POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 19805, 2 March 1928, Page 5

POLICE COURT

FRIDAY, MARCH 2.

(Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.)

ADMITTED TO PROBATION,

John Burke was brought up for sentence on a, charge’ of receiving three sacks of sugar, the property of the New Zealand Railways. The Magistrate said that the probation officer had made a full report, and it was with some hesita*lon that he acceded to the officer’s recommendation, and he did so only in consideration of the excellent character given accused in the report. Accused’s offence was one that was difficult to detect. Though it had been stated that the sugar had. been obtained from the carter, there was a strong suspicion that it might have gone into the railway without marks. Accused would be admitted to probation for a period of two years. REMANDED.

Alexander Smith, charged with having assaulted a female, was remanded for a week.—The Senior Sergeant said that the woman, who was accused’s sister-in-law, was in the hospital, having been operated on this morning.— Mr C. J. L. White, for accused, said that the affair Had been a family quarrel; the woman had struck Smith, and ho had struck back. —His Worship refused to grant bail. DRUNKENNESS.

John Gordon Scoullar pleaded guilty to druiikeifness. —The Senior Sergeant said this was another of the “methylated spirit men.” Ho had been convicted last. Monday on a similar charge. —Defendant said he could get work in the country again if given a chance.— Defendant was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within three months, on condition that the cab fare incurred (3s) was paid within twentyfour hours and that he leave Dunedin. Michael Size was charged with drunkenness and with having used obscene language on the railway station. — I he accused had been convicted on the latter charge and ordered to come up for sentence, and he was now ordered to bo imprisoned on that charge tor one month. On the charge of drunkenness, which was his third offence within three months, he was convicted and discharged. INSUFFICIENT MEANS OF SUPPORT.

Elliott Creswell Stanfield appeared on the charge of being idle and disorderly and ot having insufficient means of support. Accused (for whom Air White appeared) pleaded guilty. Air White said that accused was fifty-three years of age, and cam© to New Zealand twenty-six years ago. At that time he was a man of literary ability, but became a sufferer from fits and was admitted to the Benevolent Institution. Later he was kept there because ho did menial work about the place. Before Air Mead, the old superintendent, died, ho informed the trustees that Stanfield would carry on as an assistant. Accused was turned down, however, and began gradually to drift. Later on he secured work in a laundry, but when the machines wore introduced lie refused to work them. On that account ho was turned out. Counsel contended that tho man had been kept in the institution until he had become a helpless wreck, having lost his powers through simple inertia. A year ago, when ho had been before the court, tho case was adjourned and lie was ordered to remain for a period in the Addington Homo. After two months there ho left mid was befriended by tho Salvation Army and others. He was no criminal, and to be sent to gaol would only make him one. Ho was suffering from an infectious skin trouble, and should bo remanded for medical attention and a report. Charles K. Anderson, the manager of tho Salvation Army Shelter, said that ho could not say a word against accused, and he had never seen him the worse for liquor. He considered him unable to work in bis present state. Ho advised that accused he sent hack to the Benevolent Institution.

James William Dove gave evidence as to accused’s behaviour in tin institution.

Accused was remanded for medical examination.

A f AINTE N A NCE SOUGHT

Air A. C. Hanlon appeared for the wife of Trevor Llewellyn Tapp, who. on the grounds of cruelty, applied for a separation, maintenance, and guardianship order against her husband. An order was given for the guardianship of the children and for maintenance to the amount of £2 a. week. FORGERY CHARGE.

Arthur Aliddleton Leggett was charged on remand with having obtained £9 Os fid from E. W. G. Rudkin by moans of a. valueless cheque.

