MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3126, 3 July 1917, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THEFT 01" ■ OVERCOAT BY A GIEL. At tile Magistrate's Court yesterday Mr. L. <.(. item, 0.j.1., wits on thu JBencii. A gin, il years oi age, was uuarged that ueuveen Ainu 17 anu dime 25 siie mu sieut a numuer ot overcoats, of the total wuuo ot £jls. ilf. A. J. ljuku appeared lor aucuseu, who pleaded gmity. According lo Mo facts oi tut! cuao uie accused Ji.ja ucea in mo employ of clotliiug luuuut'tusiurorß in tne cit.v lor n period oi about iwo ycar6, aud Jmtt given (satisfaction. Tlicrc were a numUpr ot other lctniilo employees, aud between tiio dates mentioned a number of overcoats belonging to tiio employees disappeared. The accused had stolen them and sold them to a secondhand dealer, receivitig in all £1 Os. 6d. Mr. A. J. Luke, on behalf o£ accused, said t-hn girl had respectable parents and was well provided for. There was no reason for committing the thefts beyond tho foolishness of a young girl. Ho urged that tho ends of justice would be served if she wore convicted and ordered to como up for sentence when called upon. The Magistrate said he was reluctant to send the girl to prison, and thought a line would meet tho case. A fine of 40s. was imposed, tho accused was ordered to refund the 20s. 6d. obtained from the secondhand dealer, and' to report to the police weekly for a period of two months. For insobriety Bartholomew Mahony, with a record of 98 previous convictions, extending over somo years, was fined 405., in default seven days' imprisonment. Thomas Mylett and Juan Calvine were each fined 205., with tho option of serving seven days in gaol; William Hayden was fined 103., in tllo alternative throe days' imprisonment. John Lilowall. for being drunk while in chargo of two horses and a vehicle, in Ballanco Street, was penalised to tho extent of 205., tho alternative boinir seven days" imprisonmenti Three-first offenders were convicted and discharged.

MAINTENANCE CASES. Maintenance cases were dealt with as follow:— William Sargent was ordered to pay £1 within fourteen days, in default seven days' imprisonment, also to pay 10s. a week off arrears totalling £4. A separation order was made against George Cornelius Shaw, who was also ordered to pay 10s. a week towards his wife's maintenance.

DRUNK OR SOBER? The whole of the afternoon was taken up with the case of Andrew S. Waddell, au elderly man, who went to the Lambton Police Station on June 22 to complain about being turned out of licensed premises.. Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., was on the Bench, and Mr. P. W. Jajkson appeared for the accused. Inspector Marsack prosecuted.

Six constables gave evidence showing that tha man was under the influence of liquor from about 5.20, and tho licensee of* the Grand Hotel stated that Waddell was in the bar of the hotel about 5 p.m., and he. instructed tho attendants not to serve him as he was under the influence of liquor.

Waddoll gave evidence on his own behalf, and gave a general denial to the statements that ho was drunk. He stated that he had only two drinks in the Grand Hotel. Accused said ho had had no more drink after he left the Grand Hotel. He was both excited and angry at the incivility ho had met with, and the coarso langnage used towards him. He swore that the statements made by the constable were absolutely false. 3le was arrested in the station and treated like q dog. He had not tasted whisky this year and had not a flask of whiskv on him when he was arrested.

The Magistrate, in reviewing the evidence, said ho must come to the conclusion that on the night in question Waddell was drunk, ne convicted and fined him 205., in default 48 hours' imprisonment.