MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 173, 11 April 1918, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

DISAPPEARANCE OF A CASHBOX FIREMEN CHARGED At tho Magistrate's Court veslerdav Mr. W. G. Kiddell, SSL, presided, and dealt with the police cases. Fred. Elliott and Henry Denham, two firemen, were charged that on April 2 they did steal from the dwellinghouse of Angus Turner, Brooklyn, a eashbox containing £3\ lis. Id. in money and three Wai' Certificates, live Savings Bank books, three insuranco books, threo life insurance policies, and leaso of premises, nf the total value of .£35, tho property of Angus Turner. Chief Detective Bodditm prosecuted, and Hie accused were not represented oy counsel. Angus Turner, tobacconist and hairdresser, carrying on business / at No. 2 Todman Street, Brooklyn, stated that he resided on the premises On April 2 ho had his eashbox in tho shop, and it contained .£3l lis. Id. in money and the document? named in the charge. The eashbox was locked, and was kept underneath the coanter of the shop. He had occasion to leave the shop between 2 p.m. and 2.15 p.m. on the day in question, and was absent for a few minutes. About five minutes fitter returning to the shop he mLssed the eashbox. Neither of the accused had been in the shop while he was there. On April i, in consequence of something he had heard, ho went to lleuben Avenue and found the eashbox in that street. Tho accused lived from 100 to 150 yards further up the street from where tho eashbox was found. Minnie May Hayes, wife of Edward Hayes, driver, living in Brooklyn, said that on the afternoon on April 2 she saw the accused get out of a tramcar. and a few minutes later Denham went into Turner's shop. They were under the inlluence of drink. Denham looked over Turner's counter, and then beckoned to the other man to come in, and the latter went just inside the shop. Witness crossed over to the other side of the street and walked past Turner's shop. She retraced he:. - .steps and saw Denham get over from the back of Turner's counter and lc.v/8 the shop with sonicthin" under his arm. He joined Elliott and they walked towards Reuben Avenue. John M'Mahon, a lad 13 years of age, said that on the afternoon of April 2 he saw the two accused get out of a tramcar, and one of them went into Turner's shop and came out with something under his arm. Kenneth Herbert Ivar, 14 years of age, and Alice Violet Naulls, eight years of ago, gave cnrrob"i'ativo evidence. Detective-Sergeunt Scott, who, with Detective Torrance, arrested tho men, gave details as to the arrest. When questioned Denham denied having been in the shop that day, and Elliott said he had never been in the shop in his life. A search was made of their room, but there was no 6ign of the eashbox. When searched Denham had 295. on him, and Elliott over £3. None of the documents had been recovered. Both accused pleaded not guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for trial. THREE MONTHS FOR THEFT. James Rammer, a coloured man, pleaded guilty to the theft at Patea of a watch and greenstone chain valued at .£l2, the property of Hiro Marino. The accused was in the employ of the complainant, and on tho day he committed tho theft ha left his employment went to Wanganui, and sold tho goods to a second-hand dealer for £2. Ho was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. OTHER CASES. Thomas Farley and Edward Carney, firemen on an oversea vessel, wero charg. Ed with using threatening behaviour in Grey Street on April 9, whereby a brcacli of the peace was occasioned. They wero each fined 205., in default seven days' imprisonment; and Thomas Farley, whs was further charged with using obsceno language, was fined <E3, with the •alternative of fourteen days' imprisonment. Nellie Prentice and Wong Tack wore charged with assisting in the management of a house of ill-fame, No. 45 Frederick Street. They wero rcmandrt until to-morrow. Wong Tack was allowed bail in ifilOO and .one surety of .£IOO or two of .£SO" each. On tho previous day three men and a woman were cnarged in connection with the samo house and remanded! to Friday, and. through receipt of incorrect information it was stated that Mr. H. B. Evans appeared for these defendants, but Mr. Evnns was not in any way connected with the case. For insobriety, Henry James Sinimonds and Michael Gregory wore each fined 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment, and four first offenders wore leniently dealt with.