Chief-detective Cameron asked that, this charge be withdrawn and one of forgery of the same cheque substituted. A second charge of having forged a cheque for £lO 6s with the intention that Stewart Clark should act upon it was preferred against accused, for whom Air F. Forrester appeared. Frederick William George Rudkin, licensee of the Bowling Green Hotel, gave evidence as to accused tendering the cheque, which was purported to he signed by R. G. Parker. Witness accepted the cheque and cashed it, because accused had appeared to bo quite frank when asked about the cheque. Stewart Clark, barman at the Waterloo Hotel, gave evidence as to the tendering of the cheque which was the subject of the second charge. Constable Taylor produced a statement made by accused at the deteciive office. In this statement Leggett admitted obtaining the cheque form from Wilkinson, a chemist in the arcade, and signing and cashing them as set out. He had been on a drinking bout, and it had been his intention to recoup the hotelkeepers so soon ns ho had sufficient money. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. EXPLAN ATI ON ACCEPTED. Theodore Allan (Mr A. C. Hanlon) was charged with being found on licensed premises after hours. Sergeant APEntec said that at 6.35 p. m. on February 4 he noticed defendant, with a woman, being let out of the Waterloo Hotel. Interrogated, defendant said that he and the lady had had tea at the hotel. He had had two drinks and purchased a quantity of boor before 6 o’clock. Defendant had a gallon jar and two bottles with him when interviewed by the police. Defendant, a laborer, said the Terries were personal friends of his, and made a practice of having tea with them whenever he came to town. Atari a Tome, wife of the licensee of tho hotel, corroborated the last witness’s evidence. The woman who was with defendant at tho time also gave similar evidence. The last witness was also the subject of a charge similar to that laid against Allan. It was agreed that the evidence already taken should be treated as evidence in her ease.

His Worship accepted the explanation put forward by the defendants and dismissed the charges. Mr Hanlon asked that the name ol the female defendant be suppressed, but His Worship said that ho would make no order, but would suggest to the Press that tins might be done. MOTORISTS CHARGED.

James Craig, for cutting the corner in his motor car, was fined 10s, with costs.

Francis Collins, for leaving his motor car unlighted, was convicted only. Howard Alexander Brugli (Mr Barrowclough, jun.) was charged with having driven a car in a manner dangerous to the public and with having Jailed to stop after hitting a tramoar.—The Senior Sergeant said that defendant struck the car and two men who were alighting.—Counsel for, the defendant said that he did not think it vw gen-

erally known that motorists arc expected to stop when another vehicle was struck, even though the impact was slight.—Defendant was convicted on the charge of dangerous driving and lined IDs, court costs (19s), and witnesses’ expenses (.‘iOs). On the second charge a conviction only was entered. In the ease against John William Ovens, a taxi driver, charged with dangerous driving, Mr Anderson explained that defendant, having a fourwheel brake, and seeing an inexperienced driver ahead of him, got out of the line of cars coming from thhe races on February 11.—His Worship said defendant would be given tho benefit of tho doubt, and the charge was dismissed. Henry Thomas Pleace was charged with dangerous driving on the return from the Wingatui Races. It was stated in evidence that accused broke out fjrom the lino of traffic, and passed several cars at a speed of thirty-four miles per hour. He was fined 40s and costs, FELL INTO THE TRAP. A number of motorists were proceeded against on charges of having driven their cars in a manner dangerous to the public. The offences were alleged to have been committed on a race day in the borough of Green Island, and the police evidence was that the speed varied from thirty-one to thirty-five miles an hour. It was admitted that there was no other traffic on the road, and that in some cases the defendants had not broken tlm line. Tho Senior-sergeant said that instructions had been given to prosecute everyone travelling over thirty miles an hour, and a trap had been set, the speed being checked by a stop watch. Mr Anderson, who appeared for one of the defendants, said that to suggest thirty-one miles an hour as excessive in the circumstances was absurd. The Magistrate said that when motorists were proceeding to the races and keeping their places in a line, thirty-one miles an hour was certainly not unreasonable. In answer to the bench, tho Senior Sergeant said that the danger lay in the speed, and the amount of the traffic about. There were thirty-two cases arising out of the same circumstances.

His Worship said he would adjourn the matter until the other similar cases came before the court. Jt seemed strange that drivers doing thirty miles an hour were exempted and those doing thirty-one were charged with, dangerous driving.