MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1933, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

GREYMOUTH CHARGES

GREYMOUTH, July 18

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday charges dealt with by Mr W. Meldrum S-M., included the following:— Appearing on remand, Albert Frederick Clarke, 50, was charged that, on April 1.5, at Westport, with intent to defraud, lie obtained from Lawrence Johnston the sum of £8 12s, by means >of a valueless 'cheque drawn on the Commercial Bank of Australia, Westport. 1 The Sergeant applied for a further remand, for a week, and it wag granted.

suitcase; taken. William Patrick O’Donnell, 53, alias Mcßride, alia** Brophy, alias Loftus, alias Bryant, was charged that, on July 15,' at -G.reymouth, he committed the theft- of a suitoase, and its contents, valued at £4, the property of Jane Gertrude McKechnie. Accused pleaded guilty. Tlie Sergeant said that the suitcase was left in the passage at 4.30 pun, and lmd disappeared about 6 pun. Accused, who was staying at another hotel, admitted the theft, and was arrested. His previous record of convictions for theft and fase pretences was very bad. Accused said that he was drunk, but that was no'excuse. He did not know why he took the suitcase, which was full of women',3 stuff. He was very sorry for what lie had done. He stated that he.. had . never had a chance, and had always boon well, kicked when he got. into trouble. If the S.M. was lenient, it might be the ’ast time he (accused) would appear mi Court. The Qnrcpant said that accused could not have been, too drunk, as he took the name off the. suitcase. The S M ft-id that, unfortunately, accused had a long list of previous convictions, and -had served terms of imprisonment ranging from one month to three years. He would be sentermed to «ix months’ impfisnmouL with hard labour, in Panrua Prison An order was nwde for the return of the suitcase to the owner.

SCENE IN TEA-ROOMS Bjorn Hansen, 29, a member of the crew of the’ Huaiii, pleaded guilty when charged; (IT That,. on July 15, he wilfully damaged a door-frame, valued at . £1 Is, a screen valued at. ps,v'.and. a pan-3 of frosted glass, .valued,,at IPs, the. property of Bali ay 'Saraty.(2) -that he wilfully damaged ' y pell utensil 1 valued ,at 9s the .property (if , the Police , .Department g \3) that he ... Ayae.. ~ . drunk, , on. . Boundary .Street, at, 9.40 phni , ... ' The d?.e,rgoant.' -,said ..accused, was iirider tlib influence of liquor on Saturday night. He went jpto. Miss Saraty .s v. became very boisterous, and was. ejected. H,e apparently went inad, '.and committed, the damage. The -captain of. the veseel was .prepared to ■Dfke him bqdCjv. Ho-bad . been, in ,custody since. .-Saturday] pight.. .: r ?p ; '‘ Accused;sa'd' liepwas .'•had occurred: ;: , Dn the,;pharge.- Qf kdnmkcnncsS,-,.,he avbb convicted and s discharged. For damaging the ..cell- utensil,: he ;; va S fined £1 and ordered .to; pay- 9s to . the Police( Department, in- default seven days’ imprisonment.,;. On the ■; cliavge of . committing ; . : misclii rt .f at - rooms;. he- "wa«, ftimd" £l. and.rordered to Pay £l-16.3 to; Miss Saratv,m default seven days’ imprisonment.

• NATIVE PIGEONS SHOT. That, on May 11, a.t ’Punakpikii.lhe.v took native pigeons, was the charge against Henry ‘Stephen Langiidge, farmer, of Barry town, and Martin Ambrose Clancy, unemployed, of Cobden. Langridge pleaded guilty, but Clancy, did not appear. , . The Sergeant said that the defendants were seen coming out pf thc-.-hush by the ranger. Langridge had a pigeon in’.h is: hand, and two in his pockets; he . dropped them, when ho ■aw the ranger. : . V • '• -

; In-'the ■ witness-box, ‘Langridge stated that he and Clancy went into tlio bush near Barrytown, to look for tim- ; her. Clancy was carrying a rifle. Witness was short of meat,; and shot two pigeons. He left the rifle, .to go and get tlie pigeons, and when he came back Clancy had a pigeon in, hie hand. He could not say that Clancy shot it i He did not "hear a shot while he was I away from Clancy. Witness'only fired two shots.

The Sergeant: You did not think that you had killed two pigeons with one shot?—Hardly. You, would not ask the Court to be. lieve that?—No.

. Constable Paddy stated that, when interviewed, Clancy stated- that the ■pea-rifle' was lent to him' by Langvidge-; Clancy said that he did not" do -any shooting, and lie ' would not ®ay. that Langridge shot any pigeons. The vanger searched Langridge, and found the-pigeons on him ; ’ • , ; • The Sergeant- explained that the ranger had not been brought to Court, as •> it would' -have cost about £3’ TOs; in View of the fact that Langridge - was pleading guilty. . The S.M: fined each of- the defendants'" £4, with ebsitfi. In "the case of Clancy, these amounted to 14s 9d, and in the case-of Langridge to 9s 9d. - AN AGENT CHARGED.

Two charges were laid against Edward John Hill, commission ,agent, of Gfeymouth,. the prosecution being conducted by Detective-Sergeant. T- E. Holmes," Hill was charged, (1;) That biiMay. 12, with intent' to . flefraud. he obtained .'froih Margaret Tyler -the sum of . £lO, bjv falsely representing that- lie had been, unable to collect a bum of : mopey foy Margaret, Tyler froin Annie Dando, and that ho had been present at a conversation between- -Annie-Dando and her father-in-law, Stanley Darxlo, where it had been decided that Margaret Tyler would be paid no further money -by Annie Dando, and that in. the event of Margaret Tyler not refunding within twelve hours moneys previously paid to her by Annie Dando, the said Margaret Tyler would be charged with blackmail; (2) that, on May 12; at Greymoutli, he committed the theft of ■£12.156, the. property of Margaret Tyler. Accused .elected to be dealt with summarily, -and pleaded not guilty. He was represented by Mr W. P. McCarthy on whose application witnesses were ordered out of Court. The two charges were taken together. After hearing lengthy evidence, his Worship Tecerved his judgment.