MAGISTRATE'S COURT
« POST OFFICE DEFRAUDED LOST PASS BOOK OPERATED ON Tlio ease with lvliiuh a young man named Leslie George Fraser defrauded the Post Office Savings Bank of the sum of .£3O was mado Apparent during tho hearing of two charges preferred against him in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. W. G. Hiddell, S.M. Accused was charged with having on January 21 forged a Post Oifico Savings Bank withdrawal slip for £30, and another ono for £50. The evidence disclosed that Hubert J. Thompson, of Potone, on January 21, drew out £'21 10s. from the Wellington Post Office. On his way homo he missed his y.ass-book, and .reported the loss to the postal authorities. On the same day a withdrawal slip for £30, which it subsequently turned out was not in Thompson's handwriting, was paid on presentation of Thompson's pass-book. Thompson had no knowledge at the time of this withdrawal. On January 24 tho G.P.O. staff was advised of the loss of the pass-book and instructed accordingly, and on the same day accused presented a withdrawal slip for £50, together with Thompson's passbook. Both were impounded, and Fraser was dotained and handed over to tho police. Subsequently Eraser made a statement to Detective Torrance that he had found the pass-book in Adelaide Bond, and had forged and uttered the withdrawal slips. He had spent the £30 aiouild town. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the' Supreme Court for sentence. ,
AN UNUSUAL CASE. A case out of tho ordinary run was heard by Mr. Biddell, when Charles Henry Pym was charged with having had in his possession, without lawful oxcuse, a .303 rifle, tho property, of tho New Zealand Government. Chief-Detective Ward prosecuted, and Mr. It. Kennedy defended. Evidence went to show that a young man named Brand purchased tho vitle in question from Pym, after he had obtained at the instance of Pym n permit from the police to do 60. This vas in January, 1919. In November last he handed the rifle into the De'ence Armoury for an overhaul, and (he Defence authorities, noticing that it bore Ihe number of a missing riile, instituted inquiries. The Defence authorities stated in court that the rifle in question was issued to the Wellington College Cadets in 1903, and was among a number of the same issue unaccounted for. The defenco to the charge as that there was no evidence to show that tho accused had not satisfactorily accounted for the weapon which had been in stock for some considerable time, and as far as the defendant could recollect had been
either bought second-haml or loft for jepairs and never called for. r :hc polico admitted that there wns no suggestion that Pym had obtained the rifle dishonestly. His Worship said that the information must lapse because it had lwen kid too late. Ho accordingly dismissed the charge-. \ NOT WITHIN THE STATUTE, Hugh Grenville Dowler, who vas defended by Mr. C. A. L. Treadivell, pleaded not guilty to a charge of using in-
decent language. Chief-Detective Ward prosecuted, and explained that the charge >vas .in an amended form, the original information alleging that the accu?cd had counselled a 'boy of tender years to commit an indecent act. Tho evidence of several small boys was called. The children alleged that the accused had made an- inde:ent suggestion to them. In idismissing the information, the Magistrate remarked thfct the words complained of were sot provided for in tho Statute, and that the original information which had been dropped seemed to fit the charge. The accused was discharged. He stated through counsel that lie could not remember the incident, and had no Inowledgo of having used tho language complained of. A DESERTING SEAMAN. "This class of offence is increasing," remarked prosecuting counsel, Mr. 11. E. Watson, with reference to the '-barge of desertion from tho s.s. Port Sydney preferred against a seaman <mined Henry Lynch. Counsel added that the ship had been held up for several hours while a search was made for accused. His Worship imposed a senteuco of 1-1 days' imprisonment. OTHER OASES. William James Williamson rdmitted a breach of his probation'order. Tho defendant was admitted to probation in August last on a charge of theft, but lad neglected to report regularly to the authorities according to the terms of his license. Accused was state;! to bt in regular employment. He had his ,>eriod of probation, extended from 12 to 18 months. Harry Colman was fined JES, with tho option of one month's imprisonment, on a charge (to which he had previously pleaded guilty) of stealing ten ladies' singlets, valued at ;£2 10*., the i.ropai'ty of Ballantyno and Co., from a ship, in port. On a further charge cf stealing a pair of tidies' boots and a pair of
shoes, the property of Rome person inknown, he was remanded on bail till February 11.' George Francis was arraigned on charge? of committing an indecent act in a public place, and with unlawfully wearing tho lung's uniform. On the first charge he was fined M. With iegard to thp other offence it was stated that Francis was a returned, soldier, and did not know whether ho was discharged' or not. He bad not had time to procure civilian clothes. In Ihe circumstances ho was merely convicted and discharged.
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 112, 5 February 1920, Page 3
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886MAGISTRATE'S COURT Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 112, 5 February 1920, Page 3
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