MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 259, 29 July 1919, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

FIRST OFFENDER IMPRISONED

ON CHARGE OF THEFT

■ A sentence of 14 days' imprisonment was imposed by Mr. E. Page, S.M., on a young man named James l'arrelk who deiiied a charge of Iheit of an ink-pad, two rubber stamps, two books, a tin of hoot polish, and a .303 cartridge, of a total value of 7s. Gd., the property of the Defence Department. The accused was a member of the crew of the steamer Port Pirie.

Senior-Sergeant Willis said that the accused was found on the premises of the Base Records Department, and on being searched the property mentioned in the charge was found in his possession.

Michael Lnrey, Government messenger, said that he saw the accused about the premises and handed him over to Constable Dudding, who gave evidence as to finding stolen properly on accused. The accufpd had been drinking, and was s'.ightly under the influence of liquor when arrested. v

Tli? accused admitted that he was oil tlr' i-ounds. but denied the theft. Ho s'ild lis had been Riven the articles by a returned • soldier three Tfeeks previously. In answer to His Worship the accused said that he did not .desire to go into the witness-box, ns the statement he had made was the truth. He desired His Worship to call evidence as to tlw ownership of the property. The accused said that no one had been called t to identify the property as that of the Defence Department., Senior-Sergeant Willis said the accuser, tv.is a first offender, and nothing was previously known about him except that h« had been convicted for drunkenness. His Worship held that a conviction must be recorded..wind sentenced the accused to. 14 days' imprisonment FINED £5 FOR THEFT. A' fine of Xb was imposed on a married woman who admitted rhe. theft of a quantity of lace and embroidery, of a total value of i' 4 10s. Chief-jDetectivo Bodclum said tnat i.iie accused was employed as o charwoman at a private house, and during the course of her employment she appropriated the property, all of' which had bseii recovered. OTHER POLICE C^-SES. Thomas Br'anton, who said he was an engine-driver by occupation, was convicted and entered 10 come lor sentence when allied upon within six months, on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person with insufficient lawful means of support, *' Patrick Kennedy was fined 10s. on a charge of being helplessly drunk at Brooklyn. Ho was convicted and ordered to pay <£1 10s., the cost of damage done to a padded cell, and to pay otlier expanses amounting to .£2 13s. 6d. Having been three times previously convicted for drunkenness, James Munro was fined .£1 10s. for a repetition of the offence. Thrco first offenders were each fined 10s., and one other was fined ss. MAINTENANCE CASES. Percy Hammond, whose arrears in re•spect of a maintenance order amounted to. ,£SB 75., was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, warrant to be suspended so'long as ss. a week is paid off the arrears, and the payment of 15s. a week' under the' original order is maintained. The order was respecting the anaintenance of two children. Alice Cuningham was granted sepmaintenance, and guardianship , orders against her husband, John Henry : Cuningham, who was ordered to pay 355. weekly to-wards the support of complainant and her five children. !