THEFT OF GOODS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 43, 22 April 1942, Page 5

THEFT OF GOODS

YOUTH CHARGED

SENT BACK TO BORSTAL

"It is quite obvious that he is not a lit person to have his freedom." remarked Mr K. L. Walton, S.M., at the monthly sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Opotiki, when George Chester Mills, a labourer faced two charges of stealing a list of articles that sounded like an inventory of a second-hand shop. On the first charge, accused was convicted and discharged and on the second he was convicted and ordered to be sent back for two years to the- Borstal Institution from which he had been released on license.

The charges against accused were that on February 17 he stole one. gentleman's pocket watch, valued at £1 15s, the property of Frederick S. Fisher, and that on February 19 he stole two safety razors, one packet of razor blades, one shaving brush, one jar of shaving cream, one stick of shaving soap, one torch, one towel, one pair of swimming shorts, one metal watch, one crescent spanner, one pair of pliers, of total value of £3, the property of Charles Robert Ross.. Accused pleaded guilty to both charges and on the second charge, clected to lie dealt with summarily.

Sergeant J. Isbister, who conducted proceedings on behalf of the police, stated that accused had been previously convicted for an offence and been sent to Borstal Institution for two years. He was released on licence and returned ot Opoitilci, working for numerous farmers for -i short time, until they found out what he was like. Accused was !azv and cheeky, and went to live with a Maori girl lfi years of age. In the case of Fisher's watch, only the case had been recovered, and this was found in a tree stump. The other articles had been recovered except for the torch. Accused was quite incorrigible, continued Sergeant Isbister, and was the worst probationer he had had to deal with. He did not appear to be quite normal.