POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 23384, 29 September 1939, Page 9

POLICE COURT

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2S. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) REFORMATIVE DETENTION. Three charges of theft and two of obtaining n number of sucks by moans of a false pretence were preferred against William Clifford Alexander Grainger, for whom Mr O. G. Stevens appeared. He pleaded guilty. _ Chief-detective Holmes, in outlining the charges, said that the accused had purchased two lots of sacks from separate business firms, representing in one case that he was acting on behalf of his father, who, he said, was a grocer, and in the other case that he had produce which he wished to bag. In each case accused had immediately afterwards sold the sacks at a lower price than that which he had arranged with the vendors. The cases of theft concerned two bicycles—one which accused borrowed and then sold for 15s. and the other which-" he had taken from a stand in Vogel street and sold for 10s —and a wrist watch which had been handed to him by a fellow-boarder at the Salvation Army shelter for sale, and which accused had pawned. Mr Stevens said that accused, who was 31 years of age, had been quite frank and honest with the police. He was, however, becoming quite a problem. He had been previously convicted, but not since 1937. Counsel added that accused had enlisted, certainly since committing the offences, and had been passed fit. The Magistrate: His unfortunate companions might suffer from his petty thieving habits. Mr Stevens suggested that if accused attempted that sort of thing he would probably be severely dealt with by his victims. The Chief Detective said that he did not think it was desirable that this typo of man should go into the Army. Mr Stevens: “Napoleon, I think it was, once said that ‘ the rougher the man, the better the soldier.’ And, ’ added counsel, “ he ought to know.” His Worship remarked _ that the offences had been of a despicable nature, and if- accused committed them while in one occupation, he would do tho same in another. Accused would be sentenced to six months’ reformative detention on the charges of the theft of the bicycles. On tho other charges he would be 'convicted and discharged. If tho Prison Board saw fit to review the sentence, said His Worship, it could do so. DRUNKENNESS. A first offender, who did not appear, was fined the amount of his bail (20s). in default 24 hours’ imprisonment, on a charge of drunkenness. ADJOURNED CASE. Allen Clyde Johnson, against whom a charge of theft had been adjourned for 12 months, was now convicted and discharged. the report being satisfactory MOTORING OFFENCES. For exceeding the speed limit with motor vehicles, Daniel Joseph Finnegan, Malcolm St. Clair Ferguson, Clement Rutherford Hall were each fined 30s; John Callan Stevenson 20s; Henry Bell Ramsay 40s; Leslie Arthur Hellyer 255; and Thomas Winn 10s, with costa in each case. For parking cars for a longer period than that set out in the regulations, Thomas Barkla was fined 4s, and Gordon Francis, John Blue, Oswald Louis Garden, Arthur James Howison, George Rodger Hunter 5s each, with costs in each case. For parking in a prohibited area, James Alexander MacDonald was fined 5s and costs. Sally Oscar Fromm, who overtook another motor vehicle without the necessary distance for visibility, was fined 20s'and costs. Brian O’Tool was fined ss, with costs, for failing to keep the truck he was driving to the correct side of the road, Douglas Marsh, on a similar charge, was fined 20s and costs.

The case against Donald Wilson Gordon of having driven a car without due cafe and attention, which had been adjourned to enable defendant to attend classes for tuition, was now reviewed and -defendant convicted and dis charged. As driver of an unlicensed truck, Michael David Costello was fined 15s and costs.

Tho charge against Fergus Flockhart Dunn, of failing to stop at the rear of a stationary tram car, was adjourned for three months to enable defendant to attend classes of instruction; costs (10s) to bo paid. Alexander Cameron Weir applied for a rehearing in respect of n charge of having been intoxicated in charge of a motor oar, permission having been given to apply for the removal of a suspension order.—The removal was granted on conditions winch included restricted uso of tho car by defendant. UNLIGHTED BICYCLE. For riding an unlighted bicycle. Andrew Frederick Creighton was fined 10s and costs.—Andrew Hunter, on a similar charge, was fined 5s and costs. UNCONTROLLED HORSE. Albert Edward Dardanelles Wilson, who had left his horse, attached to a dray, tied to a post so that it moved on to the footpath, was convicted and discharged on a charge of being tho driver of a horse of which ho had not control. AFTER HOURS, .Pleading guilty to being unlawfully on licensed premises during prohibited hours. John Turner Leon Wynn was fined 10s, and costs. UNREGISTERED DOG. Charles Samson, as owner of an unregistered dog, was convicted and ordered to pay costs (10s).

BREACHES OF REGULATIONS. Donald Stalker Meek was charged with a broach of the regulations governing electrical wiring work and with having failed to notify the authorities concerning such work. He was fined £2 and costs on the first charge and convicted and ordered to pay costs (XOs'i on the second charge. The hearing of the adjourned charge against the Cairmuir Coal Company Ltd. of having carried on business without ft license was resumed, and the defendants were convicted and ordered to pay costs (10s) and solicitor’s fee (£3 3s). The ‘ Tnapeka Times ’ Newspaper Company Ltd. was convicted on a charge of failing to file an annual return as required by the regulations and ordered to pay costs (10s) and solicitor’s fee (£3 3s). PETTY THIEVING’. Cuthbcrt Earl M'Keagg faced three charges of theft involving a rug, an overcoat, and a tin of motor oil. He was represented by Mr W. H. Carson, and pleaded guilty to all charges except that of theft of an overcoat. Evidence was given by William Wilson, the owner of the missing coat, by Hector M'Douald Thomson, Walter

Went (formerly a barman), and Detec-tive-sergeant Hall. The accused, on oath, said that the coat was sold to him by the witness Dent for £l. Tho Magistrate said he could not accept accused’s statement, and convicted him. In regard! to the charges to which accused had pleaded guilty, the Chief Detective said that the rug and the tin of oil had been found at accused’s home. Mr Carson said that accused’s case presented a problem. He apparently went straight for a number of years, and then broke out into petty thieving. If any leniency could lie extended ho and his wife and child would go to the country. On tho charge of the theft of a rug accused was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, and on the other two charges was convicted and discharged. The Magistrate remarked that a man who would steal from motor cars and from his employers as he had done deserved no consideration.