MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2865, 1 September 1916, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

POLICE CASES. Sir. L. G. lleid, S.M., presided at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. Bertio_ llampson, alias l'\ Carruthers, alias Williams, for whom Mr. J. I*'. Dickson appeared, and David Leckie, and David Devon, alias John Johnston, alias Jag. Eyan. for both of whom Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared, were charged jointly with the theft of i! 10 10s., the property of Mrs. Agnes Duncan. Inspector Hendrey, in detailing the case, stated that Mr. and 51 ra. Duncan were restaurant proprietors. Last Wednesday morning tho threo accuscd went to the restaurant, and eat down at a table. 'I hey followed Mrs. Duncan, who was carrying 'her handbag, in which there were eight pound notes, two ten shilling notes, and ,£7 10s. in eilver, into tho restaurant. Mrs. Duncan placed her bag on the counter and went to tho back of the room to speak to her husband. When she came back towards t'he accused she discovered that her bag had disappeared. She proclaimed her loss, and immediately heard the click of the bag. She accused Hampson of having tho bag, and the other two told him to be a man and give back the money. The notes were placed on, tho table, and the bag produced. A handkeroliief in the bag was found in the pocket of one of the accused. Corroborative evidence was given by Mrs. Duncan and two female employees, and the constable who arrested the accuscd.

No evidence was tendered for the defence, but Mr. Dickson pointed out that Hampson had been drinking at tho time. Mr. O'Leary, for tho two other accused, said that there was nothing in the evidence to show that "Leckie and Devon were connected with the theft, with which view the Magistrate agreed. Hampson was found guilty, and Inspector 1 . Hendrey pointed out that there were several previous convictions against accused. Hampson was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, ' and the other two were discharged. ,' J John Turner, alias John Henry Williams pleaded guilty to the theft of 22 electric switches, of the value of 305,, the property of Peter Robert Baillie, According to Chief' Detcctive Boddam, the accused stole the goods from one electrician and sold them to another for lis. Accused was fined .£3, in default 21 days' imprisonment, and ordered to refund the lis.

Edwin James Sheard, for whom Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared, pleaded guilty to the theft of .£1 lis. 9d. in .Christchurch. It was, explained that accused was collecting -Inoney on commission, but prior to doing so he had done other work for the complainant, 'and assumed that he could set the money he had collected against what he thought was due to him for this work. He ~waa convicted and ordered to .refund tho amount, ,£1 lis. 9d., in default seven days' imprisonment. For insobrjety, Benjamin Hopkins, with three previous convictions was fined IGs., in default three days' imprisonment, and a prohibition order operative for twelve months was issued against him. Frank V. Gully with ono previous . conviction was fined 205., in default three days'. imprisonment-, and Joseph Murphy, with two previous convictions, was fined 205., in default seven days' imprisonment.

CIVIL GASES. Mv. W. G. Riddell, S.M., heard the civil cases in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. In the case of Margaret Adams v. Henry Wnlden and George Buckley Walden, exetijttoi's of the estate of the late George Walden, a claim for JMS for services rendered as nurse, Mr. Eiddell, in his reserved judgment, said the plaintiff's case was weak, a.ad nonsuited her without allowing', costs. Mr. P. AY. .Tacksoil appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Howard Hill for the defendants. The defence was that the money had been actually paid in October last.

UNDEFENDED CASES. Judgment for plaintiff by default wag given in the following undefended civil actions:--]?. G. Dun and Co. (assignees of Duncan M'Lean) v. T. Annat, -jft Is., costs IGs.; Commercial Agency, Ltd., v. P. J. Daly, ;£5 6s. Id., casts eEI 7s. 6t1.; Wellington. Drivers' Union v. Robert Walter Johnston, XI 45., costs 55.; Griffiths and Co. v. R. Scott, 253., costs only; N.Z. Acetylene Gas Xightirig Company v. Arthur Wade, .£ll3 4s. 6d., costs .-£5 16s. 6d.i Wellington Plumbers' and Gasfitters'* Union v. Samuel Slierwood, 55., costs 55.; Miramar Borough Council v.. Annie .T. Best, .£SB 19s. 2d., costs-.£3-Ms.; .Vacuum' Oil Company v. A. E. Hardcastle, J!o 155., costs ..£1 Ss. ed. ■ "

DEFENDED CASES. In the case of G. E. Blake and Co. v. T. Jones, claim for .£7 10s., plaintiff was nonsuited, and ordered to pay costs 21s. G. Jones sued G. C. Black for £i 3s. Cel., a,nd obtained judgment for with costs 6s. Henrietta Burrow v. John Alfred Pearl, claim .£6. Judgment.was given

for the plaintiff for the amount claimed, with ,£1 16s. costs. In the case of W. Murphy v. Mary Chapman, claim .£l3 for moneys baa and received, after hearing tile evidence judgment was given for plaintiff for ,£l2 Os. 9(1., with costs £5 Bs. 0