MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2574, 23 September 1915, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

A CONFECTIONERY BUSINESS ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES- ' . There 1 were some ..unusual features about the . evidence concerning a charge preferred against .'Frederick Browne in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, of wrongfully representing .he • was the absolute owner of certain goods, and obtaining .£3O •for' the' same 1 from Arthur John Hoare. Chief Detective Boddam prosecuted, and Mr, P. W. Jackson appeared for accused. The evidence showed that in April, 1914, defendant-purchased a confectionery business at 7i Manners Street from one Alfred Atkinson,-defendant being introduced to Atkinson by- an agent, Fanning. The price was ,£l4O, defendant, paying J£7o cash and agreeing to pay the remainder in instalments, and Atkinson to have a. bill of sale over the goods and fittings. Some six weeks later 1 accused was compelled to leave the premises as the agent Fanning was about' to Temove ■ into them. He transferred the business to Vivian Street. Some time later, when Atkinson visited ; th'e Vivian Street'premises, he found Hoare in charge. He learnt from Hoaro that accused had 6old 'the business to him for .£3O. Hoare stated in his evidence that when he questioned • accused pjior 'to taking over the- business, as to whether any accounts were owing in respect to it,, accused replied in the negative. ' ■ •: . Detective Cameron gave evidence that he' arrested accused on September 7, and on having the charge read to him, accused •said. that .it was a .swindle\on him. ; Accused pleaded not' guilty, 'to the charge, and. was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail .w.as allowed in .£SO.

FOUND IN THE-HU^DIEi-HOTEL. Two men, Wm. Garner and Thomas -Jackson Smith, were charged with attempted theft from the Empire Hotel on September 18 last They, were defended, by Mr. H.- P. O'Leary. The evidenoe of a housemaid, Mary Sullivan, was that she tried to open the door of a bedroom on tho first floor, of the'hotel, and "on finding that someone was blocking the door she locked itj . and rang for the porter. The 'porter 'said that when heVarrived, he opened the door to find Garner and Smith Bitting in the room, while various China articles were strewn about the floor.. The two; men said they had com'o thwe for a sleep., Later, . the two endeavoured' to get away, and were eventually arrested. Constable Willcox, who Arrested the accused, stated Smith said that drink was his trouble. , Garner had, previous to the arrest, pretended he was helplessly drunk. On being searched nothing was found on ■either accused. " - Both accused pleaded not guilty, and were committed to the Supremo Couit for trial. : Bail was allowed in Garner's case at .£4O, and in Smith's case at ,£6O.

'ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES/ Peter - Cornelius Trainer pleaded not guilty to; a charge of obtaining from Wm. West by means' of false pretences. Mr. G. fi. Watson appeared for accused. Tho evidence showed that Trainer had offered to find work for West, and later on the strength of it had borrowed M. West had not secured tho work promised him. The Magistrate held the evidence was not sufficient to warrant a conviction, and dismissed the case. ; LIQUOR AND TRENTHAH. Three workmen from Trentham, Joseph Himes, Ambrose Hulme, and Richard Vince, admitted oonveying liquor into Trentham Camp' In. fining each of the accused JEIO, the. Magistrate remarked ' that'each of the 1 accused was no doubt fully, aware from previous cases of the : heavy pettaities'.attaching to their offence. .Holmes was convicted and discharged on a Jurther charge ,of escaping from the legal custody of the miltary police. •

OTHER CASES. A. young man named George Albert M'Nichbll was remanded to Friday next m a.charge of assaulting James M'llvefen. Inspector Htindroy said that M'llveen was unable to attend Court that morning as he had had a number of teeth dislodged by acoused. Bail was fised at .£lO. Robert Ross was fined 10s., with an option of 48 hours' imprisonment for drunkenness, and for indecency fined wB3, or 11 days' imprisonment. _ For drunkenness Joseph Reginald Harding was fined 405., in default seven'-days' imprisonment; James Clarjce, Robert Mathews,' and 'James Macintosh, eaoh fined 205., or three days, and Wm. Smith Wilson fined 10s., or 48 hours; Four first offenders were dealt with. .. . , Andrew Julius Finlay was agSin remanded to Wednesday next on three serious charges. Bail was allowed as before,