MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1913, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

In the Magistrate's Court to-day, hefore Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., John James Cotterill, forecabin steward on the s.s. Arahura, pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing two watches and a chain, the property of John Lion Atkinson, on the 31st January. Atkinson, a painter, said he left the watches in his vest on the Arahura on the afternoon of the 31st ult. He knocked off work at 6.30, and shortly after missed the goods. He valued the watches and chain at £2 17s. Accused said he heli<wed the watches had been put into his pocket. Detective Bailey, who arrested the accused, said that when arrested he remarked t "Some of you detectives have been enquiring into the fi*e on the Arahura." He added that he found the watches and guard in his pocket, but he did not know how they got there. He did' not report the discovery to anyone. Detective Abbott stated that on Friday last he was on the Arahura making enquiries into the fire which had occurred on that vessel. He saw the accused there, and asked him what time he had returned to the boat that evening, and he produced "a watch, which appeared to be like one of the watches which he was accused 6f Stealing. Accused gave evidence On his own behalf. He said that he found the watches produced on the clothes that he had left in his berth when he examined them prior to leaving the Vessel. He didn't think of reporting the matter to the chief steward. His Worship^ "Have you had this sort of trick played on you before?" Accused: "No." His Worship t said he thought accused must be convicted. Chief-Detective Broberg asked that sentence be deferred until Friday, as somo pawn tickets had been found in accused's possession and it was suspected that the property was stolen. Sentence was deferred until Friday. Leonard O'Flaherty and Claude O'Flaherty were ordered to pay 3s and 6s a week respectively towards the support of their brother, who is an inmate of the Stoke Orphanage. John David Speight was fined 20s, with the alternative of three days' imprisonment, for drunkennes8 y and for a similar offence Michael M'Pherson was fined 10s, or forty-eight horns' imprisonment in default. John Smith, who used obscene language while drank, was fined £3, with the alternative of fourteen days in gaol. Samuel M'Kelvey applied for the canconation of a maintenance order made against him for the support of his wife, and remission of arrears. The application was granted. Mr. Richard Hanlon, J.P., dealt with several cases of drunkenness at the Mount Cook Police Court this morning. James Cass was fined 20s ; in default three days' imprisonment. James Mason was mulcted in a sum of 10s, with the option of spending forty-eight hours in gaol; and Henry Slade, John Buchanan, Charles M'Carthy, Henry Wren, and Charles Goddard were each penalised to the extent of 6a, or twenty four hours' detention.

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