MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3128, 5 July 1917, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

WHOLESALE THEFTS EX-BARMAN TURNS BURGLAR If]-. W. G. Riddell, S.M., presided at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, aud dealt with tlic police- cases-

George Cooke was , lit one time engaged a? a porter and assistant barman at tho Hotel Cecil, and after he left there ho turned burglar and secured a large amount of booty during his Bhort career. Thefts of liquor wero his principal forte, and the detective force has long been on tho watch. Detective Sorgoant Cox and Plain-clothes Constable Black had Coolse under surveillance for a period of threemonths, and owing to his antecedents and tho fact that tho thefts wero mainly of liquor the detective fixed upon him as the probable thief, and it was not long beforo surmise became conviction. Yesterday Coolco was- charged as follows:— (1) On various dates between December 1, 1916, and May 31, 1917, at Wellington, did on thirty different occasions break into tho Hotel Cecil and steal 150 cases of whisliy and other liquor, of a total value of £450. the property of Jamca M'Parland: (2) on or about May 4, 1917, did break and enter into tho Masonic Hotel and steal twenty-five bottles of whisky and other liquor of the value of £14, tho property of h. V. O'Brien; (3) on Juno 9 did break anrt enter tho shop of George aifd Kersloy, Ltd., and steal 11 coney seal jackclß. of tho total valuo of <0180; (4) on Juno 16, did break and enter tho warehouse of Goodwill, Johnson and Co-, and steal four cases of bouzinc and sixteen tins of lubricating oil, of tho total value of £24; (5) on Juno 18 did break and enter tho warchoueo of Kichard 0. Ki.nvig and steal nineteen rolls of dresß material, of tho value of £135. Thore were in all thirty-four different ollences, and tho total valuo of the proporty stolen was £803, of which about £300 worth hod been recovered.

Chief Detective Boddnm conducted tho prosecution, nnd accused was not represented by counsel. Tho proprietors and otheru connected with tho various establishments that had been robbed gavo evidence.

Detective Sergeant Cox, who was mainly responsible for bringing accused lo justice, stated that when ho accosted Cooko and accused him of tho burglaries he said, "You have out-generallcd me. I will confess." Accused made two statements in writing', in which ho made a full confession, giyiug' details of tho various thefts.

Cooke pleaded guill.y to all charges, and was committed lo the.Supreme Court for sentence.

.DRAPERS VICTIMISED. Eli7.iiboth Grown and Kathleen M'Onskell, for wlionijllr. ]3. C!. Levvoy nppeared, pleaded guilly lo Hie theft on Juno 25 ol three coats, one costume, and two coat, frocta, of the total Value of £26 17s. 6t1., tho property of James Smith, ■ Ltd. The wdmen appeared to have been helped iu their operation by a girl employee, wild had already beou punished.

Both accused were committed to tho Supromo Court for sentence, bail being allowed in £15 and one snroty of £15 respectively.'

Thomas Montgomery, for whom Mr. 0. Booro appeared, pleaded not guilty to the chargo that between April 28 and May 30 he did receiyo six books, of discount coupons, value £3, from a youth, tho property of Georgo and Georges, drapers, Cuba Street, knowing the same to have been stolen. According ■to tho evidence, the youth who stole the books was in the employ of Georgo and George, and induced the defendant to cash the coupons. The defendant was told that the books, were found iu the shop. Ho received' a commission of Is. for cashing the first book, and 2s. 6d. to 3s. for the. subsequent books. Tho Magistrate held that thero was Eomo doubt as to whether tho accused know that, tho books were stolen, and consequently ho dismissed tho information.

OTHEK OASES. A married man named John Townhill, with four children, pleaded guilty to tho theft of 121b. of meat, value 13s. 9d., tho property of the Now Zealand Bacon and Moat Company, a fine of 405., in default seven days' imprisonment, was imposed.

dlaf Strom, for masquerading in a uniform while not a member of the New Zealand Forces, was fined £3, tho alternative being twenty-ono days.' jni'prisonmcnt. William Kiinmird Chisliolm ploaded not guilty to breaking and entering the dwell-ing-house of Mrs. dement Ellis, 34 Hargreaves Street, by night with intent to commit a crime. According to tho ovidonco the occupants left the house early in tho evening, and on returning at 11 p.m. found tho accused in the house. He told them he had como to tell them lie had enlisted. Ail examination of tho house showed that tho drawers in the bedroom had been opened, but nothing had been stolen. Accused was committed to tho Supremo Court for trial. ;

Michael Joseph M'Cann, on four charges of theft, was further remanded for a week.

John Itobert Nicolle was again remanded for a week on two charges of indecent assault on a girl under sixteen years of age. Bail was allowed as previously. A remand for a week was granted in the case of John Marshall, who was charged with being an incorrigible roffiio in that he had insufficient lawful means of support. ' .■

For insobriety one, first , offender was convicted and discharged..