goods to tho value of £l fr'om Abraham Whittakef by. means , of a valueless ehequo. . He' pleaded . giiilty'to "both charges. . . Inspector. Hendry stated that Abbott went to Whittaker's sliop in. MolcfiWortli Street and represented that- fee w.as a wealthy farmer residing At Pahatitanni. Ho received £4 .and goods to the value of-£l, in cx6hange for a' for' £5, which cheque' was afterwards found to bo vvaluclessi. 110.-.nest'_- proceeded" to' a shop kept' by a g'irl iii Molesworth Street, and bonglit Sweets for 3s, ' Ho agiiii 'represented that' ho was-a-rich farmer, aiid presented a/'hcqnc for £S, which, however, the girl refused to : cash. ■" He' thereupon left the shop* and . presently returned with a sove* reigil, and paid the 3s. He affected to laugh at tlifs girl foi' having rofiissd to cash tho cheque,' and returned sotne timo later with another checjuo for £S, aiid endeavoured'to_ induce tiio girl; to accept it. tirtie, though she'did not givo-him tho foil amount b.v way of change, she allovVed hini £:2. AVhen accused had been before the Court pro- , viously ho had given aw,'.outliue of his career,.which was fmiird to be a tissue of lies. He had been in the DomiMioli since 1905, and had served a. scntonco of six months for cruolty _ to a dog. That'was -the 'only .eonvietiaii agimst him, although he appeared to have used different names at- different placps. It . had also been ascertained tlvst, prior to victimising;'the ' girl in Molesworth Street, ho liad-been, through■ tha Wair'arapa obtaining ''joy rides" in motorcars, aiid paying with false chequer-. ■ For theso offences ho would no doubt [ have to answer. .. Acoused stated iii evidence that he j ■ had come .down f fOni Mastectoii, after shearing at several stations, and had about £141. He paid £3 3s. for a lUotpv-car rido at jfa&torton, and from thero; ho went as. "mad as. a hatter," until he did not liave .a penny. Tho Magistrate held that the. offcnco was a .very mean one; Accused would be. sentenced to two months' imprisonment on each charge. THE "TRIAL RIDE" TRICK. Leonard .James Parker Rusten was charged with , stealing a motor-cycle, valued at £30, tho property of Robert Edwin Savillo. Chief-Detective Broberg appeared for the prosecution, and accused was represented by Mr. M'Cotinell. - - ■■ ' ' R. 'E. Saville gave ovidence that, irk November last, a man resembling accused had called at Ilia shop, and asked to sec a second-hand inotor-cyek, which witness. produced. He took Jt for a trial rido on tho Pirio Street hill. Witness had not seen the machine since. Cross-examined, witiicas stated that intending purchasers were always allowed a trial ride. Witness did not fl.sk the man his name. 1 Ho could iiofc say positively that accused was the man, but ho was very much like him,

Detective Abbott; stated that on February she interviewed accused. Tho man made a statement that he got the motor-cycle in November, but luv did not know on what terms, and rode to Hastings. He had lost his moiwy on the way,, and had borrowed Bo oil the cyclei at Hastings. Ho could Hot- repay the money, and was allowed £11 an the machine. Ho did not know where the money went. The motor-bicycle was afterwards recovered at Hastings.

Accused plended guilty, and was committed .to the Supreme Court For sentence, • On a obareo of failing to pto-

j vide for his wife and child iii Dunedin he was remanded till to-day;

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. A .young lad of 19 years, named 'lionias Pwderick Everest, 'w«s charged 'ith brealung and ciitoring tim honsf; f Geo. Reid, Webb Street, lind stcaKiag nc sold watch, aiid buo gold ring, pf.il otai valno of A! 8 res., the property of lar.v Reid. Mary Reid stated that she loffc ltdmo t'B o'clock on Smiiiay, Jamiary -21. lefore leaving blis locked the door arid hut the... windows, Imt die),not jo'clc hem. Witeii slid returned at 9;30 slic aund the back door opeti, and, from a •ox iu tlie front tbom, the articles mcnioned in tlio, charge had" been taken. Abraham liarsht. pinvribroker, gave 'rideiK» that he had bought the ring rem tho accused for ,1.05., on !4 V _ Accused gave the hattid of J. kliin, aiid Stated that ho vras staying it the Royal Tiger Hotel. Witness .fto.nvards ideiitined liitii at the police tation.. Detective Dempsey said that ffhen inestionecl,- seeused* denied selling tho ing. Witiicas discovered that a man lamed Sabin had been staying at the loyal Tiger Hotel, hut- he Was several nches taller than accused., Accused tad denied knowing where Wchb Street ras, hut, notwithslanding that, it raiispired.tliaij lie had tieen employed lose by—in .the Artillery Barracks. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was lomnntted to tho Supremo Court for -rial, MAINTENANCE. Elizabeth Ash . proceeded against Pho-mas Ash For .a separation, mainteninte, and order. D - eiidant was remandcicl till February 23, jail of £50 being allowed. Tlionias M'Ginnity for disobeying a naintenanco order, on which he was £7 is; in- arrears, was fined 205., ki de'ault seven days' imprisonment. : . -JILSCELLANEOUS. Robert Gray pleaded guilty to the liioft of a suit of clothes'valued at £3 10s., tho property of Geo. Steel, aiid ivas remaflded to February 21 for sentence. Ho was further charged that ■ 3ii December 12, 1813, ho' did obtain from Clarieia .Mabel Urierly the sum of £1, by means of false Jiritcnc-es. ' He pleaded hot. guilty, aiid' was remanded till February 21. • . John Douglasj with "numerous previous convictions, was ftiwtl £Sj, in clcfaiilt seven days' imprisonment, for drunkenness. Thomas Newton AVithers, who was found in a state of helpless drunkenness'in LaiiAtmi Q,uay,. wns ordered to pay 17s. 64., costs of medical treit' rnont, in default 48 hours'mflnt. ' . Two first offenders were certvictod and fined ss, for drlinkenness. CIVIL CLAIM. ' The civil caso was continued before Mr. W. G. Riddel!, S.M., yesterday afternoon, in which Caspar Stringer, expressman, Wellington,. claimed £22 7s, 6d. froro;Wm. iCEggers, agent, 153 Fc'sthe-rs'ton Street, alleging negligence oil defendant's/part to leaving ail excavation in a stalilo yard, whereby ■ plaintiff's lvorse was injured. ■ 'Mr; H. F.; appeared for .flip plaintiff, and Mr, J.' S. Barton far the defeitdant. After..hearing legal argftm.ent,. judg» ment was reserved. :

. PETONE COURT

At tho sitting of-tile Pctnne Magistrate's Court, bofore Mr. E. W. BiirtOil, S-M,, yesterday, jud.grivent ssas given for plaintiff by default in. the following undefended cases:-—S-.J'.-Nowlfind v. T. Kowtan, £'3, costs 65.; li. : W. Itfcady v. Louis-Banks, costs 55.-;'-WeWoy and Col- v; Clia'S; Jlillward, ? £2 18s. Id., costs. 55.,. ' . i'.'-