POLICE COURT CASES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10616, 15 June 1920, Page 2

POLICE COURT CASES

A THIEF SENTENCED. VARIOUS OFFENDERS CHARGED. At the sitting of the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr E. tage, S.M., occupied the bench. THEFT FROM A TILL. An able-bodied man, Patrick Mayo, alias Main, alias Maine, admitted that on Saturday he stole £6 Gd, the money ox Peter Gerondia, but by way of ■ extenuation he submitted that he was drunk at the time, and that the money was left in such a position as to prove a great temptation. Sub-lnspeotor Emerson . admitted that there might be something in tho accused's statement. The facts were that bo entered the Gerondis' restaurant, and had a meal, for which he paid. At that time he leaned acrosti the counter and thrust his hand, in joking fashion, towards the till, but did not touch any cash. He then left the shop, but waited about until Gerondis left the premises temporarily, whereupon he roturned to the shop and committed the theft. Subsequently, he was arrested by a, constable, to whom h e proffered the information that he only had 2s 3d in his possession. When he was searched, £6 18s in silver and copper was found. He had othor convictions for theft. A centencc of two months' imprisonment, with hard labour, was imposed. "A VERY BAD CASE." "This is a very bad case," said Sub-Inspector Emerson with reference to a charge against William Croft of using obscene language within hearing of passers-by on Lambton quay. The accused, a seaman by occupation, had made use of tlie language while he was drunk, and in the course of a challenge to all and sundry to fight. Croft was very modest about his c:ipabiliiies as a pugilist, as he <:::'y considered himself good enough, iu fight Jess WiUard. A fine of £5, or in default twentyone days' imprisonment, was imposed. Croft was also mulcted 5s for inebriacy. AN INCORRIGIBLE ROGUE!

Annie O'Connor did not deny that she was an incorrigible roguo, but she asked for a chance.

Sub-Inspector Emerson said that, so far as the police could ascertain, the accused had not- worked since she was discharged from gaol. A sentence of two months' impriGonment was imposed, and O'Connor was also convicted of drunkenness. MAINTENANCE MATTERS. .

Frank Williams, whose arrears in respect of a maintenance order amounted to £4, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, the warrant to ho suspended 60 long as 35s per week is paid off the arrears. George Ireland was ordered to pay off arrears amounting to .£l3 12s 6d at the rate of 20s per week, or to go to gaol for one month. DRUNKENNESS. On charges of drunkenness, two first-offenders were dealt with. Edmund James Cuehion and Henry Knox were each fined 10s for a second offence, while Mark Cass,in; who did not appear, was mulcted £1 for a similar lapse.