MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 203, 22 May 1919, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

A YOUTHFUL ESCAPEE A youth named Ivan llling, an absconder from Weraroa -Training Farm, appeared before Mr. I. Salek and Captain -Hennah. J.IVs, at tlie Magistrate's Court: yesterday on two ' charges of breaking and entering- and theft and a third charge of theft. Chief-Detective Boddam said that immediately after leaving the farm early in May accused entered on a career of crime. He walked as far as Paraparaumu. where he entered a wliare ow r ned bv a man named Thomas Easton, a fisherman, and stole a pair of trousers, a coat,'also a rainproof overcoat, the total value of which was about Jll. Proceeding to Paekakariki, he there appropriated a.motor-cycle, value at =£10, belonging to a farmer named Francis Bichard Holton. Ho rode the cycle to Porirua, where the machine broke down. Accused' abandoned it on the road, and went on to Wellington, where, on May 7, two days later, he broke into the house of Mr. John Frew, 86 Tinakori Road, and stole some jewellery, clothes, and money valued at ,£2O. Mr. Frew's house was thoroughly rnnsncked, and while there Ilhng fitted himself out in a' spit of clothes belonging to Mr. Frew'6 son, leaving behind the clothes he was wearing when he ( eame to Wellington. Entrance to the house apneared fo have been gained by means of a side-window. It was ' while walking along' Lambton Quay that Mrs. Frew observed the accused. her attention beipg attracted by the. fact that lie was wearing her son's clothes. The authorities were informed of the matter, with the result that llling was arrested by Plain-clothes Constable .Burnett.

Easton said that he had not locked thw door of his wliare. He placed no value on the suit the accused had stolen, and would have given it to him had he Asked for it.

Plain-dollies Constable Burnett said that when he searched the accused he found on him sonio of the stolen money and jewellery, an electric torch, and a single steerage ticket to Lyttolton, taken out on the, rlyy on which the accused was arrested. Accused admitted the offences, and said he hffil spent some of-the stolen money on lollies and pictures. • Accused pleaded guilty to the".three charges, and i\vas committed to the Supreme Court'ifor sentence. One first offending inebriate was fined the-amount of his bail, Jll, and two othe'rs were each ordered to forfeit a sum of 10s. . Eobert Pitts was fined «E1 for drunkenness. and on a charge of, having broken the" conditions of his prohibition order he was remanded until to-day.