THEFT OF SUIT-CASE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 37, 13 February 1930, Page 11

THEFT OF SUIT-CASE

, "ACT OF DESPERATION" . With two previous convictions, John James M'Corquodale,.a salesman,- aged 32, when he appeared in. the Magistrate's Court this morning on a charge of theft, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. M'Corquodale pleaded guilty to having stolen a suitcase and contents, of a total value of £20, belonging to Maurice Claude Woodhain. •.' •' ■. - Chief DetoctLye Lopdell said that the owner of the suit-case left. it in the passage of the People's Palace Hotel. Whilo he was away, M'Corquodale took the suit-case. He sold a pair of shoes to a second-hand dealer for 55,-and the suit-case, with the remainder of, the contents, to another dealer for £1 ss. The accused was arrested last night and the property had been recovered, but, the dealers had yet to be reimbursed.' However, Mr. Woodham was prepared to do that when he returned to the South Island. The accused was at present on two years' probation for theft, and before that he ! ad been fined on a charge of having been in a state, of intoxication in charge of a motor-car. The Probation Officer (Mr. T. P. Mills) said he had not. found M'Corquodale altogether satisfactory. He had been doing canvassing work and;, earning a precarious living. A little more application^ however, and tie: thought the accused would do better. ■ ■ Asked if he had anything to.say;regarding the:theft, M-'Corquodale, from the dock, said it was' an act ; of despera''oii. "I. had no money and nowhere to go," he said, "and I took the suit; ease on the spurof the.moment.''. ■;-■; "You had your warning previously,'' s;iirt the Magistrate (Mr. E. .Page) .to M'Corquodale. -.-'/' Yon were, up -in October last. You veceieyd a chance, being admitted to probation, and.X do not propose to give you probation, on this charge. This is tlie third time -you have been up .altogether/.. ■ You-will be sentenced t" ;lireo. months' imprisonment with L::rd labour.'-V-.. . ; .-. ■ ,