MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3099, 1 June 1917, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

MISAPPROPRIATION O^ FUNDS PLEA OF GUILTY '

Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, and heard the following cases:— Charles Henry Walters was charged with tho theft of XWi 12s. Did-, tho property of- tho New Zealand Automatic Bakery Company, Ltd. Inspector Alursack, who prosecuted, briefly explained tho position. Ho said the accused was employed by tho company at a wage of .£3 per week, and part, of his duty was to collect tho accounte from customers, and pay such amounts into tho office. Tho company, on balancing its books, found that there wcro certain discrepancies, and several, sums standing on tho books as owing by customers wcro found to have- been paid. Tho accused, when faxed, mado a lull confession of his guilt. Mr. H. I'. Brown, secrclary of thn company, corroborated tho statement of tho inspector. After accused's arrest, ho asked to bo allowed until Friday, when ho would pay a. substantial sum. He said that ho had misappropriated the money (o help a friend. Later, ho wrote to tho managing director of tho company admitting his guilt, rogrotting his lapse, antt stating that had ho been givou a. few days ho would have repaid most of tho money. . Sergeant Scott, who mado tho arrest, stated that accused admitted tho offence, and said that if given until Friday ho would pay tho whole amount. Accused said ho would plead guilty to tho theft, and later handed witness a statement, in which, tho amounts stolen wero sot out. Accused gavo overy assistance- in tho matter, and said ho hnd stolen iho monoy to save a friend. Accused pleaded guilty, and was commillcrl lo tho Supremo Court, for sentence.

; GUILTY OF BIGAMT. Albert Kaiti Wiig pleadod guilty to having committed bigamy. According lo tho statement of Inspector Marsaok, on November 18, MM, accused married a Miss Elizabeth Thomas at tho Rcgisli'Hv'p OIQco, Napier, and deserted his wife, very soon afterwards. Ho came to Wellington, and under an assumed namo got acquainted witli a. Miss Lillian Aliro Archer, and in August last year went through a form of marriago with her. John Biss, barman, of Napier, in his evidence-, stated that ho whs present at tho .Registrar's Office, Napier, when, accused married Miss Thomas. Tho hitter was at present iu Court. Witness signed tho marriago register as a witness of tho marriage. Lillian Alice Archer said sho first met accused in October, Win. Sho Iniow him as Bort do A'iuo, and he Toproscnted himself as a bachelor. They kept company, and on August 12, 1016, sho went through the form of marriago with accused at St. Thomas's Church, Wellington, and signed tho marriage certificate, 'i'hern was one child by Iho marriage. Serjeant O'Hara said ho camo in contact; with accused in connection, with iho Military Scrvico Act, and discovered that ho was passing under two names. Actiscd was known as Wiig wherei-ho worked, and as do Vino elsowhorc. When taxed with this accused said ho would explain tho matter, and mado a voluntary statement in respect to his bigamous marriage. Accused wan committed lo ( lho Sin promo Court for oeiitencc.

OTHER CASES. • A soldier, named Ernest Green waa convicted of being found by night without lawful excuso in an enclosed yard nt a hotel, and wafi ordered to bo handed over to tho military authorities. A remand lor a week was granted m the case of William Reynolds, charged with assaulting ISert J'orker. It was stated by Inspector Marsack that Urn injured inan was still unconscious, and that it might bo necessary to bring a moro serious charge against nccsued. Bail was refused in tho meantime. George Iticlmrds was charged, on the information of his wife, with tho fhoft of a piano. Mr, V, AV. Jackson appear-

Ed for accused, and stated that tho partics were before tho Court on Monday, when Mrs. Richards was granted a separation order, and afterwards Mrs. Richards went to the houso and removed somo of tho furniture, leaving tho piano, which tho accused sent lo a friend's houso for sal'o keeping. The ownership of tho piano was tho question involved. Mr. H. P. O'Leary, for plaintiff, said that tho facts wero not as stated. Tho accused went to his homo on Monday, and removed ovory stick of furniture. On tho application of Mr. P. W. Jackson a remand to Wednesday was granted, and bail was fixed in J25 and ono surety of .£25. For using obscene knguago in Lambton Quay, Alfred Davitt was fined -lfls., in default fourteen days' imprisonment. For insobriety Lilian Playter was fined 205., or to servo seven days' imprisonment, and Clifton Leslie M. Roberts was penalised in the sum of 10s., the alternative being three days' imprisonment. Three first offenders were convicted and discharged.

CIVIL CASES. Judgment was given for plaintiff by default in the following undefended civil cases:—Carlylo Beatson ltobertson and J. S. Watchorn and Co., Ltd., v. Eangi Jury, J2lB lis. 6d., costs £'i 19s. Btl.; Gold and Aacus (assignees of Kouert Kilpatrick) y. Arthur Rose, £3 ss. 7d., coats 10s.; Commercial Agency and Hayes and M'Keage, Ltd., v. A. VV. Scoullar, £VJ 55., costs £1 lie. 6d.; Vacuum Oil Co., v. J3. Summarsoll, iillO 18s. 2d., costs £5 155.; Adam Lamb v. QuartermasterSergeant Hewitt, £1 10s., costs 135.; Bristol Piano, Co., Ltd., v. Thomas Samuel Harlen, £9 165., costs £1 as. Bd.; Stanley Boock v. Alexander Low, £& 18s., costs 55.; Wellington Drivers' Union v. Walter Taylor, 18s., costs 55.; William Hughes Field v. H. Stafford, £2 lis., costs 10s.; ■Wellington Iron and Brass Moulders' Union v. W. Key 155., costs.ss.; Veitch and Allan v. T. tihort,\Ds. Id., costs ss. In a judgment summons case, L. Anson was ordered to pay the N.Z. Federated Furniture Trarto Industrial Association M Bs. lid. by June i, or servo four days in gaol. In tho caso of Donis Maher v. John Anderson, judgment was given for plaintiff for possession of a tenement and £1 3s. 9d,, with costs 16s.

CLAIM FOR, DAMAGES. / A caso which took up a considerable timo in tho hearing was that in which Sharp and Hornor, fruiterers, of Courtenay Place, for whom Mr. J. C. Peacock appeared, proceeded against E. Bolton, groscr, of Oriental Bay, represented by Mr. W. L. Kothenborg. to recover the sum of JEtt 55., in respect of damages to a motor-cycle. Tho action arose through a collision bctweon defendants s horse and cart and plaintiff's motor-cycle, it being alleged Hint tho bitter had been driven in a, negligent and reckless manner. After hearing tho evidence Mr. h. G. Eeid, S.M., gave judgment for plaintiff for £o 'and costs.

RESERVED JUDGMENT. Reserved judgment was delivered yesterday by Mr. L. G. Bold; S.M in the case of A. Duncan, butcher,, ot Nortlilaud, v. 15. Bolton, grocer, of Oriental Bav, a claim for .£lO .images in respect lo "tho -hiring of a horse. Judgment was nivrn for plaintiff for £6 and coslb.