MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2352, 7 January 1915, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

CAUGHT IN ■ THE BRITANNIA. LOOKING FOR ■ "MB. JONES." A LIST OF CHARGES AGAINST A PROBATIONER. The young man Fredk. Jackson, alias Murray, alias Stanb'rook, > alias Handbrook, who was discovered-in the Britannia Hotel on December 30 last, and later arrested, appeared on remand at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M. Ho was charged with; attempted theft from the Britannia Hotel, also with the theft of a parcel of handkerchiefs, the property of Percy James, from the Empire Hotel, and a purse and 325. 6d. and two pairs of ear-rings, valued at 355. fid., the property of Lucy Maddock, from the New Commercial Hotel. .Accused was also charged with assaulting Miss Katherine M'Enroe.

Evidence was given by the persons from whom the missing articles were alleged to'have been stolen. _ Katharine; M'Enroe, daughter of the licensee of the Britannia Hotel, said Ghat on the afternoon of December 30 she discovered the accused in one of the rooms of the hotel. When she asked him what he was doing he said he was looking for a Mr. Jcnes. Witness told him he had no right there, then she sang out "Burglars," and with that accused pushed her against the wall and bolted. •

Patrick M'Enroe, brother of the previous witness, said that on the afternoon in question he remembered hearing his 6ister cry out "Burglars—stop him!"- Witness, saw accused running downstairs, and gave chase down Mercer Street, and pursued him with a Mr. Hudson. They caught him in Farish Street, and brought him back to the hotel. •.

James Hudson gave corroborative evidence. In the lift well where the accused was found witness discovered the bundle of handkerchiefs produced and the one ear-ring, both of which, had been identified as the stolen property.

Another Quest After "Mr. Jones."

John Thomas Levett, licensee of the Adelphi Hotel, said his premiseß were about 150 yards from th e Britannia. Just after lunch on December 30 witness was in his bedroom when the. accused opened the door Witness said, "What do, you want?" Accused replied, looking up to the number on the door, 'Oh, this is No. 44 ; I am looking for No. 46—for a Mr. Jones." Witness replied, "There is no Mr. Jones staying here." Accused said that he had to meet him at 2.30. Witness said. "If you look at your watch you will Bee you are an hour before time." Accused then left, and witness saw him depart from the hotel. Constable, Roche said that in response to information he went to. tho Britannia Hotel on the day in question. , In response to the charge laid against him, accused said he was looking for a Mr. Jones. Witness then arrested him. Later accused said to witness that he had made a, mistake in not knocking out 'Miss : M'Bnroe, be-, cause then he would have been able to have got away. Witness knew that accused was identical with, William Frederick Murray'mentioned in 'the probationary license found, in the Britannia Hotel after accused's- capture. Aocußed 'pleaded not guilty to each charge, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. , OTHER CASES. Mary Stent was sent, to gaol for six months on a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond l in that she , consorted with people of ill-fame. 1 Bella Poster was sentenced to one month's imprisonment for 'being ■ idle and disorderly, and fined £3 or one month for using obscene language. Stella Taylor was sentenced' to six months in gaol on a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond in that she consorted with people of ill-fame. ■' Daniel Murray, charged with laving been helplessly drunk ( was remanded to January ,13 for medical treatment. For drunkenness Peter Crosby was fined £2 or seven days' imprisonment; Alexander Churchman was fined 20s. or three days' ' imprisonment, and, Margaret Webb fined 10s. or 48 hours. Pour first offenders were dealt with.