MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2783, 30 May 1916, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

POLICE CASES

In the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., dealt with the following cases-.— l'.tliel Joan Atkinson, a tall, attractive woman, pleaded guilty to the theft ,of a pair of sheets worth 15s. from Robert , ■ lN - Stewart, obtaining by false pretences a pair of boots valued at «tl, bts longing to Herbert E. Airtli, and" by false pretences goods from Stanley iirook, valued at XI 4s. 9<l. The accused' impersonated a district nurse," and as she had been previously convicted in Christchurch she wa? on the respective charges kued 40s. or three weeks' imprisonment; the price of the boots, or a further threo weeks' iinprisonment, and ordered io reiuncl the value of the goods or endure another threo weeks' imprisonment, the sentences to bo cumulative. I'lorence White, alias Stewart, a yoiuiflooking woman, was charged with'keeping a brothel in Molesworth Street on I'ebruary 25, 101 C. For accused, .Air 1> W. Jackson pleaded guilty. Inspector .Henclrey saul the case was an unsavoury one, the house liaviug beeu tlio resort of ciuestionaMo persons, and a young girl accused's sister, only 13 years of age, was also involved. Accused was fined .£10, ! or two months' imprisonment. William Jonah Harris, . arrtsf.ed for drunkenness, was also charged with dam?f 111( ?ni JOTer nnieut property valued it Bs. Ort. lhis was accused's first offencc, and lie was convicted and ordered to pay the value of the damage, in default to undergo seven days' imprisonment". A girl named Ethel M'Kearman, 19 years, was charged with being idle and disorderly., As she was not in good health the Louit took a lenient view of her ca c e ami intimated-that if she elected to go to the Salvation Army Home the charge would bo allowed to lapse. The girl pleaded not guilty, and declined to go to tlie home indicated, as sho was in a situation earning wages and her board. She was remanded for a week. Albert. Blaokwood pleaded, guilty to assaulting Pcrcival Thomas Flint and vsir. (r obscene language. Mr. V. B. Willis ap" peared for accused. Inspector Hendrey fiaul accused was found partly undressed Ul.f'? mval ' 3 lra » so a t 10 o'clock p.m. Mr. Willis pleaded that accused was ti discharged soldier, having got his leave on Saturday. Ho was looking for rooms and Stumbled into Flint's house. Accused vas a resident of Westport, where he had a wife |'"d f«ir children. The polico admitted that tho man was of good character, and medically unfit for-service. Ho had no criminal intent at Flint's, but used bad language and gripped Mr. "Flint by the turoat. lor assault aocused was fined ■10s., or U days' imprisonment, find for c-bscene language 10s., or seven days'. A young mnn, named "William I'hnrles Iveilsou, pleaded guilty to a :charge of stealing a can of milk worth -225. Ho was fined 205., and .costs 75., in the alternative 14 days' imprisonment. Joseph Andrews was suod for <639 arrears in maintenance for his wife, and was ordered to pay £5 within a month, or undergo 30»days' imprisonment. - Harold Chippy, a driver in the employ of Keir and Co., was charged with cruelty to a hoVse on M.ay 1. After Captain James Henry, Inspector to the S.P.C.A., had given evidence, the Magistrate dismissed the case, on the ground tluut overloading was not necessarily cruelty—there was a decided distinction. There might' bo a caso against accused for overloading, but that information could not stand. Nine .first offenders for insobriety were convicted and discharged.