MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2906, 19 October 1916, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

A YOUNG SOLDIER'S LAPSE. Mr. L, G.,Reid, 5.M.,, presided in the Magistrate's Court yesterday:— Frederick George Smith, alias' Burbury, 31 years of age,, and who was a member of the Twentieth Reinforcements, evidently had a good time'in the City at other people's expense till he was run to earth by lJetective.-Ser-geant Rawle. Smith visited the H<ptel Cecil on one occasion, and during the absence of one of the guests (Samuel Myerscough) he appropriated the latters overcoat, valued at 3Us., and a safety razor and blades, valued nt 10s. 6d. Then accuscd visited, tho soldiers' hostel in Newtown and took £23 14s. in money, and a silver watch and handbag, the total value of which was assessed at £25 145., the property of Mary ISwart. Previous to this it was alleged that he had visited the Carlton Hotel, and while on the premises he had taken two gold bangles, valued at ; £11 irs., tho property of Kitty Burns. During the two days Smith was enjoying himself he spent'money at the rate of £10 per day for two days at least. ,ln rogard to the 'charge ot the theft of tho bangles, Smith pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. To tlio other two charges ho pleaded guilty, and was committed to tho Supremo Court for sentence.' ' A MISSING WITNESS. On account of not being ablo to find the principal witness, Inspector Hendroy stated he was unablo to go on with tho case against Victor Reginald Haslem, who had two-charges preferred against' him of having indecently assaulted a male. Under the eircumstances the only thing to do was' to release the prisoner, at any rato for the i time being. If tlie witness could bo found accused could be rearrested. His Worship concurred, and dismissed tho information.' . OTHER OASES. ; . Richard Hacking, John Wren, and Edward Lines were charged with the theft of throe dozen boxes of wax vistas, valued at Is. 6d., from tho steamer Nikau. On the application of Inspector Hondroy a remand was granted till October 25. The Inspector stated that inquiries would be made meantime, and probably • tho charge would be reduced to ! one of common theft. At present the charge was an indictable'one, and iij. tho Inspector's opinion it appeared too trivial to send to the Supreme Court. Frederick Edward TJpliam was charged With having forged a military discharge, and causing John Clarence Fannin to act upon it as being genuine. After'hearing .the evidence, the Magistrate said that, he doubted whether a jury would convict accused.. Ho would be oommitted for trial, however, bail being fixed at £25. ■ Nellie Wells, who was deemed to be an idle and disorderly person, and who had consorted with reputed prostitutes, was sent to prison for a moiiith. Mar-, garob Williams, Maude Grant, and Teenie Rogers, who . were similarly charged, were also sent to prison for a month, while Stella Taylor, an incorrigible roguo and a reputed prostitute, was sentenced to threo months' imprisonment. For 'having committed , a grossly .indecent act, William Parker was fined 405., in dofault seven days' imprisonment. For drunkenness he was convicted and discharged. John Kennedy and Thomas Thompson had a fight in Customhouse Quay, and the offence cost them a fine of 10s. each, the alternative being three days' imprisonment. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure For Coughs and Colds, never fails.* Most of Amsterdam is lniilfc on piles, the'town ball standing oil no fewer than 13.000.