CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24227, 20 February 1940, Page 4

CITY POLICE COURT

Monday, February 19 .(Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew. S.M.) Drunkenness “ This woman is hopeless,” said Sergeant Johnsen. when Sarah Elizabeth Smith, who was stated to have been convicted four times for a similar offence within the past six months, appeared on a charge of drunkenness She was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment. Alleged Theft of Petrol Two young men who were represented respectively by Mr J. C. Mowat and Mr O. G. Stephens, and whose names were suppressed until the facts have been gone into, were charged with having stolen a quantity of petrol, the police alleging that they had been found taking petrol from a motor car in Maori Hill.—On the application of counsel, both of the accused were remanded to appear on Friday, and were released on bail on their own recognisances. A Charge Dismissed Donald Victor Graham, aged 19. for whom Mr J. G. Warrington appeared, was charged with having unlawfully

converted a motor car to his own use.— Sergeant Johnsen explained that on Saturday evening the complainant, by whom the defendant was employed as chauffeur, missed his car from the garage, and shortly after 9 o’clock the defendant was seen driving it along Princes street. He had previously been 'warned by his employer, who was blind, that he must not use the car without permission.—Mr Warrington submitted that the matter was one in which the complainant might have summarily dismissed the defendant instead of taking criminal pi’oceedings. more especially as full control of the car had been vested in him.—Remarking that the week-end in custody had probably taught the defendant a lesson, and taking his age into account, his Worship -dismissed the charge under the special section of the Police Offences Act. Intoxicated Motorist James Wintrup, who was represented by Mr W. S. Armitage, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated • while in charge of a motor van, and to failing to carry a warrant of fitness.—lt was stated by the prosecution that about 9.40 on Saturday evening the defendant’s van was seen standing on the Brighton road, and when he was questioned by Traffic Inspector McKay and a constable he was found to be under the influence of liquor.—Mr Armitage said that the accused had enlisted, and

had been holding a final party. He was not driving when arrested, so that it could hardly be said that he was a menace to other traffic. He had hitherto borne an excellent character, and in view of the fact that he would probably be called up at any time, counsel asked the court to deal with him as leniently as possible.—“No end of warnings have been given in these cases.” the magistrate remarked, “ and there is nothing fresh to be said about the present one. In the circumstances, however, I shall deal with the defendant more leniently than ordinarily. He will be fined £lO, with medical expenses (£1 Is), and his licence will be cancelled for 12 months.”—On the second charge a conviction was entered. Maintenance James Cruden was charged with disobedience of a maintenance order, the arrears amounting to £3s.—After hearing evidence, the magistrate observed that it was no use trifling with a man like the defendant, and sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment, with hard labour. Harold John Salmon was proceeded against by a single woman on a complaint for affiliation and maintenance orders.—After hearing the evidence the magistrate granted an affiliation order and fixed maintenance at 5s per week, Witness’s expenses (£1 13s) were also ordered to be naicL