MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 14, 11 October 1919, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

PECULIAR THEFT CASE

FINE OF £20 IMPOSED

A charge of thoft presenting some unusual features was heard at the MagistrateV Court yesterday before Mr. E, Page, S.M. Tho accused, ,a man named Charles John Gren, aged 65 years, pleaded guilty to charges of theft of a quantity of. electric cable, valued at ,£1 195.. tho property of John O'Brien, and of damaging an electric cable casing to tho extent of .£l9 55., also tho property of O'Brien. Detccitive-Sbrgeant R&wlo prosecuted, and Mr. 13. Iv. Kirkcaldie defended'. For the prosecution it was stated that Mr. O'Brien lmd taken fever certain stables in Quinn Street, and desired the building to be equipped with electric light, Messrs. Tolley and Son were communicated with, and the accused, nn employee of that firm, was sent along to see to the work. No price was agreed' to as to the cost of the work, and subsequently an intimation was sent in Tolley and Son that they should not go on with the work. Whilst on the premises the accused rpmoved the cable, in question, and in doing so did the damage to the cable casing referred to. On behalf of the defendant, Mr. Kirkcaldio desired to point out that while tho estimated' damage was set down at .£1!) 55., lie understood that this amount could be considerably reduced' if the City Council permitted the cable to bo spliced, and he asked His Worship to take this point into consideration. As to the theft, counsel said that his client was sent alonff to do the work, a part of which was accomplished when O'Brien intimated that ho did not desire the work to go on. Meantime the defendant saw lying about this premises a lengthy portion of old wire, which was there before O'Brien took, over the stables, , Gren then did what was frequently done in similar jobs—he took down the old wire, and took it to his employer, 'who said that ho would credit Mr. O'Brien with its value. That was the whole transaction. It was not a case of serious or malicious theft, and the wire could riot serve any useful purpose. His client was a married' man, 65 years of ago. . Counsel then called Mr. Tolley, who explained the instructions received from Mr. O'Brien, and said that he could not understand the latter's action. The defendant had been in witness's employ for over twenty years, and witness was prepared to make good the damage done, and to'take Gren back into, his employ. Detective-Sergeant Rawlo said that after tho. wire had been cut down it was rolled up and left in tho stable for some time before it was removed. His Worship imposed a fine of i2o'. for the theft, and on the second count ordered tho accused to make good the damage done. The cost of the damago would be intimated after the matter of a permit for splicing was deal with. Should the permit be obtained the damage would be ,£5. THEFT OF A BICYCLE. . Whilst' '.under tho influence of liquor Alexander Whitecross stole a bicycle, valued at dC3, the property of .Tasnes Doig, a'boy messenger. Doig left the machine at a street corner, and whilst away Whitecross removed it. Constable Thorn. saw the defendant, who was drunk, endeavouring to ride the machine, and as tho replies to his questions were by no means satisfactory ho apprehended him.. The defendant was fined £3 for the theft, and was fined ss. for drunkenness, lAn order was made for the return of the machine to its owner.

DAZZLING HEADLIGHTSOn a charge of using dazzling headlights on his motor-car,, Sydney George Nathan was fined JBI and costs. Evidence ivas given to the effect that the lights wero very brilliant nnd illuminated the thoroughfare along which defendant was travelling to such a degree ns to interfere with; other traffic. A tramcar had to pull up us tho motor-man-was unable to see, being almost blinded bv the brilliancy of the ligats. ' OTHER PROSECUTIONS.' , Guv Co'cKburn admitted tlie theft of an overcoat, valued at =£3, the property of Dennis O'Meara, but pleaded, through his counsel, Mr. "VV. G. Mellish, that ho was drunk at the time, and did not know what ho was doing, Tho defend-ant-was fined .{5, in default fourteen days' imprisonment. Time was allowed in which to pay the fine. On the application of Mr: W. G. Mellish the hearing of informations charging Townsend and Paul with selling imported' game. (hares) without a license, and of unlawfully selling imported game during close season, was adjourned till October 24. j Edward Pointon was remanded for a week on three charges, of obtaining sums totalling .£3 ss. CdV, from Messrs. Laery. and Co.; by means of a false pre-, tence. .•</, On a charge of practising a branch of medicine (eyesight specialist) ' without being registered. as a doctor, Richard Thomas Bickertoj; was, on the application of Mr. W. G. Mellish, further remanded' till October 24. Alfred John Johanson was fined and costs 7s. • for a breach of his prohibition order. ... For-drunkenness Agnes Campion was fined IOS. James Richard Jarvis was fined dBl- for a similar offence, and for a breach 'of his prohibition order was fined £2. One first offender, was fined ss„ and also made tho subject of a prohibition order.