MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 298, 5 September 1918, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

VOUNG MAN'S LAPSES FORGED HIS BROTHER'S • NAME A young farm labourer named Alonzo Albert Howison, 21 '}?%'??" peared before Mr W. k. Riddell, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, on a charge of having 'forged tho name of his brother Richard Hewisou to a Post Olfice, Savings Bank withdrawal slip for £10, and having uttered it to Rita Martini, postmistress at lorirut. Accused admitted tho oftencc, winch took placo on August 21. l" e citsed was also charged, with ha-vine stolen, at Hastings, on July oJ) an overcoat, valued at £7, the propertj of George Priest, farmer, of Pukeliou. It appeared that the accused was the son of a widow, who resided at loliangina, with another son, Hicham Hewison, who had ail account m the Post Office Savings Bank Ihe accused had been i» cninp, but had recently been discharged medically unlit. On August 10 he returned to Jus mother's home, but his mother and brother were out. He only remained at the placo a short time, but while there he stole his brother's pass-book, returned to Porirua, and operated on his brother's account.

Detective Torrance, who, in company with Chief-Detective Boddain, arrested the accused, stated that when taken into custody at a boardirghouse at Pouirua, Hewisou had £3 lis. 10d. in ■his possession, which he said was all that remained of- tho £10. Accused, also had a new camera aiu? some films, valued at £3 7s. 6d., which were paid out of tho money obtained from tho savings bank. Bwvison stated that ,the rest of tlio money had been spent in buying clothing and payirg for his board. In regard to the second charge, Howison admitted.having stolen the overcoat from a motor-car at Hastings. He sold the overcoat for 155., which, if given a chance, lie was prepared to refund to the second-hand dealer to whom he disposed of tho coat. On the fiiv?t charge accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, and on, the second information he wnS ordered to report to the Probation Officer once a fortnight for a period of twelve months. Ho would also hav» to repay the los. received' for the overcoat.

THEFT OP GOVERNMENT STORES. An elderly man named Roland Jocelyn Bailey pleaded. guilty to stealing a quantity of goods, valued at £19 19s. 5d., belonging to the New Zealand Government. The offences took placo between June and August Inst. Evidence was given by Captain Gray, Assistant Provost Marshall,'to the effect that accused was formerly employed in the medical storos of the Defence Department. Accused's house was searched,, and a quantity of, Government property, was found there. Chief-Detective Boddam-said tho man had been in the Dominion for twentyuiix) years, and nothing had ever been previously known against him. Ho had only been attached to ihe military forcos ior a low months. Two ol his soijs had gone to tho war; one had been reported missing, and |tlie other was wounded.

His. Worship said he would deal leniently with the accusod, who would be ordered to come up for [sentence when called upon,. OTHER CASES. On a charge of having stolen on February 22, at Wellington, a leather suit-case, two suits of clothes, and a quantity of other clothing, the property of William Pratt, Ernest Joseph Stanley Dockrill was remanded until September 11. For insobriety, William Cox was fined'los., in default l'orty-eight. hours' imprisonment. Joseph Scott was lined £3, iiii default fourteen days' imprisonment, for lining obscene language, and was convicted and discharged for drunkenness.'