MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2340, 23 December 1914, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

AN UNUSUAL CASE Unusual circumstances wore rovoaled in the evidence given in a case heard beforo Mr. J). G. A. Cooper, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. A middle-aged mail named Allan Smith was charged as follows: —(1) Receiving a gold watch and chain valued at £'26 10s., the property of Edward Hurcomb, well knowing the same to have been 'dishonestly obtained; (2) on December 17 did corruptly take a reward of £7 from Edward hurcomb in consideration . that lie would help to leeovor a watch and chain which had boon obtained .by crime, to wit theft, ho not' having used all due diligence to have tho offender brought to trial for the same. . The latter charge lias practical!) never been brought in Court before. Evidence was given by Edward Hurcomb to the offect that lie was a storeman, and resided at Blenheim. On . August 5 he was in Wellington, and on the same evening "the'gold chain and two gold watches he was wearing wero stolen. On the morning of Thursday, December 17, witness went to see accused at an express stand in Courtenay Place. When called aside by witness accused said, "Hullo, are you l'ed, from Blenheim ?" Witness replied '.'Come and have a drink." Aftor the drink-ac-cused assertod he could recover the watch that had beon stolen. Accused said he had rendered similar services to other people who had lost jewellery. Witness would have to pay £17 10s. before he, received the watch. Tlioy went into Reed's shop' in Tory Street and the owner said that accused had recovered a silver watch and chain for him. An understanding was come to that witness was to receive the watch on going back-to tho expr.<A stand. "Witness went instead to the police station and interviewed Detective Bailey. Later witness saw accused and demanded that he should see his property before he handed over the money; accused refused, and they parted again At another meeting at the Terminus Hotel, witness produced £17 ip notes. About half an hour later Smith was just handing over tile watch and chain when Detective Bailey appeared. Witness told the latter the watch and chain was his. All three went to tho police station. To Mr. Dickson: The property was stolen from witness in a right-of-way, two men rushing out at him and covering his head. Detective Bailey said that when he charged accused with having received tho stolen property, he said: ''As you d's couldn't find tho watch and chain,, and as I know all the bludgers and thieves in town, I thought 1 do Hurcomb a good turn." At no tune did accused give any information tnat would lead to the detection of tho thieve 3 of the property. Accused, who was defended by Mr. J. F. W Dickson, pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for thrial. Bail was allowed in £80.

YOUNG BURGLAR COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. As a result of recent burglaries at Thorndon, George Slaviseh, a young Servian, appeared oil remand to answer six,charges of tlieft from various dwellings. The victims,of accused's depredations gave evidence. Evidence was also given by Constablo Tricklobanli, who ivas responsible for accused's arrest, that some of the stolen property bad been recovered at the rear of the Vacuum Oil Company's premises 111 Thorndon Quay, and more in the vicinity of the Thorndoii Railway Station. Acouscd had eaten the 6tolcn plum-pud-ding, and had thrown other of the articles into the harbour. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. ALLEGED ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. With his head swathed in bandages, Robert Curtice appeared in court charged (1) with attempted suicide, (2) to answer an application for sureties of the peace in that he threatened to 6hoot Mary Ann Hugh. Mr. «P. W. Jacltson appeared for the latter. Accused was unrepresented, and so that he might get counsel, the case was adjourned for a week. "DANGEROUS, VIOLENT CRIMINALS." "These two men are dangerous, violent criminals, who prey on tliejr fellow mon," 6aid Inspector Hondroy in referencc to two men named John Black and Archibald Neville, charged with assaulting William Simpson. Simpson, when lie appeared in court, was in a pitiable state l'rom tho battering lie had received from tho two men. Both men pleaded not guilty, but tho evidence as well as their previous convictions, and Inspector Hendrey's qualifying statement, were against them. Each was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. oth¥r CASES. Peter Butler, who was discovered sleoping in a truck at Lambtou Station after. midnight oa Tuesday, was sent

to gaol for one month on a charge of being a roguo and a vagabond. For importuning, Margaret M'Hugh and Mary Brown were oacli sentenced to one month's imprisonment, and Margaret Laurcnson to 14 days imprisonment. , Michael M'Pherson,.a young man who arrived here a month or so ago as a stowaway, was charged with using obscene language. Ho was fined £3, or ono month's imprisonment.