MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 150, 20 March 1919, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

A BURGLARY CHARGE YOUNG MAN SENT FOR TRIAL

Tho circumstances of a burglary which occurred at tho shop of James nilliam Martin, boot- importer, Courtonay 1 lace, during January last wore investigated before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. A young man named Lawrence John Maloney was accused of the crime, it being alleged against him that ho broke and entered tho shop on fir about. January 1.0 and stole three pairs of boots and one pan of ladies' shoes, of the value of —6 95., and a sum of .4:6 15s. in money. Acting-Sub-Ispector Liucrsou conducted the prosecution.; , . Evidence was given l y Martin that on the evening of January 21 lie left a sum of ,£li 15s. in his shop. When ho went to open the premises on the following morning ho found that one of the panes of glass over tho l r alo If ck on the door had been broken. A piece of cardboard covered the aperture. On entering the shop he saw that it had been ransacked and that several pairs oi' ladies and men's boots were missing. The. door ol tho ofiice, which had been locked tho night before, was open and the monej which liad been left in the drawer was gone, , , , Lilian Chester stated that about January 25 she was staying at. accused s place, 111 Aro Street. She r.oiiced Maloney with a new pair ot' boots, and several days later she observed him placing a parcel under the. front of the house. The place of concealment was protected by a stone. Accused had a hagiul of | halfpence which ho said were his wages. He asked witness to have them changed at mi adjacent dairy, but she was unsuccessful in obtaining other money for tli em. Accused to witness: Did you not say that if I was stuck you'd rob anybody r— I never said such a. thine. All the timo you stayed at our house you kept inside?— Yes. _ ... ... You said you were afraid of the police.' 1 -I did not, as I had nothing to be afraid of. . Thomas Ede, a. brother-in-law of trie accused, denied that he had ever made Maloney a present of four pairs of Ixiots. A small boy named Arthur Charleston stated that one day in January ho was playing tall in Aro Street, and his ball went under Mnloney's house. On going underneath to recover it he caino across two pairs of tan boots and a pair of tan shoes. Ho took the two pairs of boots home and told his mother about finding them. Shortly afterwards Sergeant M'Lean took possession of the boots, and when witness searched for the shoes they were gone. . . Sergeant M'Lean said he interviewed the accused on February 18 in referonco to Hie boots found under the house. Accused denied all knowledge of Hie boots, and said that he bought tho pair which lie was wearing at a shop in Cuba Street. Witness searched the house,_ and in the front bedroom ho found a pair of ladies' tan allocs. Maloney said these had been given fe his wife by the Sisters of Compassion. Afterwards accused said his brother-in-law, Thomas Ede; had given him the boots, which ho brought homo in a sugar-bag. Plain-Clothes-Constable Black stated that in the course of a conversation he; had with tho accused the latter said he did not know how the boots came to be under his house. Accused admitted that ho had tried ,to blacken one of the pairs of tan boots, but said he had no special reason for doing so. Accused pleaded not guilty and was to the Supremo Court for trial. Bail was allowed in the sum of .£IOO.

ALLEGED ASSAULT. A youth named William Baimerman Rodgers was committed to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of having indecently assaulted a girl aged eix and a half years. The accused ivas alleged to have committed the offence on March i. Bail was allowed in the sum of ,£SO. A further charge against. Rodgers of common assault in respect to a girl aged five years was deferred for consideration until after the first case had been disposed' of by the Supreme Court. FAILURE TO.ATTEND DRILL. For failing to attend drill, E. A. M'lCinley was fined with costs d£l Us., in default fourteen days' military detention.