MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 46, 18 November 1919, Page 5

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

MEAN THEFT TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES' LUNCHEONS STOLEN Although ho pleaded not guilty, William John Luddington was caught in the act of removing the luncheons of tramway employees from the tramway niessrnoin in Post Ollico Square on Saturday. Ho appeared l>eforo Mr. E. Page, S.M., at the' Magistrate's Court yesterday, when evidence was given to the effect that, the caretaker of the niess-rooin had caucht the accused in the mess-room takinar the lunches out of the bags. The accused hart some bread and sandwiches in hie, pocket, and when searched was also found in possession of a time-record-ing key. Two lunches were actually stolen, and tho employees had to pay-Is, fid., each for lunches in the city. The kev was valued at 7s. Gd. Tho accused stated that he was drunk, and could' not remember anything of the occurrence. His Worship said that it was a particularly mean class of theft. Accused would bn finetf £5 for the theft of tho key, £5 for stealing one- luncheon, and would bo convicted and discharged on tho second charge relating to the theft of sandwiches. Ho was ordered to pay costs £1 65.. and the default was fixed at twentv-ono days' imprisonment. PROBATION FOK THEFT. Alhnrt Fraser, who was represented by Mr. E. K. Kirkcaldic, pleaded not guilty to tho theft of a hurricane lamp, valued at ss. 6(1.. and a dandy brush, vahiea' at is. Gd.. the property of Thomas Johnston. The complainant was a carrier, and tho goods were missed from his stable. Tho Accused etnbled his horse on tho property of tho complainant. 'The accused admitted taking the lamp, which was useless, as the wick had been removed". He used it in his stable with a candle. As to the dandy brush, the ■accused stated that he could not say definitely how it eamo to lie in his stable, but he thought it might have been brought there by an employee of Johnston's, who stabled a horse with aconsed for about three weeks. Ho had found the dandy brush on a rafter in his stable. the defendant was convicted for theft of the lamp, and was admitted to probation for a period of one year. _ The other charge was dismissed. OTHER PROSECUTIONS. On the information of the Commissioner of Stamps the Seaford Coal Company was proceeded against at the Magistrate's Court yesterday for failing to tnko out an annual license. Mr. J. Prendeville, of the Crown Law Office, ■prosecuted, ami , Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell amienred for the defendant company, and submitted that the prosecution could not succeed, for the reasons that the service was faulty and that the company, being in liquidation could not be proceeded against for acts committed since Hie 'oate of liquidation (August, 1017): His 'Worship intimated that he would take' tiuiß to consider the points raised liv Mr. Treadwell.■ \ When charged with stowing away on the Manuka at LyHelton. Kenneth Dawson and Leslie Ernest Mnrcovitch each pleaded that they had no money, and being unable to find work at Lyttclton, took the steamer to Wellington. Nothing was previously known about tho men. who were firemen. His Worship imposed a fine of £i in each case, and, ovfiered each defendant to pay tho cost of the fare, 13*. Gd. ' John Leonard was remanded to appear at Palnierston North on Wednesday on a rharge of theft of a bicycle, valued at £i, the property of Alfred Sidney Blackley. • Rail was fixed in the sum of .£SO and one surety of .£SO. For drunkenness, Robert Hyndman was fined 10s.. five first offieamers wore fined 103. each", and two others were finod ss. each. . . MAINTENANCE CASES. . Emma. Keating asked the Court to grant her separation and maintenance orders against her husband Charles Edward Keating oii the grounds of cruelty. Complainant alleged that the defendant had thrown articles at her. ano. had abused her on many occasions. He, had been a member of the crew of H.M.S. Philomel, but left the vessel, and subsequently served in the New.Zealand Expeditionary Force. After hearing the evidence, His Worship' granted Iho orders asked for with 30s. per week , maintenance and costs .£1 r \ Mr. J. H. Scott appeared for the wmolainant and Mr. W. G. Hellish for defendant.