MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 196, 14 May 1920, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

, THEFT FROM A WORKMATE. Mr. B. Page, S.M., was on tho bench at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, and dealt with the police cases. A young man named Daniel Michael O'Grady, whilo at work in a building in Mercer Street stole a silver watch valued at £5 ss! from a fcllow-workor. He pleaded guilty to the charge of theft, and as this was his second conviction for dishonesty he was sent to prison for six v weeks. A remand for a week was granted in the case of Robert' Henry Workman, a tailor who was charged with obtaining several sums of money, totalling ,£lB, from his employer, J. T. Jorgensen, by means, of false pretences. Bail was allowed in a sum £75 and one surety of £75. ' • ■ Michael M'Kinnon, a member of the crew of the s.s. Otaki, wns convicted of being absent from tho ship without leave, and was ordered to forfeit one day's pay. On a charge of wilfully, disobeying the'eommands of the chief officer he was fined £1 and costs totalling 285., in default seven days' imprisonment. Edmund J. Cushion, a member of the crew of the s.s. Waiwera, for being absent from the vessel without leave was ordered to forfeit one day's pay, and to pay 17s. Gd. costs, in default two days' imprisonment. On a further charged drunkenness he wns fined ss„ with the alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment. For drunkenness Hugh Never and Walter Porter, who were convicted for the second time, were each fined 10s., in default 48 hours' imprisonment. Reginald W. Norman (represented by Mr. J. S. Hanna) and Gerald J. Dally (represented by Mr. A. B. Sievwri.ghtj were charged that on March 3 at Heretaunga they stole a portmanteau and contents and a box of pears, of the total value of £8 ss.' The complainant, James Lcntfir, a member of a rifle c'.ub, said that oh March 3 he left Greytown by the morning train. He checked his luggage—tho 1 portmanteau and box of pears—to Trentham, and saw tlie luggage on to th« train at Greytown. He left tho train at Heretaunga, and later in tho day\called for his luggage, but was unable to obtain it. The -luggage was missing, and he had not seen it since. The guard of the train gave evidence as to putting the portmanteau and box off tho train at Heretaunga. A patient at the Trentham Hospital 6aid that Norman brought the portmanteau into his tent. Dally wns present. The portmanteau was opened, and a bottle of whisky was taken out. Later, ho was told by Norman that he and Dally had taken the poods back to the railway station. Constnble LeFevre, stationed at Upper Hutt, also gave evidence. The information against Dally was dismissed as there was not sufficient evidence to connect him with the theft of the goods. Norman was convicted, and placed on probation for a period of two years; he is also to pay the value of the missing portmanteau and contents, £S : ss„ and costs totalling .£5 12s. Gd. CIVITCASES Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.. dealt with tho civil business, and gave judgment for plaintiff by default in the following cases:—W. E. Hickson v. John Nestor, £57, costs £5 3s. Gd.; Osmond and Son (N.Z.). Ltd., v. J. J. O'Brien, £1 4.5., costs Gs.; Veitch and Allan v. W. Grant, 13s. Id., costs 55.; J. R. Stnnsell v. Charles Brown, .£7 55., costs £1 7s. (id.; ■ Commercial Agency and E. W. Mills, Ltd., v. Clapham and Adams, £17195. 3d ' costs .£1 10s. Gd.; Vacuum Oil Co., v K. C. Guthrie. £154 lfls., costs £7 7s. Gd. • G. Bradley v. H. Avery, ,£l7 Ms. Gd., costs £1 Us. Gd.; Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd. v Hodgldns, Ltd., £31 10s., costs £2 Ms. Judgment summons eases were dealt with as follow:—A. E. Otway was ordered to pay Chapman, Skerrctt, Tripp, anil Blair £31 lis. 4d. by June 10, in default 21 days' imprisonment; W. H Hargrcaves was ordered to pay Veitch and Allan £■{ 13s. by June 10. in default three days' imprisonment; B. Power to pay Dr. 0. Jacobscn. £9 9s„ by instalments of 20s! per month; Thomas R. Husband to nav Blundell Bros., Ltd., £17 15s. Gd. by May 27, in default seven days' imprisonment. Reserved judgment was given in the Magistrate's Court on Monday ]p„st in the case Bray Bros. v. W. Batenvan, of Nelson (egg collector). Judgment was given for plaintiffs for a total of £30 19s, Gd, with costs.