IRATE SOLICITOR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 868, 11 January 1930, Page 13

IRATE SOLICITOR

DETECTIVE’S COMMENTS RESENTED “YAPPING AND YAPPING” “I wish my friend would keep quiet,’* said Mr. J. F. W. Diqkson, when Chief-Detective Hammond ventured a remark at the Police Court this morning. *He has no standing in this case, but he yaps and yaps and yaps.” Mr. Dickson was appearing for Bert Woodford, a slaughterman, aged -3. who was charged with stealing an overcoat, valued at £ 1 7s. and a scarf valued at 7s 6d. from Her min John Michael .O’Rourke last evening. “We plead guilty to stealing the coat, but not tho scarf.” said counsel. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said that accused and a companion had gone to the Rendezvous Cafe for supper. O’Rourke had left his coat hanging on a peg while he went downstairs to watch tho dancing. He was there only three minutes, but when he returned the coat was gone. He had asked accused and his friend whether they knew anything about the coat, but they denied all knowledge of it. Complainant informed the police, and Sergeant Brenchley accosted accused in the street. Woodford had said that he had the coat in his bag. He had had a few drinks, but was not drunk and there was nothing previously known against him. Mr. Dickson said that accused had taken the coat without realising what, he was doing. When he left the cafe and found that he had the coat he had been frightened to return in case he encountered trouble, so had put it in his bag. Woodford was fined £5. in default 14 days’ imprisonment. There were also w itnesses* expenses of £l. “This is one of the most prevalent offences in town,” put in the chiefdetective. “They go to dances and cafes, stealing each other’s hats and coats.” “I know,” agreed the magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt. S.M. *T lost mine and felt like giving the next man six months.” Mr. Dickson: I hope your Worship was not taking that into consideration when you imposed this fine. The Magistrate: No. Fortunately I got mine back. Mr. Dickson then objected to a further comment by the chief-detective. “He yaps and yaps and yaps,” he said. The Magistrate: That makes two of you. Counsel reminded Mr. Hunt of when he lost his hat in the court. Sub-Inspector McCarthy: As long as you don’t lose your head it’s all right. The Magistrate: You sit too close to your clients. A request for time to pay was made by counsel. The Sub-Inspector: But he has £5 in his possession according to the charge sheet. Mr. Dickson: No, he has only £2. Accused was given the required time to find the balance of the fine.