MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 209, 23 May 1918, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

A BORROWED OVKRCO4T. Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., presided at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, and dealt with the poiico cases. Erick Richard Robert IVnniie was charged that on May 17, i 913, at Waimate, he did commit theft of one overcoat, valued at M 15s, the property of Herbert Schumacher. Detective-Sergeant Cox, who prosecuted, stated that Tammie and' Schumacher wero employed in the same gang by the Post and Telegraph Department at Wainmte. Tammie borrowed the overcoat, and aleo .£l, from Schumacher, stating that he desired to go to Christcliurch to sell a patent which he had invented in cbnneotion with the manufacture of margarine. The undertaking was that lie was to return the coat five days later. Tammie did not return to AVaimate, buit after going to Christchuroh left New Zealand, fie retnmed shortly after the dutbreak of war in 19U, and was interned. The complainant Schumacher had gone to France with the Twelfth Reinforcements. Tammie, when interned, informed the military officer in command that he wished to make good the loss of tho coat, but he was asked to let it stand over. He informed the Magistrate' that he did not know what had become of the coat, and that he was still prepared to mako good the value of the coat. ' In view of this, and on his handing the amonnt to the police, the Magis. trate dismissed the information.

William James Kennedy was charged that on Tuesday last he did obtain a meal, value Is. 3d., at the Empire Restaurant by means of fraud. Kennedy went into the restaurant t-.nd had a meal. When, asked for payment he flatly refused and left the restaurant. He then entered n Chinaman's shop and bought 6ome tomatoes, which, however, he paid for. Kennedy was arrested, ana on being searched sd. was found in his pocket, and later a halfcrown was found concealed in one of his boots, and he professed not to know how it got there. .Kennedy, in giving evidence, said lie oame to tho city from the back-blocks on Saturday and had been drinking, and was therefore muddied when he went into the restaurant. He admitted having been before the Court on several previous occasions, but latterly had lived honestly.' He asked for n chance in order that he might go to a job that was offered him. He was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Thomas Andrew Roche, who was found helplessly drunk in Manners Street, was remanded for a week.