MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 95, 15 January 1921, Page 9

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

HEAVY CHARGE SHEET BREACHES OF LICENSING ACT A heavy charge sheet was presented at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., was on the bench. A remand to January 19 was granted in the case of Phillip IL Silcoek, who was charged that on May 15, 1920, at Picton, he unlawfully procured a noxious thing with intent to procure miscarriage. Mr. W. Perry appeared for accused, and asked for bail, which was fixed at £2OO, and one surety of -£2OO. Patrick M'Kibbon was charged with obtaining from John T. Benge the sum of ,£8 10s. by moans of a valueless- cheque. Chief-Detective Ward said that there were other charges pending against the accused, and asked for a remand until Wednesday next, which was granted. Thomas J. Stevens, for whom Mr. H. F. O’Leary appeared, was charged that on January 12 he stole three pairs of ladies’ shoes, one pair of men’s boots, three hats, fifteen blouses, and other ■goods, of the value of .£32, tho property, of some person unknown. He was also charged with receiving the goods, knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained. He was remanded for a week, and was allowed bail in one surety of .£5O. John Lawrence, ex-railway servant, was charged that on April 18, 1917, at Wel- , lii.gton, ho forged a railway consignment note and retained sums of money which had been paid to him for goods. He was also charged with altering the figures on a consignment note from lewt. 2qrs. 101 b. to 1121 b., knowing the aaffie to be false; also with the theft of two separate sums of .£fi 9s. 6d. find £9 15s. Bd., the property of tho New Zealand Government, tin the application of Chief-Detective Ward he was remanded to January 19. INFORMATION DISMISSED. Mr. H. F. O’Leary appeared for William Henry Dobson, who was charged that on December 3, he stole two undershirts valued at 19s. 6d., the property of the New Zealand Defence Department. The facts as disclosed for the prosecution were that the Defence Department landed certain stores from the s.s. Tainui, and a. military lorry, of which the accused was the driver, called in at I shed and took delivery. John Matson, in charge of I shed, said that ho saw the accused, after the goods were placed on the lorry, go to the back of the lorry and take something and go back to tho front of the lorry to the driver's seat. Corporal Henry J. Willis said he took delivery of the goods, which consisted of undershirts, pyjamas, and socks, and some of these were tied up in bundles, but one bundle had been untied. When the corporal was signing for the goods he got some information from, the storeman, and looked up and saw tho accused fumbling about the driver’s seat. When the lorry got to the yard at Buckle Street witness asked the accused what he had taken at the shed. Accused said that he had done 1 it "on the epur of the moment.” From under the driver’s sent the two undershirts in question were produced. When the goods were checked next morning it was discovered that 71 pairs of socks and one white undershirt were missing. Dobson, in giving evidence, said he had been in the employ of the Defence Department as a motor driver for- over three years. He assisted in loading the lorry, and denied having taken the undershirts. Nothing was said to him at the I shed, and tho corporal’s statement that he had given up two undershirts at the Buckle Street yards was not correct. He knew nothing of the shortage until two days later, but he was not questioned in the matter, nor was he asked for an explanation at the Departmental inquiry. The Magistrate, said it was a peculiar case, and it was just one man’s word against another’s. He could not convict the man under the circumstances, and therefore dismissed the information. OTHER CASES. A youth, for whom Mr. A. B. Sievwright appeared, pleaded guilty to the theft of an overcoat valued at. £5, the property of the Victoria Laundry. The facts were that the lad had been in the employ of the Victoria Laundry Co. In the course of inquiries made by a constable in respect to thefts of other goods the lad frankly stated that he had taken an overcoat. The lad was given a very good character, and his present employer spoke well of him. At the request of Mr. Sievwrigbt, the Magistrate exercised his powers'under the Act of last session and convicted and discharged the lad. For being found on licensed premises (White Swan,.Hotel) after hours, John Robinson was fined 40s. For drunkenness, Daniel M'Lnughlin was fined 205.,' Thomas Bates 10s., and Andrew Williamson ss. SLY GROG-SELLERS FINED. Leonard Russell, for whom Mr. A. B. Sievwrigbt appeared, and Charley Charlewood, were charged with breaches of the licensing Act in selling liquor without a license. Charlewotxl pleaded guilty, but Russell pleaded not guilty. The facts were that the two defendants were in occupation of a house known ay 17 Alma Lane. A constable and another man went to tho house one evening and purchased beer, consumed it on tho premises, and bought a “square rigger” of beer for 3s. Russell, it was alleged, sold the liquor to tho visitors. Russell denied this, and denied that he was in occupation of the premises. Charlewood said that ho was tho tenant of the premises, and sublet two rooms to two men. Russell was not in occupation of the house, and had only slept on the premises on two occasions 'before the police searched the house. Charlewood maintained that he opened ihe door to the constable and his friend and that he served them with the liquor. Russell was in the kitchen all the time and had nothing to do with the sale of the liquor. When the police searched the house they found liquor in Harry Reich’s room, but that liquor belonged to Reich. After hearing the evidence, the Magistrate said that the constable’s evidence was direct and conclusive. Both men wore convicted and fined £25 each. Russell was allowed a fortnight and Charlewood a month in which to pay the fine. E. Keegan. John C. Fairman, S. E. Symons, M. O’flrien, and H. Saunders were convicted of being on premises (17 Alma Lane), where liquor was illegally sold, on Sunday, November 21, and were fined 10s. each and costs.