MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 251, 17 July 1919, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THEFT OF MONEYS CADET PLEADS GUILTY A young man named Charles Percy Chase apeared on remand, before Mr. B. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, to answer charges of theft of Government moneys, totalling ,£I2S. Chief-Detective Boddani prosecuted, and Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for tho defendant. Tho facts of the cafe, as related by tho chief detective, wero that (he accused, who would be 18 years of age on November l(i next, was a cadet in the Immigration Department. He had been employed there since April 1 latf. Tho accused had access to the cash and also to money orders, etc., received by mail. A sum of ,£36 was received from a Mr. O'Conncll as deposit in connection vivh tiic (viymcnt of 'lie pa=snee to NewZealand of' Mrs. and Miss O'Counoll. Subsequently the money had to bo returned to Mr. O'Conncll, nnd the accused was given the letter containing the money to register and post. Prior to sending the money it was found that the money was £i short, and the amount had to be made up. Instead of posting the letter to Mr. O'Conncll, the accused tore the letter open, removed the money, and forwarded tho sum of 10s. to Iho Rev. Father O'Connell to be used "for prayers for the dead." He registered this letter, returned to the and placed the registration slip on O Connoil's file. This theft took place on May 21. On June 25 the accused took MO from the cash box. On July 1 sums of .£2B, £1, £12, and .£29. were missed from tho cash box. On examination of the bank deposit slips it was found in one case that instead of banking £W the accused had only hanked .£6. ' Evidence was given by lL'ictor Douglas Thomson, head of the Immigration Department, corroborating the statement of the chief detective. Witness told accused that the postal authorities had reported that a registered package addressed to the Rev. Father O'Conncll at W'anganui had been sent by one Ji Analley, and ho asked accused if ho knew anything about it. Accused replied, "Funnily enough, I have an uncle oi that name." As to the theft on July 4, witness said that ho left his offico at 4.20 p.m. He securely locked his desk, which contained a cheque for .£2:5,. a bank receipt for £W 10s.. a money order for £13, a money order for ill, and J:23 in cash. On returning the next day he found that his roller-top desk had been forced open, and the contents were scattered about. The cheques, money orders, and loose change had been removed. Mr. Jackson: How much is the Department out in actual cash?

AVitness: .£77. ' ■~,,.,! Mr. Jackson: You know that of that amount .£24 has been returned? Witness: I understand so. Helen Joss M'Xenzie, clerk, employed at the Immigration Department, Oeorge Hart, supervisor R*gistration,.Brauch at the General' Post Office, W wing ton, Bernard James Armstrong, registration clerk. Wanganui Chief Post Office, gave formal evidence. ~ . Detective-Sergeant. Scott said that on July 5, together with Detective Torrenco, he commenced investigations in connection with tho thefts, and interviewed the awiisnl as to tho thefts on July 4. Ihe accused said that he mot a friend after work and played "pool" till about B p.m. He wont home, had dinner, and then played poker till 8 p.m. He then ment to a tailor's and paid £o on , a suit. Ho was in receipt of .£95 per year, A-irt lodging allowance,. and .120 a Jtur from an uncle in Calcutta. Ho paid 27s 6d. per week for boaid and residence; Following this witness i ntw 'J lc the accused, when the theft of the moneys was admitted. He adnuted returning to tho office on the afternoon ot July 4, and ransacking Mr.'Thomsons de«k Witness then accompanied accused to" 53 Boulcott Street. Ho went out on to the balcony, reached down, and puUea out from the spouting a Throe Castles cigarette tin, which contained .5.24 in notes and coin. ~,.,. , The accused pleaded guilty, and was committed, to tho Supremo Court for sentence. , Mr Jackson said that arrangement, had been made tor tho accused to he sentenced at 10.30 a.m. on 1 riday.. Counsel asked for bail, but His Worship he d that it was not a case where bail could JJ?- ra jack'son said that it was a. particularly hard case. The accused was an orphan, and it was. a pitr th»t h. would have to remain in gaol till indaHis Worship: I don't wish, any comment on it. I cannot admit him to bail. Call the next case. ROBBED A SOLDIBR, A charge of theft of Jsl 'it. Gd. in money from the person of Charles Macs, a returned soldier, was preferred against Edward John Day Stokes. On the application of Inspector Marsack the cnargo was reduced to ono of common assault. According to this evidence, accused -had been "sponging" on the soldier all day. Tuey wandered to a boardinghouse, where the'soldier fell asleep, and whilst in that condition accused was' caught redhanded going through, the soldier's po'.kcts. ' Constable Anderson actually saw the accused taking money from tho soldiers pocket, and putting' it into his own. His Worship, in entering a conviction, said that the accused had accepted tho soldier's hospitality, and then robbed him. Ho would be sentenced to two months' imprisonmout with hard labour. ONE MONTH FOR STEALING. A charge of theft of Xll ss. in money, the property of Honry Edward Oscar Constable, and others, was preferred against lioberc Arthur Ball. , Evidence was given to tho effect that the accused was a cook at the telegraph linesmen's camp, at Fcathcrston, and at varous times was given money lo settle accounts. It was found that he had not been paying them, and he admitted having converted the moneys to his own The accused, who pleaded guilty, had been previously convicted :of thott, and. was sentenced to one montn's imprisonment. OTHER POLICE'CASES. A3 a result of a disturbanco between a number of firemen at the Wellington Hotel, Robert Waltham and David Allen were jointly charged with disorderly behaviour while drunk. Waltham was, in addition, charged with using obscene language. According to the police the licensee of tho hotel had to call up for assistance,'as tho defendants wero very violent. For disorderly behaviour each accu&ed was fined J2, and for tho language Waltham was nned an additional £2. i A seaman named Henry Wray was char"ed with drunkenness, using obscene language and with damaging a wooden, grating, 'valued at 10s„ the property ot the New Zealaud Government.- Ihe defendant was arrested for drunkenness and then used the language complained of On being placed in the cell immediately smashed tho wooden door grating.' Couyicted and discharged tor drunkenness, Wray was fined .£2 tor the language, and was convicted and ordered to make good the dainaga done. In Ghuznce Street, on Tuesday afternojii, J'lioma., Miner was arrested for disorderly behaviour whilst drunk, and on tho way to tho cells ho assaulted Police Constable Percy Sawyer. lis face gave evidence that ho wns -worsted m the Ug.ht which followed. Fined Xl lor disorderly conduct, ho was fined .£2 tor assaulting tho polico constable. - . Maud Grant was committed to the Pakatoa Homo for twelvj, months for breaking tho conditions ol her nrobibitionorde*. For drunkenness sho was convicted and discharged. •„,.•„ A senfconco of seven days, lmpnsonment with hard labour, was imposed on Alfred Hanson, who admitted comm.tting a grossly indecent act in Lgmont SI Fm ' insobriety, William llnroM Cosgrove and John KusscU were each lined Sl« flwt ofienders were fined 1 =• each., and lour others were lined *.. each. , ..