Youth Placed On Probation For Theft.

Chronicle (Levin), 8 April 1949, Page 4

Youth Placed On Probation For Theft.

"I am going to give you one more hance, cut it will be .your .last. ifou know ybu have been. before the Ohildren's Court previously." Mr. i. M. GbtLdihg, S.M., gave this .lomLy to Maurice Robert Welby, igsd 18, ari apjprentice motor trim:ner, when placing him on probaA".n for 12 mon'ths after he had oleaded. gUilty in the Magistrate's oburt, Levin, loday, to the theft of a stamp album. 1 . • • . Acting-Sergeant - V. ' G. .Arno'dl jold the court that Welby had called on Mr. W. Harwbody a retired bookseller, at his home to discuss stamps in which Welby was inver- . ested. Bassing .throUgh the Isittihg room on his way out of -the house, Welby- had noticed a st'amp album ind taken it home^ The loss was reported. to the police and the album had been found at Welby' 's home.. For Welby, Mr. N. M. Thomson said it was difficult to find a reason for his offence. Welby had said that he thought he was taking an empty . stamp" album.. On opening the- album at home and finding that it eoritained stbmps, he had intended retUrnihg it surreptitiously the next day, but that even- ' ing the police had interviewed him. Welby had spent nine of the, last 18 months in hospitals or s&natoria, cdhtinued Mr. Thomson, and was at~present receiving injeclions. He was earning £4 10s per week and Lhere was no reason for him to have takeh the album. In entering a conviction and placing Welby oh probation, the magistrate said that he would be under 'the c'ose Super vision of the probation officer. He also made an li'der for the return of the album to its owner. An appiication by Mr, Thomson for the suppression of Welby's name was declined, the magistrate commenting that leniency had been extended to him previously.