MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17279, 21 September 1916, Page 9

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

CHRISTCHURCH. Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., presided at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Stephen Carr, Fred Jackson, William Musson and T. R. It. Johns pleaded fuilty to the theft at Halswell on eptember 11 of twelve sacks of potatoes and four sacks of chaff, valued at £9 14s, the property of the New Zealand Express Company. Mr Johnston appeared for Carr and Musson, and Mr Cassidy for Johns. Chief Detective Herbert said that all the men were married, with the exception of Jackson, who was the only one who had a previous conviction, having been sentenced to three months' imprisonment for the theft of a motorcycle and fourteen days’ imprisonment for assault. The goods had been recovered. Mr Johnston said that Musson’s takings as a billiard saloon keeper had gone down owing to the war, and he had been tempted to steal. He had five children. Carr was in the fish business, and his takings had gone down badly. Mr Cassidy said that Johns had four children, and his employers were prepared to take him back. The chief detective said that Musson’s business might bo declining, but he was stiff the owner of a valuable trotting horse. Jackson was fined £lO, in default two months’ imprisonment. The others were each fined £5, in default one month’s imprisonment. Mary Connell was brought up for sentence charged with the theft of a pair of boots valued at 9s 6d, the property of Stewart Robinson. • She had many previous convictions, including theft and drunkenness. She was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, conditionally on her remaining in the Salvation Army Home for six months. George Newman was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment for stealing a pair of boots, valued at 18s 9d, the property of Charles GoughPeter Pilot pleaded guilty to the theft of 30s, the property of William Brown, and also to charges of failing to account for various sums of money amounting to £3 4s 3d. Chief Detective Herbert said that Pilet had been employed by Brown’s laundry, and had failed to account for £4 13 5d in all He had two children, and was in very poor circumstances. Drink was the cause of the trouble, and a prohibition order would do good. He was convicted and prohibited and ordered to repay the money within fourteen days. John Stratts was cliaiged on the information of the Acclimatisation Society, for whom Mr Brown appeared, with netting four trout at Lake Fllosmero. Mr Brown asked for more than a nominal fine, as Stratts had tried to £ell the fish. The accused, who pleaded guilty, said that the fish had come in Iris flounder net. He was fined £5, with costs 7.5, and solicitor’s fee £1 Is. Ethelbert Henry Best was fined 20s for failing to drive on the proper side of the street. T. E. Hammond was fined 5s and costs for allowing a horse to wander. Thomas Edward Bruce (Mr Johnston). pleaded not guilty to charges of disturbing an entertainment and drunkenn»as »t tb" Rid"nly Hall on August 19. Tho only evidence for the provecutinn was given by tie -onclu and doorkeeper of a small privato “ assembly.” The chargo of drunkenness was dismissed, on the g'-nnnd that the. dance was not a public place. After hearing Ih6 evidence of Bruco and his wife, the Magistrate dismissed the other charge. ASHBURTON. Mr It. Galbraith, J.P., and Mr R. Clark, J.P., presided at' the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Cornelius Patrick Sullivan was charged with assr.Mlt on a married woman at Tinwald on September 12 with intent to commit a criminal offence. Accused was represented by Mr R. Kennedy, and Senior-Sergeant Ryan prosecuted. After evidenco hau been heard accused, who pleaded not guilty/ and reserved his defence, was committed for trial at tho next sitting of tlio Supreme Court at Christchurch on October 30. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £IOO each and accused in £IOO.