SHOP-LIFTING BY AN EM M.H.R.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 270, 16 February 1881, Page 2

SHOP-LIFTING BY AN EM M.H.R.

Mr. William Rowe Gets Forty-Eight Hours’^ [By Telegraph.] (Per Press Association.) Wellington, To-day. At the Police Court, this morning, William Rowe, formerly member of the House of Representatives for the Thames, was charged with having, about 5 o’clock this morning, stolen seven shillings from the till of the Theatre Royal, Hotel, where he was lodging. From the evidence it, appeared that money had been missed previously, under similar circumstances, and suspicion fell on Rowe. A policeman was accordingly placed in ambush this morning, and some money in the till marked. The policeman saw Rowe take some money out of the till, and then lie down on a sofa pretending to read a paper. On being searched, Li 15s. was found on him, amongst it being the two marked shillings. Mr. Gully who appeared for the prisoner, admitted the theft, but urged that Rowe had been drinking heavily, and did not know what he was doing. It was evident he was not in want. He urged that the Magistrate should exercise his discretionary power, and dismiss the case as trivial, and because, probably no felony was intended. His Worship, in passing judgment, said he would be glad to be able to discharge the prisoner, but could not help feeling that if he were to do so he would be drawing a distinction in his favor against those whose education and circumstances had not been as good as those of prisoner. As a public officer, having a duty to the public to perform, he was unable to do that. He was unwilling, however, to sentence him to any lengthened term of imprisonment, but would sentence him to a sufficient term to him (the prisoner) that well-educated persons like prisoner, who had held a public position, could not do these things with impunity. He would be sentenced to forty-eight hours’ imprisonment.