POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 19665, 19 September 1927, Page 2

POLICE COURT

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19. (Before Mr 11. W. Bundle, S.M.) THEFT OF BAG. Frederick Mamie Booth, Leslie John Roberts, and William Henry Hamilton wore charged with the theft of a handbag and its contents and an elecliic bulb, of a total value of 15s, the property of Donald Cameron. Booth and Roberts both pleaded guilty, and Hamilton not guilty. Mi J. B. Thomson appeared for the accused Roberts. _ . Chief-detective Cameron said Unit the compainant loft his motor car on a vacant section at St. Clair while transacting some business on tho evening ol September 10, leaving his handbag and some boring bibs in the car. Ho also loft tho tail light of his car burning. The accused Hamilton had an old Fcid car, and with his two companions lie drove to St. Clair on the night in question. Booth suggested to Roberts that be should take tho bag. Roberts eventually took it, and handed *t over to Booth. Hamilton made tho suggestion that tho bag was no use to them, and that they should not take it. They ■were seen by tho local constable, who did not know then that there v.as anything wrong, and they drove uwa.y. As Hamilton was in company with the other two accused and allowed the bag to be taken away in his car, he was also charged. Booth and Roberts bad not been before the court pievomiv. Booth was addicted to drink, and a term oi probation would be to his advantage. Roberts did not gain _ anything by tho theft, and the chief detective merely asked for a conviction. Mr Thomson said that Roberts had only had a slight connection _ with the theft, and had he not been with Booth he would not have taken the bag. _ In dismissing the charge against Hamilton, the magistrate said that this should be n lesson to him, for it was the duty of anyone seeing a theft committed to inform the police. Booth was convicted and admitted to probation for a period ol twelve months, and ordered to be prohibited during that time, while Roberts was convicted and ordered to come up lor sentence ii" called upon within twchc months. , . . An application for the suppression ol the names was refused. REFORMATIVE DETENTION.

A lad of sixteen, Janies Henry Walter M'Lean, pleaded guilty to the theft of 9s, the property of Gerald O’Connor. Chief-detective Cameron said that the accused had already been under the supervision ol tho child vollaic olhc.ei for wilful damage. In respect to the present charge, tho accused had gone to a shed used by public workmen in Hanover street, and he was found there bv the complainant, who missed 9s from bis pockets. The complainant taxed the accused with the theft, which the lad denied, as well as giving a false name. The complainant searched him, but found nothing, though later he found a handkerchief containing the money behind the door. The chief defective said that when the accused had been, found scaling the fence of a business firm’s yard by Detective Roycroft, ho gave a false name, though his name was ascertained later. The youth had only passed Standard XL, and was quite dull. He was almost uncontrollable as far as his parents were concerned, and stayed out all hours of tho night. The child welfare officer said that the accused would not stay in situations, and had been discharged on ’account of his conduct. He was not quite normal, and should be kept under control. , The Magistrate said that he would not enter a conviction, but he ordered

Iho accused to be detained in the Invercargill Borstal Institute for reformative purposes for a period not exceeding two years. YOUNG WOMAN REMANDED. A well-dressed young -woman whose name was suppressed was charged with being an idle and disorderly person, in that” she had no lawful means of support. Senior-sergeant Quartcrinaui asked for a remand for a week. _ ' “ L can’t quite follow tin’s case at nil,” said the accused. “ Can 1 choose my solicitor? I would like to sec Hanlon.” The Senior Sergeant said that Hie accused would bo medically examined. The accused was remanded for a week, publication of her name being forbidden. DANGEROUS DRIVING. Rupert Hall Taylor (Mr L. Simpson) .pleaded guilty to charges of driving a motor car in a manner dangerous to the public and to being the unlicensed driver of a motor cur._ Traffic-inspector M‘Nicoll said that tho defendant had been observed travelling towards Forbury Corner at a speed of thirty-five miles mi hour, and bad been followed by an inspector, who became alarmed by tho speed, and let him go, though he got his number, Mr Simpson said that the dclendant had no excuse for bis conduct, but he thought the other man was racing him. The defendant was fined 40s and costs on tho charge of dangerous driving, and 5s and costs,, on tho other charge. CASE ADJOURNED.

Harold Hope did not appear to answer a charge of failing to stop his motor bus before going over a railway crossing at Omimi. Ho wrote in explanation that the greasy state of the road lapde it impossible to stop.—A report by the engine driver of the train concerned was to the effect that the bus driver bad disregarded the whistle, and an accident had been narrowly averted.—The Magistrate said that be could not treat the charge as a nominal one. Ho would adjourn the matter for a week to enable defendant appear. CHIMNEY FIRE. Richard Blair, for allowing Ins cJnrauey to catch lire, was fined 5s and costs. ARMS ACT. Robert Fairley Bennett was. charged under the Arms Act with failing to notify his change of address.—Defendant said the rifle was useless, and bad been left behind him ,at a country place.—Convicted and discharged; rifle to be confiscated. DRUNKENNESS. Two youths, aged respectively seventeen and nineteen years, pleaded guilty to being found drunk.—The Senior Sergeant said that the two defendants were so drunk that they had to be carried to the station,—The elder lad said they had got a bottle of whisky from a seaman.-j-Tho Magistrate remarked that the experience would probably be a. lesson to them. As they had been in the cells over the week-end they would be convicted and discharged, provided they paid the cab fan.-.-A first offender was fined JOs, in default twenty-four hours’ imprison meat. MOTORISTS CHARGED. For passing a stationary tramcar with his motor ear Leslie F. Bennet was fined 40s and costs. Edgar Alfred Bastings, for passing a stationary tramcar, was fined 20s and costs, and for failing to renew his license 5s and costs. Leslie John Cheyne, for driving a motor car in a manner dangerous to the public, was fined 20s and costs, the inspector stating that defendant had driven along Princes street at thirty miles an hour-

Adam Edmond, for passing a stationary Iramcar, was fined 20s and costs. Charged with being the unlicensed driver of a motor car and with failing to stop at tho rear of a stationary tramcar, ■ Seddon Robert Murdoch was fined 5s and costs on the former charge and 40s and costs on tho latter.

A cyclist, Alexander H. Rapson, who was charged with holding on to a motor vehicle for the purpose of being drawn along, was convicted and dicharged.