STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1922, Page 6

STRATFORD.

DAILY NEWS AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication in the Taranaki Daily News should be left at the office of our local representatative. care Mr. W. H. Humphrey, Broadway, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be left with him. MAGISTRATE’S COURT. GIVEN A CHANCE. August 30. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning. before Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., L. Thompson was charged with “being deemed to be a rogue and a vagabond for imposing upon Arthur Tubby, bootmaker, by falsely representing to him that he (Thompson) would obtain a cheque-book and give Tubby a cheque, thereby representing that he* had money in the and thereby also obtaining from Tubby the sum of' £1 10s.” Accused pleaded guilty and was not represented by counsel. Sergeant Dale said prisoner was a bullock-driver. On August 22 he came into Stratford and was evidently anxious to get drunk. He went to Tubby and asked for a loan of 10s. saying he would pay it back as soon as the bank opened. He received the 10s and went away. He came back later and borrowed another £l, Coming back under the influence of drink he asked far still more money, but Tubby refused. Accused then went to a hotel and tried to borrow money, but Tubby warned rhe publican. Tubby sought out accused and asked him to. return the money, as the banks were then open. Accused said “that was alright.” but Tubby thought ot henvise and called in the police. Accused said he thought there was a misunderstanding. He had intended to tell Tubby that he expected a cheque from his employer and would pay back the loaned money as soon as he could cash the cheque at the bank. He fully intended to pay the money back. Sergeant Dale said tfiere was nothing previously known against accused, who said he had to help to support his crippled father and aged mother. Accused was prepared to take out a prohibition order against himself.

The Magistrate said that accused had committed a serious crime by imposing upon the generosity of a private citizen by representing that he had a bank account and would pay back the money by cheque if he received a loan. In some parts of the country the Court would have sent accused to gaol without any option. Accused had rendered himself liable •to imprisonment for twelve months. He would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence whep called upon, provided that he took cm a prohibition order against himself and renewed it twelve months hence. THEFT OF BENZINE. A youth, aged IS years, the publication of whose name the Magistrate prohibited, was charged with stealing one tin of benzine, valued at ss, from his employers. Accused pleaded guilty. Sergeant Dale said that accused was seen to take a tin of benzine from the premises and plant it. The tin was marked and left there. It was later

taken home by accused. The police interviewed accused, who denied having stolen the benzine, but when taken to his home and shown the mark on the tin he admitted the theft.

Mr. Coleman pleaded that the lad was only eighteen years of age. and had

borne an excellent character. His employer had re-engaged him at his previous work. Accused’s parents were old and respected residents of the town. In view of these circumstances Mr. Coleman asked that the Magistrate to exercise his power under the Probation Act .and to suppress the publication of accused’s name.

In convicting accused, His Worship said in his opinion the provisions of the Probation Act were very often not given that weight which they should receive. It seemed to him that there was an impression abroad that if an offence was the first recorded against an accused he would be admitted to probation as a matter of course. As His Worship understood it this was not the case at all. There were some crimes which could not be properly met by admitting a person to probation, and it did not follow that a first offender would be admitted to probation. These remarks were general and did not necessarily apply to the present case. Accused was admitted to probation for three months, and ordered to report, to the sergeant of police every fortnight. COUNTY BY-LAW CASES. Charged with leading a car standing on the' street at night without lights. R. G. Porter, who did not appear, was fined £1 and costs 7s. John Edmondson pleaded guilty to a similar charge, and was similarly dealt with. For allowing pigs to wandey at large on the county roads at Wharehuia. and to do damage by rooting. P. J. Breen was fined £1 and costs £1 Ils 6d. The Stratford County Council proceeded against W. Watts, Frank Bottin and Joseph Mischewski for stacking different quantities of firewood on the roadside without having obtained permits. A plea of guilty was entered in each case. Watts was convicted and ordered to pay costs 7s. Bottin was fined 10s and costs 7s. and Mischewski was convicted and ordered to pay costs 7s. For driving a horse and gig at night without lights D. Bishop was fined £1 and costs 7s). CIVIL CASES. Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the following undefended civil cases: Farmers’ Co-op. v. Edward Marsh, i £32 5s 7d (costs £5 Os fid); same v. I G. W. Haywood. £1 13s lOd (costs 8s); George Lamplough v. Edward Keeley, £5 (costs £1 7s fid); Farmers’ Co-op. v. Louis Jones, £6 5s (costs £2 5s fid); People’s Auctioneering Co. v. T. Old. LSs (costs 8s); same v. P. James, IChs 5d (costs 8s); same v. J. Dodd. £1 13s fid (costs 8s) ; same v. Kwong Chong (costs only 7s). In a judgment summons ease. A. I. I Hill, at the suit of R. Hannah and Co., 'i was ordered to pay £5 18s 3d within 14 days, in default six days’ imprisonTECHNTCAL HIGH SCHOOL. Mr. R. Masters. M P.. has beer advised that the appointment of a board of managers for the control of the Stratford Technical High Schoch has

been approved by the Minister of Education, and that the Education Board has been instructed to make arrangements accordingly. The election will probably take place at the end of September. GENERAL ITEMS. Mr. J. L. Ferguson, who succeeds Mr. L. C. Vieary, as borough electrical engineer, took up his duties to-day. Mr. 1 Vieary will remain in Stratford for a I short time. The big attraction in Stratford tomorrow (Thursday) night will be the concert and ball under the auspices of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society. This annual event is already so favorably known that a great success is confidently expected. There should be no further doubt about the quality of the concert when it is known that such talented artists as Mr. P. A. Eadie (Auckland), Misses Eileen Driscoll McKenzie (Wellington). Mr. J. McFarlane, f Miss Rae and Mrs. Craig will be per- | forming. As there is sure to be a crowded house intending patrons are advised to book their seats at Grubb’s music shop.