MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 62, 6 December 1919, Page 14

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THEFT CHARGES. A young woman named Mary A.M'Dowell pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of a postal note for 205., the property of tho War Belief Association. The accused was employed at Jhe offico of the association, and extracted' the note from a letter.. Uniortu lately, slatod ChiefDetective lloddani, this was not accused's first for she had been convicted in Jub 4; wt on two charges of theft of shoes in\m-A dancing hall. Chief-Detec-tivo Moddam suggested that tlie accused might bo sent to her aunt in the country, where she would be under restraint. HU Worship agreed to the course suggested, enten.l .. coivL'tion.and ordered accused to como up for sentence when called upon within two years. Two charges of theft' of a number of articles, valued at .£3O, the property of Florence May Paulsen, and two charges of having travelled on the railway without paying his fare, were preferred against Alexander Clifford James Welsh. Chief-Detective Boddant stated that tho accused was slaying at the Carlton Hotel when the property of Mrs. Paulsen was stolen. The stolen property was disposed of to various persons. Chief-De-tective Boddam recalled the fact that tho accused had been remanded for medical observation, and the report of tho gaol surgeon was that the man' was normal and showed no signs of mental affliction.

Mr. C. H. Taylor, who appeared for tho accused, tendered a plea of guilty and submitted that it w.ts a case where leniencv might be extended. Tho accused had been discharged from the Army suffering from neurasthenia and was still somewhat affected. Unfortunately ho had been before tho Court in 19H on charges of theft, but counsel suggested a period of reformative treatment. His Worship decided to convict the accused and sentence him to two years reformative treatment. The accused was also ordered to pay tho cosh! of the goods not recovered. MISCHIEVOUS YOUTHS. Two youths named Albert Fraser and Arthur' Archer were jointly charged with damaging a van and a fence to the extent of £1 10s. and .£5 respectively, the propuri? of Thomas Johnson. Sub-Inspector Emerson called evidence to show that the two accused took the van from tho complainant's stable iu Hintoul Street and backed over a bank. The van careered down the bank, crashed through a fence and finished up on someone's , private property. For tho defence, Mr. E. K. Kirkcaldi* said that his clients' story was that they were asked to move the van from a shed and when they were doing so the vehicle took charge. The actual damage amounted in the case of the van to 15s. and in the caso.of tho fence 2s. Complainant had. endeavoured to obtain from the accused M each and also M each from two other boys to pay for non-existent damage. Counsel called evidence to support his statements. . , • After hearing the evidence. His Worship said that ho must record n conviction. The damages set down were far in excess of the value. Each defendant was fined 10s. and ordered to pay costs 18s. The damage to the fence was 6et down at 7s. Gd., and the accused were ordered to pay this amount. His Worship would not order payment in respect of tho van, and suggested that the parties might como to some agreement.

MILITARY DEFAULTERS. For failing to register under the Defcnco Act, B. Gulvin was fined- £1 and costs. On charges of failing to attend drill W. Miilhollnnd was lined M, J. Miilhollnnd was fined £1 J. J. Fcely was fined A and A. YV. Sparkes was fined £2.

OTHER, PROSECUTIONS. William Tvnie was convicted and ordered to pay costs amounting to 15s. on a charge of keeping a savage dog , which attacked Alfred John Smith. The Magistrate advised Tynie to get rid of the dog in case of further trouble. _ ■V fine of SX and costs 7s. was imposed on Alfred Ifeare, who admitted being- on the licensed premises of the Thistle Inn Hotel during prohibited hours. A fine of £2 and costs 235. was imposed on Joseph Clements, who pleaded guilty l to a' charge of using obscene language. , Jeremiah' O'Connor waa remanded for a week for medical- treatment on a charge of theft of six glasses, valued at 7s, the property of Charlotte Durrant, Charles Mack, who pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness, was sent to Roto Koa for ts. period of 12 months. On a charge of breaking the conditions of his prohibition order Mack was convicted and discharged. One first offender was lined ss. and was made the subject of a prohibition order. Another first offender who did not appear was lined 10s.