MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 191, 10 February 1912, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

A sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held yesterday morning before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M. Thomas Allan Kidd made his second appearance this week for drunkaaness and was fined 10s, or in default ordered to undergo' 48 hours' imprisonment. James Alliston Mcintosh appeared on remand on charges-of (1) on the EOth January 1912, at New Plymouth, theft from the Taranaki Hotel of one lrdy's hand-bag (value 3s 6d), one lady's gold dress ring (value £1), and about 8s in money, the property of Jessie Cox; (2) theft on the sth February, 1912, from the Coffee Palace, New Plymouth, of a cheque on the National Bank of ■ New Zealand for payment of £& 10s, also £ 1 in cash and a fountain pen valued at 4s 6d, the property of Thomas Sutton. Acev-sed, who was undefended by counsel, pleaded guilty to both charges, and asked to be dealt with summarily. Th : » the Magistrate agreed to, the informs tion in each .case being, reduced from theft from a dwelling to that of ordinary theft. According to Senior-Sergeant Haddrell, the theft from the Taranaki Hotel was very mean, Mcintosh, who was staying there, having entered the room of Miss Cox during her absence and taken her personal belongings. As regards the second charge accused had been staying at the Coffee Palace for two weeks before the theft was committed. He waited an opportunity of getting into the clerk's room, where he stole the articles mentioned, including a cheque out of the proceeds of which he paid his board.'

Accused's .record was described as a bad one. He had been let out on probation, but this leniency had had no effect. Since then he had* been thrice ■onvicted for theft and false pretences. On the first charge the Magistrate imposed a sentence of a month's hard and for the second offence Mcintosh vas sentenced to three m'onths' hard labor, sentences to be concurrent. An order was made for the restitution of some of the stolen property found on the prisoner in the shape of the ring and 15s in cash.