MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 283, 24 August 1920, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

FOURTEEN DAYS FOR THEFT. ' An unusually large number of persons were charged with various offences in the' Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr. J. S. Evans, S;M., t was on the bench. Patrick Smith, was charged with being a rogue and a. vagabond in that he was found by night' (at 1,30 a.m.) in tho enclosed yard of the Catholic Church,, in Buckle Street. Sub-Inspector Emerson said that the defendant! was found on tho premises without hat or boots, and it was desirable to make further inquiries. . He pointed out ilhat several churches' had been burned! recently. He asked for a remand for a week in order that Smith might be placed under medical observation. The remand was granted.

It was related of Jdhn Patrick M'Cdll, thaU on coming-out of a shop in Riddiford Street, he met a man named Frederick A. Farquhar and deliberately struck him a violent blow, knocking him down. ll'Coll then walked away and met another man,, Henry A. Smith, and assaulted him also. In neither case* was \'{iere any semblance of provocation. M'Coll gave as an excuso that while he was in the shop Bomebody made an offensive remark to him. He pleaded guilty to the charges of assault .and was fined .£5 in each caso. ; . ■

A remand until to-morrow was granted in tho case of James H. Carr, who was charged with wilfully breaking a pane of plate glass, value .£SO. the property of George Fowlds and Co.,' Ltd.; also' 1 with breaking and entering the shop of that firm and stealing therefrom a pair of boots value .£2 ss. Bail was allowed in J!100 and one surety of £100.

Henry Herbert Silk was charged with' tho theft on Saturday night of £2U 15s. 9d., the money of Bert Royle. He also was remanded until to-morrow. • Robert Gordon was ehnrged-with haying Teccivcd £8 lGs. 6d. in money, well knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained. It was stated tlhat Silk (charged with the theft of the Opera House takings) owed Gordon £5 or M, and that on Sunday Silk saw Gordon. Hold him how he got tho money, and then (rave him X 8 lCs. M. Gordon was remanded until to-morrow nnd bail was allowed in .£25 and one surety of JC2S.

A plea of guilty was entered by Fred Tnylor, who was charged . with theft of one pair lady's shoes, nnd one scarf, value £1 Ite. fid., the property of Kirkcnldie and Stains, Ltd. Mr. H. F. O'Lenry appeared for Taylor. The accused wa3 employed as a cleaner bv Alio firm, and on Friday morning lie wag observed secreting the goods. Ho was sentenced to H dnys' imprisonment.

On going home on Friday evening and while in Tory Street George Owler suddenly put his fist through a window pane in a house occupied by Josephine Young. • The latter, hearing the smash, came oui! and followed tlio accused down Tui Street. Hero Owlcr picked up a etono and threw it at the woman, liilting her on the Kick. Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell appeared for Owler and n4-<>;' that he he donlt wilii leniently, as his aged parents were dependent! upon him. For the assault Owler wum fined 2<te. and for break-in? the glass ho was ordered to make good t.ho damage, 18s. Gd.. also to imv 10s. costs.

Charged with being an idlo and disorderly person in Min.(j ho possessed 'insufficient lawful means of support, Arthur B. Peard was convicted and ordered to como up for' sentence when called upon, within six months.

For committing a grossly indecent net in Vivian Street; Edward Peek wa» sentenced to 48 hojirs' imprisonment. Ho was fined 55., in default 24 hours' imprisonment, for drunkenness.

For insobriety, James Emberson, Horace Brownett, and David Davidson, convictcd of second offences, were each fined 20s.