PLEA OF GUSLTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 59, 29 May 1942, Page 5

PLEA OF GUSLTY

THEFT OF £150 YOUNG SOLDIER COMMITTED INCIDENT AT MAT ATA Charged with the theft of £150, the property of StanleyThomson, at Matata on March 19 last, Thomas Leslie Dialey, a young soldier, aged 21 appeared before Mess<rs G. A. Brabant and J. G. Mulholland, J.P.'s, in the Whakatane Court and pleaded guilty. He was formally committed for sentence to- the Supreme Court, Auckland. Stanley Thomson, the victim of the theft, said he was a commission agent living in Auckland. On the afternoon of March 18 lie noticed two? soldiers in the bar of the; Matata Hotel. Both wore the overseas service tabs and onci was the accused. In paying for some of the drinks he produced three £50 notes; from his pocket which may or may not have been seen by the accused. Later he took both men to a> party in a house at Matata and later came back to the hotel and went ta lied. He left the! money in his suit coat pocket and on awaking at o.liO a.m. he noticed the money missing. No person had. authority to take the money and he immediately notified the police. Detective's Story Detective S. W. Cunningham of Tiraaru, said that accused was arrested on May 26 following police investigations'. He gave every assistance and made a statement concerning his activities. In the statement, Daley described himself- as a labourer by occupation but now a member of the fighting, forces whose unit was stationed at Trentham. On a day about the middle of March he had been with Andrews (the other accused) in the Matata Hotel where they had met Thomson

who paid for their drinks and later took Hie both to a party). All were under the influence of drink. Both Andrews and Thomson left earlier than lie, but he stayed, later escorting a woman acquaintance down the road. On their way back they met Andrews who said he wanted to see him. Planning the Theft Accused said lie then left the woman and went with Andrews to the Hotel where Andrews informed; him that Thomson had £150 in- his possession. This was the first time, he (the accused) knew of the money. Thereupon both decided to. see if it was possible to steal the money, and entered Thomson's room. He was, he said very, drunk and could not remember details clearly. Both werei going through the. sleeping man's pockets when he (the accused) discovered the three £50 notes. He gave one tc Andrews and kept the other two. They then left the. hotel and walked till dawn when a cream lorry gave them a lift to Te Puke. Tour by Taxi Later they went to Faeroa where Andrews changed his £50 note and made some purchases from a men's cutiitter. Taxiing to Thames they made other purchases and changed the- money they possessed to smaller currency. Taxis look Hie pair by sLages to Aiie-kii'.nd v.k'jrc they v ! :u---ed fur a time al a boardhighouse. Later they travelled, to Wellington and then cvo.ssi-d under f;i!se nanu'S by steamer to ihi' Suuth island. While at Ai-'isoii iiuy parted, owing to a (u.'i'ci't-.'H'o <;!' opinion a:-.d he h;-.d not sr-ca Andrews since. Sorry for Action Accused :•;:!(! in , , was pleading guilty and dvsircd lo express . rog-'d for his nclion whieh. lie clahuvd was committed whilst tiM-k'r 111 o iniiuonn.' of drink, llv \\ ;;s ready '<> jntske I'ull rc;-:iHuti()ii ii-i(i'cr his Army allotment. He. had nnHiirg (u;Mhei- to adi to his sLntcmcnt wrc a;)pr(jaci.K'd Ly the C!f I -i Oμ Da'ey u ,'.y w•.■:-■:• ?; : :r o m'n cu- : ; s a you g c'cai l t' v p.,4 type xvh pco])le ''"•'■• in "uslr 'a.