MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 233, 26 June 1919, Page 10

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

SERIOUS CHARGE

SOLDIER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL , A chargo of indecent assault was pre- j lerrecl against a soldier in uniform naincd Julian Huggens before Mr. F. V. i'razer. S.M., lit the Magistrate's Court yesterday.' Sergeant' Willis conducted the prosecution, and tho accused was unrepresented by counsel. The court was cleared during tho hearing of the evidence. The accused pleaded not guilty, and iviis committed to the Supremo Court for trial. THEFT OP A GOLD WATCH. A soldier named Ernest Tristian Dewar was charged with the theft of a gold watch and chain, valued at £11 the property of James William Nicholson. Chief-Detective Boddam prosecuted, and Mr. 0. W. Mellisli represented the accused. Evidence was given by Nicholson, who is also a returned soldier, that on June 10 he left the Miramar Hospital and enmo to town to the Post Office, whofo he met the accused, whom ho had known tor some years previously. Together thev went to an hotel and had a number of drinks, and after that witness's min'd became a blank. He recovered nt the hospital and found that his gold presentation watch', chain, and a medal were missing. He then reported the matter to the police.

To Mr. jfollish: Dewar bore an excellent character. Ho did not think ho would have given the watch to the accused, as lie prized it greatly. It had been given to him on his return from the. South African War.

Detective James Torrence gavo evidence' as to recovering the watch from a pawnbroker, and the arrest of the accused. Detrar admitted having pawned Ilio watch, in the name of "H. A, Williams." He said that Nicholson had given him the watch.

James Batten, manager of a. pawnbroker's shop in Cuba Street, said that the accused .came into his ehop on June 12. and endeavoured to eel! a watch Witness advised him not to sell it, but later he (rave him £~> on account. The accused said that the watch was, his, and he had bought it in England. Tho accused pleaded guilty, and waa committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed in the sum of i.IOO and one surety of .£IOO. BICYCLE AND OVERCOAT STOLEN. Pleas of Riiilty were entered by a man named William Hunt when charged with the theft of a bicycle, valued at .£G 10s., the properly of Sing Wall Tie, and also with tho theft of a. military overcoat, valued at 255., the property of the Gov : eminent. Evidence in tho case of the theft of the cycle was to the effect that Tie left the machine outside his shop on the morning of June 20 last, and nn hour later found that it was missing. The machine was subsequently recovered in an auction room, where accused had disposed of it for XI. When questioned, accused said that he had purchased tho bicycle from'a man in the stret for 30s. In tho case of the overcoat accused had presented a letter from the Repatriation Department to the medical authorities in Buckle Street Street, mid while there lie was seen to leave with an overcoat across his shoulder. The overcoat had not been recovered.

Evidence was also given to the effect that the necused Rppeared to be mentally defective, and in view of this the Magistrate remnnded accused for a week fir medical observation and report.

INSOBRIETY. Three first offenders for drunkenness wero fined ss. each, and a fourth was fined 10s. For a like offence John Dobson was fined 10s.. and Dennis Sloane, in addjlion to being fined ill,'v'ns made (he subject of a prohibition order.