MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 16, 19 January 1880, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURT.

[Before H. E Curtis and S. Kingdon, Esqs

J.J.P.]

Arthur Palmer, a wool-sorter, was charged with stealing two shirts of the value of 6» from Mra 11. Wilkinson. The prisoner pleaded guilty, but the Superintendent of Police suggested that the Bench should hear some of the particulars.

Mrs Wilkinson said that the prisoner who toarded with her was leaving the house last _ hursday rr orning when she saw that he had her json'sj shirt, trousers, and waistcoat on, and on her speaking to him he went back to his room and took them off. Afterwards she missed three shirts and accused him of stealing them, , when he went and brought them out from under his bed where he had secreted them. Later again she missed two Bhirts which she found at Dc Carle's who said he had giveu the prisoner 2s 6d for them. John DeCarle was then called but at the instigation of the Supt. of Police he was warned that he need not answer any question that might lend to criminate him. The witLe»B replied that be had done nothing whatever to be ashamed of and therefore could have no reason for concealing anything. He had not purchased the Bhirts from the prisoner, but had only lent him 2s 6d on thtm. He told the prisoner that he hoped he would not spend the money in drink and he promised that he would not, as he wanted it to buy a meal with. He quite understood thafc he could get the shirts back on the repayment of the half crown. He (witness) lent bim money on several articles without charging interest, indeed, he was constantly lending money without charging any interest. All his transactions would bear the minutest enquiry. Sentence was deferred until the next case waa heard Arthur Palmer pleaded guilty to stealing a coat, value £2 ss, from Thomas Hannay, a fellow lodger. Detective Ede said that in consequence of information received he went to DeCarle 's on Saturday and asked about the coat. He said he had received such an one, hut had sold it, but could get it back, which he did. John DeCarle said tbat he had bought not only tbat coat, for which he had given 10s, but another for which he paid 6s. Prisoner said he had clothes enough to lasfc him three y.ars, bufc was out of work, and had no money to purchase a meal with. He (witness) sold the coat again for 15s. Superintendent Acheson said he should like to haad in a copy of the Police Gazette, in which it was shown that the prisoner had been previously convicted of two cases of larceny in Christchurch, where he had a wife and family whom he had deserted. The prisoner was then sentenced to three montha imprisonment for each offence, the sentences to follow each other. The Chairman said tbat the Bench felt compelled to remark upon the inducement offered to steal by the knowledge that there were such facilities for disposing of articles, for which Mr DeCarle must know that he was giving much less than their value. He hoped that these remarks would, bave the effect of putting a stop to such transactions. Mr . DeCarle said that he really felt extremely obliged to the Bench for tho caution, but he trusted that they would fully acquit him of any desire to do wrong. The Chairman : There can be no doubt whatever that a man of your years must be fully aware that facilities for the disposal of goods such as you offer must be an inducement to commit crime.

Sir George Bowyer in a letter to the Times : writes. — '.'We. are tp'.d. that, so far from A suffering from a, plethora of business, the . House of Lords has comparatively^. tie or no business. This reminds me of a man who saidthafc his correspondence gave him no troublt!. He always put his letters into the A fire unread.. • A man * asked Mr Pitt for a certain place. ' I sb.uld bave thought,' said the Minister, * tbat a sinecure would have , suited .you better.' . * True,' answered the applicant, ' but if you give me the place X .will make it a sinecure.' " c Crushing Prospect— Clara (to frienl who -is arranging for a carpet-dance): Wby not ' ask the nice American we met at tbe Sinclaifs'? Julia: What 1 the man with the J big feet ? Clara 1 : Yes. Julia: Gracious, J Clara I Fancy those feet .in my poor little •J room. They would dance all the quadrille. A• ' Printers' devils are generally supposed to he remunerated for their labors wiih the coin known as " monkeys' allowance "' — more s kicks than half-pence— but that they are people of very great consequence, is shown on Hhe authority of bis Honor Judge Hardcastle. During the hearing oi a recent case at the Distiict Court. Wanganui, he quoted from an eminent legal text book the following extract with regard '- io damages :—" Therefore, where some " printers' devils, who had been unlawfully imprisoned for six hours, brought their several actions, and the jury gave each of them £300 damages, the Court declined to J meddle with the verdict, although it was proved that each of the plaintiffs had been civilly treated, and been fed upon beefsteaks and porter during the Eperiod of their imc -prisonment." The reading of the quotation (says the /♦ ._» Zealander) gave much amuse\t_pnt in Court, and Jar* the nonce those Adespisid atoms* of human, ty— the P^D. s— went considerajjly up in the social scale.