TYPEWRITER THEFT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 104, 26 January 1935, Page 21

TYPEWRITER THEFT

Clerk Steals From. Sisters of Mercy JAIL SENTENCE IMPOSED A clerk, Truman Wiltshire, aged. 33, was sent to jail by Mr. E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday for nine months for stealing four typewriters and an electric heater from the Sisters of Mercy at the Hill Street Convent. He pleaded guilty to the theft, and not guilty to stealing golf clubs and a bag and a lawnmower from an unknown person. He admitted receiving these articles knowing them to have been stolen and was ordered to come np for sentence within 12 months on two counts in respect of these articles, if called upon. Detective-Sergeant T. Y. Hall, who prosecuted, said that accused visited the convent early in January saying he was the man who attended to the repair of the convent’s typewriters. He was permitted by the sisters to examine the machines on his statement that he represented the Remington company. After two or three visits the sisters discovered that four typewriters were missing. The police found them at auctioneers’ and second-hand dealers’ establishments, Wiltshire having sold them. On January 17, accused was arrested while endeavouring to redeem the bag of golf clubs from a pawnbroker. Accused’s explanation was that a friend had borrowed the club, and the lawnmower. They had pawned the articles and shared the proceeds. He declined to name his friend. “Irresponsible Person.” “Accused is an active thief." said Mr. Hall. “He was last liberated from jail in November, 1934. On accused’s behalf, Mr. F. Ongley submitted that Wiltshire was an irresponsible person. He had suffered serious injuries in an aeroplane accident and was not reponsible for his actions. While last in jail he had fallen in with a former colleague and he stated that to--gether they had stolen the typewriters, and his friend the other articles. In view of accused’s condition, said Mr. Ongley, he would plead for leniency. In reply to the magistrate, Mr. Hall said that about £lO was involved in cash obtained by accused in disposing of the stolen property. The charges of stealing the golf outfit and the lawnmower were to counts-of receiving stolen goods. In sentencing accused, Mr. Tags commented that Wiltshire had been in trouble on several occasions for false pretences and theft. The magistrate ordered the restitution of the stolen property. The police are anxious to receive information regarding the ownership of the golf clubs.