MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 18, 16 October 1919, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

INDICTABLE CASES

FORGED A BANK DRAFT

Several eases of indictable offences were dealt with yesterday by Mr. W. G. Eiddell. S.M. A young man named Leo Shaddick was charged with tlio theft of a Union Bank of South Africa draft«for ,ti, of forging the draft by endorsing samo in the nanio of the- owner, find of uttering the forged draft witii intent that it should be acted upon as genuine. Detective-Sergeant Rawle prosecuted, and Mr. W. G. Mellish. defended. Evidence was Riven to Hie effect that during the month of Soptomber, 1018, tlio accused was staving at the Hotel Grand Central, and 'at that time was following the occupation of a hairdresser. Staying nt the samo hotel was Mrs. C. V. do Veen. On September 5 tho accused came into possession of a registered letter addressed to Mrs. V. de Veen, which he retained. Ho Inter left the hotel, and joined Barker's Circus. The circus subsequently arrived at Bulls,.and accused made the- acquaintance of John Eu-inK Walker, chairman of the Bulls Town Board. He asked Mr. Walker to cash the draft, and they went to the Union Bunk of Australasia, where tho accused endorsed the. draft in the name of Mrs. Veen. Mγ. Walker guaranteed the draft, and in threo days the money was naid over to the accused. 'i'he accused pleadec; guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed in the sum of FINED .£S'FOE THEFT. A middle-aged man named Thomas .Steele Duncan pleaded iruilty to a charge of theft of four pairs of ladies' stockings (and two silk blouses, valued in all at .£:) 19s. 10d., the property of Cody and Co.. Lid. • . ]>etectivH-Sergeant R;iwlo prosecuted, and Mr. W. G. Mellish represented the defendant. Vnline evidence was to the effect that tlm accused called at tlio shop of Cody and Co.. in C'oui'tenay Place, and asked an assistant if they opened accounts for farmers. He said ho was a farmer from the Wairampa. While the assistant was away making inquiries, the accused, sauntered about the shop, and later left. Subsequently they discovered that the articles mentioned in the informations were missed. When the accused was arrested on another charge the missing goods were discovered. The accused pleaded guilty. Ho had been previously before the Court, and was fined ,£5. in default one month's iwprisonment. A charge of obtaining from Kirkcaldie and Stains goods to the value of ,£lO7 bv means of a. false pretence was then preferred against the accused, but on the application of the prosecution lie was remanded till October 22. It is alleged that the 'accused visited the firm of Kirkcaldio ami Stains, and said that he was n farmer in the Wnirarapa, and desired goods to be sent on to his home.

SEKIOUS CIIAEGES. Tlie colirt' was cleared during the hearing of a charge of indecent assault on, a male preferred againiit Patrick Mur- . Detective-Sergeant Hawle prosecuted, and Mr. W. (j. Mellish represented the accused. On being cautioned, the accused elected to call evidence in his defence. AVilMam Hannifin gave evidence as to the movements of the boy and the accused, and his statement conflicted with that of tho hoy. His Worehio decided that a prima-facie case had (icon established. The accused' pleaded not Ruilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in the sum of .£lOll and one. surety of £\m. Aclmrseof assault on a girl aged eight years was preferred against John Lister. ■Snb-Inspector Emerson prosecuted, end Mr. C. A. L. Trendwell represented , the 'accused.-' The coiirt iv.ns cleared during the hearing of the'evidence, at the conclusion of which the accused pleaded not guilty, and .was committed to tho Supreme Court for trial. CHARGES OP FALSE PRETENCES; . Sixteen charges of falso pretences were preferred against .Herbert Helm, who S- 'vas remanded till October 22. It is al- j ejjed that during the months of July .urn August List the accused, by menus of .a cheque book, obtained goods and money from various business people in Wellineion. v The. total sum involved wns .£7fl. Tho businesses concerned were Kirkcaldio and Stains, City Boot Stores. Wallace and Gibson, Coles Cosh Drapery Co., Ltd., Wiflgins and Co., TTcod Bros., Ltd., Mrs. Emily Collins, George Henry Tiller, 'Joseph M'Sweeney, Hush Giliner, IT. E. H. Gill. J. IT. W. Coopsr, G. Burtenshaw, William Higgs, and R. T. Shearer. CASES REMANDED. A further remand till October 22 was granted on the application of the prosecution in ■ tho Ciiso in which Margaret Ethel Levy is chirrgou with the murder nf her infant child and of concealing the birth of the snid child. On a' charge of failing to maintain his wife. David Rossborough was remanded to appear ou Monday. Bail was allowed in tho sum of ,£25. On a charge of assault and robbery n Maori named Jack Tiiuilianga was further remanded till October 22. It .is alleged that the accused assaulted nn old man named Peter M'Mahon and robbed him of a sum of .£341. . OTHER.' CASES. ■ A fine of .£'3 was imposed on Ernest Kayo, who pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of on overcoat valued at ;C5, . the property of Ernest - Ball. The.ac-. cused took the coat from To Aro Boardinghouse, and disposed of it to a secondhand dealer. The default was- fixed at twenty-one days' imprisonment. I''or insobriety, David Allen was fined "IDs., and two first offenders were each convicted and discharged.