MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3046, 5 April 1917, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THEFT OF A BOX OF BUTTER.

'3fir. L- G. Reid, S.M., preided at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday. John Joseph Drew, a watersido worker, was charged with the theft of two boxes each containing 561b. of butter', of the total value of £8 17s. 4d,, the property of the Wellington Heat Export' Company. ■ • ' Inspector Marsack prosecuted, and Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for the accused. According to the evidence given, butter was being loaded oh, to a vessel in port. The butter was brought in railway trucks from the Wellington Meat Export Company's cool stores. Work j ceased at 9.85 p.m., when there were still GO boxes of' butter left in tho trucks. The truoks were screwed up and made secure for tho night. The following morning the tally showed three boxes were :missing. A constable who was watching the men when they knocked off work saw two. men each, carrying a bag; he followed them, and saw then deposit the bags in the railway yard in Bunny Street. He Went over and found the bags and discovered what they contained. The constable, with another policeman, kept watch in the neighbourhood, and Saw a man ■ go to the placo where the boxes of butter had been secreted and take up one of the bags. The constables rushed out from their hiding place to arrest the man, who, however, dropped the bag and made off. After a chase of about 400 yards a constable got -up with his quarry and arrested him. The accused was the man arrested. Accused pleaded guilty to the theft ■ of one box of butter only, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed "in one surety of £75. ■■••■ ■ . ... ..--. , MISAPPROPRIATION OF MONEY. George Heydon was charged on the information of the New Zealand Express Company with failing to account for money (6s. 6d.) received. Mr. D. R. Hoggard appeared for the informant and Mr. H. F. O'Leary for accused. Mr. Hoggard stated that it was the old story of a carter receiving money and failing to account for it. The New Zealand Express Company did not -wish, to pross for a heavy penalty, ■ but it was necessary to impress upon emplo}'ees that this sort of thing could not be permitted to go on. The'accused was a.married man;' ". Mr. H. F. O'Leary, for accused, said he -hsid been paid for 4} hours' work (£l, 9s. 3d.), arid accounted for threo hours (£1 2s. 9d.), the difference being 6s. 6d., and suggested that the.accused aright bo convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. The Magistrate, however, imposed a fine of 40s!, and ordered Heydon to-refund the 6s.\ 6d. .-' ' OTHER CASES. Patrick Wilton, who .appeared on a charge.'of being an idle and disorderly person, in that he had insufficient means-of eupport, was ficroanded. for a week for medical observation. Oliver Ohittle was sentenced to seven clays' imprisonment for being found in a bathroom' on the waterfront at 1 a.m. without lawful excuse. ' • Harold Frederick William Ward was remanded on bail of £10 until' April 12 on a, charge-of stealing scrap'load of the value of 325:, the property of John Patrick 'Casey. . . •: i\ , Percy Erickson was remanded to ap- : pear at Wanganui on a charge of theft of a cash-box containing £10, and also theft of a motor-cyclo valued at £35.' For insobriety, William Herbert Vincent and William, Corrick. both old offenders, werb each fined 205., in default seven days' imprisonment.. Three first offenders wero convicted and discharged. • ' \. '■•..' ,!•.,' ;