DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1925, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

UY TELKOUACH —-PBESB ASSN., OOPYBIOHT. LAND EXCHANGE CASE. HAMILTON, October 11. The judgment ol Judge llerdnian was delivered in the Supreme Court m the ease wherein William. Allen Paterson and Jane Paterson sued Erederiek Charles Hand for 215,150 in a damages m-tion which had its origin in respect ~l ;1 bind exchange. Plaintills alleged that in their dealings with Hand, defendant was guilty of fraud nr in the alternative, that in 10- capacity as their agent the defendant was guilty ~l ;1 breach ol duty. His Honour held l here was enough evidence to li"d fraudulent misrepresentation and judgment was given for the plaint-ills lor e | | with costs according to scale.

TWO YEARS’ li EFORM ATT VE. APCKL AND, October U. Ai Hie Supreme Court. Walter Altridge ( ounnell. was charged with -iesliug bond- valued at LIOIIO. was sentenced to i»" year-’ reformative dc nii,,n. Counsel lor the accused said hi- client who was employed by the N.Z. Isu ranee Company had made restitution as Ili r as lie I mss i 1 >IV cntlid. He had yielded in temptation to avoid heavy blackmail. The director- had a*,reed that probation would he ill the young man's interest ;.x I-.- had 10-i hi-pn.-ilioll with Ihe company. Ihe Judge considered it was md in (lie public interest that probation should he granted. Considering the accused - previous exemplary character the sentence would he ii-fnl'timt ive detention not exceeding two years. A similar sentence was recorded on a -ecoml charge

SERIES OF THEFTS. Cl! 11ISTCII FRCII. October 11. All rihutiug Ins crimes, lo over indulgence in gambling and racing, a postal ollicer. James Laureiison. a single man. pleaded gtliliy to tluee eotmls ol having stolen a total oi L'Sllo. t lit' property of the I’ostniastcr-Ceneral. and to two further charges ol having lor.ged the names of Janies ami Kathleen Dowling, to a Rost Olliee Savings Bank withdrawal receipt lor L'R>s, and with having acted upon ii as il it were genuine. Accused appeared be I ore Mr AN vvei n W ilson. S.AI., in the .Magistrate's (.'mill.

In rile course of his evidence. Detective Bickerdike said l.anrenson had been verv open and candid over tin' whole matter, and he had assisted the police in every way. Accused was committed to tin' .Supremo Court for sentence, hail being refused.

UNDER WOMAN'S BED. Cl I R ISTC! 1 FRCI I, October 11. Any man who lies under a lied in someone else’s house for an hour alter sunset can do so with impunity. There is no law miller which he can he prosoi m ll i. This amazing anomaly was disclosed in the .Magistrate’s Court to-day hot ore Mr AYyvern Wilson, S.M. Dougins Alexander Davison, aged 25, was charged with attempted theft, from the dwelling ot Evangeline Litchfield, on .September 21. Davison laid been found in the twilight, hour under Mrs Liieheiicld's bed. In a statement ho made to tile police, Davison said that lie went into a house in Dorhv Street. The door was open. He did not know whose house it was. He had been in the place only a couple of minutes when lie heard footsteps, and he crawled under the bed. I hen lie lieatd footsteps in the room and crawled out again, and ran out ol the house. He could give no reason for his going into the house.

The magistrate -aid that he did not think there was sufficient evidence of an attempt to -teal. Tile fact that the man was found under tt woman’s bed at night could not H? taken as evidence that he was there to steal. Davison should have been brought tip on a charge of being a vogue and a vagabond. in that lie was found in a residence at night without lawful excuse. Chief Detective Gibson said that such a charge could not lie brought because the sun set at 7 minutes to b on that evening and Mrs Litchfield said Davison was at the house at 20 minute- to 7. For that charge to lie brought Davison would have to bo in the house later than an hour after sunset. The Magistrate: There c not sufficient evidence of an attempt to steal. The Chief Detective: There is no protection for women at all. The -.agistrate: No, of course there is not. The charge was dismissed.