MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2335, 17 December 1914, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THEFT OF JEWELLERY SEAMAN PLEADS GUILTY The case against Alfred John Burrows, donkeyman on the steamer Buteshire, who was arrested last week in Port Chalmers on charges of theft of jewellery at Wellington, was heard in the.Mag.stratos Court yesterday before Mr, W. G. lliddell, S.M. The charges against accused were: (1) Did unlawfully enter the dwelling-houso of Dr Robert Stout with intent to commit a. crime; (2) thrift of three watches from the, bouse of Mrs. Edith Leak in Kent Terrace; (3) theft of jewellery valued at £01 10s., the property of Susan Isabel M'Kenziei one medal and 15 coins valued at £1 10a., the property of Francis AVallaeo M'lCenzie, and nf a hat valued at 13s. Gd., the property of Captain Mair, all from tho dwelling of Dr. Francis Wallace M'lvenzic. The charges were indictable. Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared on behnlf of accused. Tho owners of the articles, who gavo evidence, alleged that tho articles had disappeared from their houses during the night. ' / Detective-Sergeant Ward of Dunedin, gave evidence as to accused's arrest at Port Chalmers. : When his cabin on tile Buteshire was searched, all the jnissiDg jewellery was discovered in an

oilskin Lag. Burrowß had said they were his, and that lie traded in such articles. Detective Lewis also gave evidence as to accused's arrest on tho charges of theft. Accused had replied to the charge that he had been drinking and know nothing about it; . Accused pleaded guilty to all three charges, and was committed to the Suproine Court for sentence. EX-SHIP'S OFFICER SENTENCED. John Bowen Richards, an ex-ship'e officer, pleaded guilty to the following charges :—(1) Theft of a cup and eaucer valued at 17s. Gd. from Kirkcaldie and Stains; (2), theft of clothing and divert) articles valued at £I' 2, the property oi the Shaw, Savill, aiid Albion, Go.; (3) theft of three pairs of shoes, the. property of the Now Zealand and African Steamship Company. Chief-Detective iiroberg Baid that the case was 'an uriusuai one, in that cused was employed in the capacity of a cargo-watcher by the Shaw, faavill Company, to see that any broken cases of cargo were not pilfered. Accused took advantage of this to steal the list of ai tides mentioned- Accused was detected stealing the cup arid saucer from Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd., and was arrested. When his houso was visited all tho stolen articles were discovered there. Mr. H. F. Ayson; who appeared for accused pleaded for leniency. Accused was a married man with two children: He had held good positions in the past, being an officer in the employ ol the U.S.S. Co. and the Tysef Co: Drink was aecusad's trouble, arid most of the thefts had .been committed while he was.under the influence of liquor. Accused had beep, drinking when he was arrested. for the theft from Kirkcaldie and Stains. In respect to the major fcharge it was not oiie of cargo-broach-ing, accueed having found the articles about the ship's holds. - The Magistrate remarked that accused had been placed in a position of trust and had taken advantage of that position. On the major charge the accused would be sentenced to two months',imprisonment, and on each of the minor charges sentenced to one month, all the ecntoncee to run concurrently. BREAD CARTER'S MISAPPROPRIATIONS: , Samuel Colwell, late- bread carter in the employ of the New Zealand Automatic Bakeries' Co., pleaded guilty to five charges of stealing various amounts totalling £11 Is. Id. from the company in which he was employed. Chief Detective Broberg explained that accused had been employed as a carter by the Automatic Bakeries for tbreo months uud part of his business was t<) collect various amounts from customers. The company had suspected

something was wrong ixl this resect, rind employed an inspector; At.tins accused cleared out to tnlnierston. later to Lyttelton, and was eventually arrested there. Accused was a single man and had never been in trouble before. The Magistrate remarked that accused had been placed in a position of trust and had taken advantage.'of it. He must take the consequence, and would accordingly be sentenced to two months' gaol on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. THEFT CHARGE DISMISSED. Tbcnias Chalmers Leslie M'Gregor was charged with attempted theft from the person of James Stevenson. Accixed pleaded not guilty. Inspector Hoiidroy said that accused had been seen drinking with Steven-

son c-ii the-'day in question, and was later seen . gcjhg through Stevenson's pockele. Stevensdu Was lying* in ail vempty section at the time. After hearing these facts the Magistrate intimated that he would be prepared to deal fwiih!.;the,".charge; s'unimarily. The charge 'was'accordingly reduced to one of ordinary, attempted theft. . .. " . ■:...; . After: hearing evidence,-, the Magistrate dismissed the information, but ordered a prohibition order to be taken out against accused.' ~ AN OLD THIEF. An old offender for theft, John Power, was charged with the theft of 15 pair* of trousers valued at £6.75. 6d., the property of Christopher Smith. Accused was sentenced to six months'

gaol. ' ' ■ A SERIOUS CHARGE. Alfred Leonard Auseel was remanded to Friday on a charge of attempted indecent assault on a male. Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared on his behalf, and asked for hail, which was allowed in £100. The charge against John Millar of being drunk while in charge of a vehicle was adjourned for one week owing to Millar being in the Hospital suffering from the effects, of. a fall from his express. OTHER OASES. Violet Patton was sentenced to one month's gaol for importuning. Samuel Cliahning was convicted and discharged' for drunkenness, and fined 2Qs. or three days' gaol for refusing to leave the Thistle Inn Hotel when requested to do so by the licensee. For drunkenness, Charles William Hill was fined 20s. or three days. One first-offending inebriate was convictfd and discharged, A CIVIL DISPUTE.

A civil dispute heard before Mr. W. G Hiddell, S.M. f yesterday afternoon was one in which William Wallace Triptrott, of Newtown, sued Grace Halcombe, ■ married woman, of Blenheim, for £20, being, it was alleged, the balance due by the defendant to the plaintiff in respect of moneys had and received during tlio year 1912 for the use of the plaintiff. Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbou appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. M.'Crombie for defendant. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate nonsuited plaintiff.