MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 58, 3 December 1918, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

...SHORT LIST OP POLICE CASES. ' At tfie Magistrate's Court yesterday Mr. F. V. Frozer, S.M., presided, ' and dealt wiih the police oases. For insobriety'one first.offender, who failed'to appear, forfeited his bii.il. Anotlier first offender, a respectably-dressed elderly mail, who tool; a'little to 6 much whisky to euro influenza, was given the benefit of the doubt, and .formally convicted, the Magistrate adding: "The next time you mix influenza ond whisky be careful and,go to bed." David Alexander M'Leod, nt present serving a sentence of twelve months for being a rogue and a vagabond, was charged that between August 2 and 12, at Napier, he obtained the sum of £1 from Henry Hill by falsely representing that ho owned (100 acres of land at Nuhaka. and had 5(10 sheep and 100 head of cattle. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, to follow upon the sentence he is now serving. A man .named William Smith, alias Cox, for whom, Mr. P. W. Jackson .'appeared/ was charged that on November 3 ho stole £1 18s., a metal watch, and poc-ket-knife, the property of Thomas Augustus Palmer. The defendant and complainant lived in the same house in Walter Street. Between 7 and 8 a.m. "on. the date'in question, the complainant atroke, and saw a man leaving his, room. When he discovered that his money and watch ■fere, missing, the police were ah o«ce communicated, with. When questioned by a constable, the accused stata'd that he had no money, but when ho was searched at the police station .CI. Ifls. Gd. was found in his possession. ' The watch and the knife were found on the floor of the room occupied by Accused—the watch was under the bed, and the knife •near the dressing table. Mr. Jaekson v contended thiit as three men were in accused's room, fch(> evidence was insufficient to. fix the guilt on Smith. The Magistrate said he hat] strong suspicion that'the accused hail at least a share in the theft, but in Hie absence of positive evidence ho must dismiss tho charge. He did not think.a jury would convict him.