MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 189, 6 May 1920, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

CARGO-THIEVING CASE OFFENDER SENT TO GAOL At yesterday's sittincr of tin Miigirtratc'a Court, over which Mr. E. l'agi), S.M., presided, Joseph Henry Beck, aped 38years, a watersido worker was arraigned mi two Charcea of theft. He lilcadeil guilty. The informations were that on or about January 12 he. stole three watches, valued 'U Is., and, on April 4, three ladies' woollen coats, two pairs of men's boot?, one pair of Indies' shoes, and two men's felt hats, valued in all at £14, and owned by the Union Steam Ship Company. Detective Tricltlebank stated th«t at 8.<5 p.m. on Tuesday he saw the accused carrying a basket in Willis Street. He neeostcd tho man and found that the basket contained tho articles mentioned in the charge. The goods had boon stolen finm the Tofua and the l'aloona. on which vessels tile accused had been employed in port. After pointing out that hundreds and thousands of pounds worth of goods were being stolen from vessels in port, Chief Detective Ward stated that the stniences imposed by tho Court for this class of oßence wcro not acting as a deterrent. lle asked that in futuio heavier penalties be imposed. On the first charge His Worship 'imposed a sentence of two months' imprisonment, while with regard to the second chaw Heck wns sent to gaol for sir months, tho sentences to be concurrent WIFE'DESERTER ARRAIKGED. Charles Edward Keating admitted that after tho issue of a malntonano onl»r against him he had attempted to leave New Zealand without magisterial permission. Accused Baid that ho was a s«ftin«n by occupation. Mr. O. A. li. Troadwell, who appeared for tho prosocution, Btated that in November last accused was made tho subject of a maintenance order in rcjpect of his wife and three children. Receutly bo signed, on tho Otira, bound for England, and also cabled £69 to England. The polire hc*.ixl of this and arrested him. According to the 1 accused tho money Tras sent to his brothor, who had lent him tbo sum in aueation. The Magistrate convicted tho aoonied.. and merely ordered him to como up for sentenco within twelve months on condition that he did not leavo New Z»aland. The accused was required to enter into a bond of £50, and to find ono surety of £50 as security for his compliance with the order. OTHER POLICE CASES. Thomas Hayes, aged 16 years, admitted tho theft of an overcoat valued at £3, the property of John l'urcell. Chief Detective Ward explained that the youth was under the control of the Education Department, oh lieensu from Weraron. He stole the coat from his lodgings, and was m the act of selling it when ho'wai ap. prehended by Detective-Sergeant iicott. ■His Worship entered a conviction and ordered accused ta be returned to Weraroa. lor insobriety, Daniel Murphy, who had flvo previous convictions, wu «etit to gaol for seven days.