COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1927, Page 5

COURT NEWS

A £5OOO STEAL. By Railway Clerks. NO RESTITUTION. CJIRiox CHURCH, Feb. 25. Two railway clerks, John James Nel son (27) and Gavin Gordon Watson (27) were charged to-day with the forgery of pay-shests, ai d were remanded til'l March 8. The police said that the amount involved was in the vicinity of £5OOO, and was beyond hope of restitution. Bail was allowed. CHINESE ASSAULTS MAORI. WITH A FORK. AUCKLAND, Feb. 25. A fine of £3. with costs £4/4/-, was imposed on a Chinese, Jim Yee, aged 19 (Mr Leary) in the Police Court on a. charge of assaulting Wawe Tarau, a Maori. The charge was reduced from one .of- assault to causing actual bodily harm. Wawe Tarau, a labourer, of Paninura, said that on February he called at a Chinese restaurant in Albert Street to see a girl distantly related to him, who was married to a Chinese. He asked for her, but the accused said she was out, and told him to go outside. Witness remained, and after a. time, the accused called him into the kitchen. Witness went through the door, and the accused then suddenly stuck a fork into his thigh, saying: "I am not afraid of you! ” Witness did not threaten accused, or use insulting

language. After the evidence of accused and the proprietor of the restaurant had been heard, the Magistrate, Mr McKean said he thought the Maori had given some provocation, and that some kind of a struggle had ensued. He would take into account the fact that there had been some aggravation.

PICKPOCKETS DEPORTED. AUCKLAND, Feb. 25. Henry Morton (30) and George Harris (28), two Australian pickpockets, in the Police Court to-day stated that, they would return to Australia by today’s steamer, having money to pay their fares. Mr McKean, S.M., said the accused were liable to three months’ imprisonment on charges of being idle and disorderly persons, with insufficient means of support, to which they had pleaded guilty. They were prohibited immigrants, and the best thing for them to do would be to return to Australia. Each was convicted and ordered t - com-, for sentence when called upon, with an order that they remain in custody till the Ulimaroa sails. FURTHER DETAILS. AUCKLAND, Feb. 25. Described by Chief Detective (ummings as professional piekpock' ts, Hen ry Morton, aged 30. and George Harris, aged 28, appeared in the Police Court for sentence on charges of vagrancy. Detective Cummings said that the two men admitted that they came to the Dominion to pick pockets during the Royal visit. Morton had a number of previous convictions, and he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment last year. He was a prohibited immigrant. Harris had also been convicted as a pickpocket The men were natives of Australia and stated that, if given a chance, they would go back by the Ulimaroa, sailing later in the day. Mr W. R. McKean, S.M.:— "There is no evidence of the commission of any offence ? ” Detective Cummings: "No!’’ The Magistrate warned the accused that they were liable to a sentence of three months’ imprisonment on the present charge, and that, if charged with being prohibited immigrants they would be liable to a fine of £lOO, imprisonment for six months, and deportation The accused were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. They were directed to Inkept in custody u*ttil their steamer sailed for Australia.

A further remand for a week was granted in the case of William Grady, alias Whitehall, aged 37, and James O’Neill, alias Sid Morgan, aged -16, who were described by the Chief Detective as international criminals and professional pickpockets. They had previously plaeded "guilty” to Consorting with reputed thieves. Detective Cummings added that further inquiries were being made.

TOO FULL FOR WORDS! HAMILTON, February 25. No appearance was. made by John George Henry Blanc in the SupremeCourt this afternoon when charged with discharging a firearm with intent to intimidate persons in a dwelling house. It was stated that the accused was seen in an advanced state of intoxication last night. A warrant was issued for his arrest. TOO MANY IN! INVERCARGILL, Feb. 25. At the Police Court, John E. Hansen, chairman of the Kapuka School Committee. was fined £3 for using obscene language, and £1 for riotous conduct. The disturbance occurred at a farewell presentation to a teacher, the de fondant objecting to the gift selected. The defendant admitted that he hud taken more whisky and beer than be could carry. CATTLE THEFT. NAPIER, Feb. 25. At the Supreme Court Judge Ostler fined Martin Paget, a Putorino farmer £5O on a charge- of stealing three head of cattle, the property of George Percy Coates, a neighbouring farmer. 3he jury inspected the cattle alleged to have been stolen, and returned a verdict that accused was guilty ol stealing one cow. They recommended accused to mercy. His Honour said that he took into consideration the jury’s rider, and also the fact of accused’s previously honourable record. Six month; was allowed in which to pay the fine. OPIUM SMUGGLERS FINED. ' AUCKLAND, Feb. 24. A fine of £5O, with costs, for be-

ing found in possession of opium in a form suitable for smoking, was imposed >n Samuel Herbert Daly, a seaman on he Ulimaroa, in the Police Court.

Rgeinald Albert Dutton was fined £5 with costs for a similar offence. Detective Cummings said Daly admitted he bought the opium in Aus tralia, but declined to reveal from whom the purchase was made. Tins which were bought for £2/10/in Australia, were being freely distributed among Chinese in the city for £l2 or £l3.

The Magistrate said that the charges had been laid under a minor section of the Act, otherwise Daly would have been liable to a fine of £5OO for importing opium.

As Daly had admitted bringing the drug into New Zealand and selling it. he would be fined £5O with costs. This was the maximum penalty. As Dutton had apparently made his first attemn to sell the tins, he would be fined £5 with costs. Daly said he could not pay the fine. Three months’ imprisonment was fixed as default. On the way t Mount Eden Prison, accused stated he would produce the amount if accompanied to his quarters on the Ulimaroa. lie was escorted to the boat and return cd with the full amount,