MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2497, 25 June 1915, Page 5

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

ALLEGED THEFT FROM HARBOUR BOARD SHED The hearing of the charges against Charles Dempster and' John Cashman, two storemen in the employ of the Harbour Board, of stealing a quantity of goods of a total value of £51 4s. 3d., the property of Butterworth Bros., was continued before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr. J. J. M'Grath appeared for Cashman, and Mr, A. H. Hindmarsh for Dempster. ■' Inspector;- -Hendrey prosecuted.' Thomas John Haywood, tolls clerk in the employ of the Harbour Board, said that Cashman came into the tolls office at about 2.30 o'clock on the afternoon of June 3. He asked if Dempster had been about. Shortly afterwards Dempster came along with a motor-bicycle and side-car. Cashman asked for the key of P Shed, saying he wanted to put some oilskins back there. The key was given to him, and both accused left. Cashman brought back the key in about a quarter of an hour. Both accused were quite sober at the time. Constable M'Kelvie said that at about a quaxter to 8 on the night of June 3 he received word of an accident in Majoribanks Street. He arrived there to find Cashman unconscious on the road, and Dempster in a seemingly drunken condition near the sidewalk. A motorcycle was overturned near-by, while the goods, now in Court, were scattered about the street. Dempster was gathering up some of the goods. Witness gathered up the remainder, and sent for Constable Parkinson. Cashman was then dispatched to the Hospital, and Dempster arrested. _ Constable Parkinson gave corroborivtice evidence. Witness searched accused, and found more missing property. On being charged with stealing the assembled property from some person unknown, accused made no reply. The following day witness paid a visit to P Shod, where he found more of, the property produced. The articles' in question were wrapt up, and concealed in parts of the shed. On June 11. witness arrested Cashman at the Hospital. Cashman made no reply to the charge. Archibald Munro, chief wharfinger for the Harbour Board, said that on June 14 he had a conversation with Dempster. Witness said "this is a nice business, Dempster." Dempster replied: 'Yes, • it must have been the drink.'" Witness said: "Did you take the goods from Butterworth Bros.' baskets at the northern end of the shed?" Dempster replied: "Yes, that's where we got them from." To 'Mr. M'Grath: P Shed was open on June 3, and people were in it that were not connected with the Harbour Board. Both accused pleaded not guilty, and were committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed as before.. A STOLEN ACCUMULATOR. A trooper was charged with stealing an electric accumulator, valued at £8, at Trentham on June 6 from Peter R. Baillie. Accused strenuously denied any knowledge of the fact that the accumulator had been stolen, and stated that he had purchased it from another trooper for 30s. The Magistrate convicted accused, and fined him 405., in default fourteen days' imprisonment. TWO ASSAULTS. Two charges of assault were preferred against Victor Fanning Fraser, one of assaulting Alfred Moscott, and the other of assaulting Joseph Smythe. Inspector Hendrey explained that accused had, without apparent provocation, assaulted the two men, striking them blows which felled them to the ground. Fraser ,was fined 205., in default three days' imprisonment on each charge. OTHER CASES. Bryda, Shoehan was charged Math indecency on Lambton Railway Station and with being an incorrigible rogue. Inspector Hendrey described accused as "a menace to the community." On the latter charge a sentence of twelve months' imprisonment was imposed, and on the charge of indecency accuscd was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Edith Conroy was remanded to Monday on a charge of escaping from tho Salvation Arm.v Home. Thomas Middleton was remanded to July 1 for curative treatment, on a charge of helpless drunkenness. For using threatening behaviour in Cuba Street. Robert Murphy was fined 10s.. ill default forty-eight hours' imprisonment. For drunkenness, Peter Hughes, who

had six previous convictions within tlio past six months against him, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. Vivo first o(Tenders wo'/c dealt with. DEFAULT DISHTORS' LIST. Judgment was given for plaintiff by default in the following undefended civil eases by Mr. W. G. liiddoll, S.M.: —The Commercial Agency, Ltd., v. L. G. Hansb.y, ,C 2 19s. 3d., costs 10s.; Hirst and.Co., Ltd., v. A. Dunbar, £34 7s. lid., costs £'2 Us.; The Commercial Agency, Ltd., v. Jas. Astwood, £10 13s. 6d., costs £1 10s. Gd.; Dayton Moneyweight Scale Co., Ltd., v. Frederick William Caudv, £5 2s. 2d., cosfs"£l 3s. 6d. _ r In a judgment summons ease, D. Chapman was ordered to pay Jack Jacobus £•! 10s. before July 8, in default four days' imprisonment.