MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1932, Page 6

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

SEVERAL CHARGES OF THEFT,

HEARD BEFORE AIR AIELDRUAI S.M.

Eleven charges of theft against three defendants comprised the bulk of the business heard before Air Meldrum, S.AL, in the Hokitika Alagistrate’s Court to-day. Esther Walsh and Alary Walsh were jointly charged with the theft of money from "William Townsend. Each pleaded not guilty. Sergeant C. J. King briefly outlined the case. William Townsend, an old age pensioner, residing in Sewell Street, said that accused had frequently visited him on pension day to borrow money, but they had always repaid him. One ■night last February, they came to his hut and into, his bedroom at 1.30 a.m., when he was reading. At that time he haj 27s in his vest which was hanging up nearby. One asked for 2s 6d, and insisted on borrowing it, so he reached for the vest to give her the 2s 6d, to get rid of her. He took a £1 not© and made to put it under the pillow, when one of them grabbed the note, as well as the silver. He remonstrated but to no avail. He later wrote asking for restitution, and since then 14s had been l’opaid, but they had not since been back at his hut. At the time of their last visit to him, he thought they had had a few “spots,” but were able to look after themselves. Alary Walsh: I never saw any money transactions that night, not a penny, not threepence. Witness: Bunkum ! Esther Walsh had no questions to

put to -witness. ( Alary Walsh, in the box, denied seeiny any money, whatever, in the hut, and denied taking the £1 from under the pillow. To Sergeant King: I have never borrowed money from him i)t any time. Sergeant King—You know when pension day is.—Why should I! Sergeant King—You draw a pension yourself.—Yes. , Why did you go in to Air Townsend’s but?—My sister used to get papers to read from him, and I went with her that night for that purpose. You were not under the influence of

liquor.—No. You swear that you’ve never been under the influence.—Yes. s . Sergeant King—You’re brave. The Bench: Did your sister borrow any money that night?'—Not that I know of.

Sergeant King—You were before the Court on another occasion, on. a charge of using obscene language?—Yes. Esther Walsh entered the box, and said that Air Townsend’s: evidence was partly. correct, in that she _ got. the -2s -6'd T .:but'.-did . not see the £l. The Bench : Then why did you send back 14s ? Because I had borrowed monev from him before, and was still

owing him some. Was there any struggle with Air To wn send th a t night ? —No. Sergeant King—You admit having written to him and sending him

money?—Yes. Rather an unseemly hour to pay a visit?—Yes, it was. Were you strictly sober?' —Well 1 wouldn’t say that. Was your sister sober?—As far ae I know.

The Bench said that there was only one conclusion and that was that the £1 had been stolen from, the old man. Esther Walsh’s evidence was given satisfactorily, but Alary Walsh’s was otherwise. Each would he convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months’, and an order was made for the restoration of the balance of the money owing to Air Townsend. NINE CHARGES OF THEFT.

Nine charges of theft were preferred against John Thomas Knuckey Spar,g,o, of Runtapu.

Accused pleaded guilty to each charge and elected to be dealt with

summarily,

Sergeant King said that the articles involved were valued at £lO. Some had been taken from Air Oederman by whom he had been employed, and the remainder, carpentering took. were taken from the ATental Hospital where lie was engaged as an assistant carpenter. A watch also was involved, but the whole of the articles had been recovered and were in the hands of the police. Accused had at first denied having committed the thefts hut, later, made a clean breast of it. He was only 19 years of age, and out of work, ami there was no previous charge against him.

The. Bench said that consideration of accused’s age would be taken into count, and a chance would he given him to make good. He would he convicted on each charge, and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within twelve months. The articles concerned wore to be returned, while •accused was ordered to make restitution in the case of an article which was dcstroved. '

An application for suppression of his name was refused. aiaintenance.

R. IT. Dunham was charged with disobedience of his maintenance order. Defendant said he was a hairdresser, lint his takings were only about 30s a week, while he wa* in arrears with rent. If lie couhl get other work he would take it.

The Magistrate adjourned the case for tliroe months.

BREACHES' OF BY-LAWS. N. ft. AY ikon was charged with al-

lowi'ur his horse to wander and wns lined ss, and '■•nsivs 10s. V.. Olson was fined 5s and costs 10s for riding a bicycle without a light. |