"TOOK IT FOR A JOKE"

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 40, 17 February 1930, Page 11

"TOOK IT FOR A JOKE"

STEWARDS AND A LIGHT GLOBE

An electric light bulb in the doorway of a shop in Courtenay place interested two ship's stewards in the early hours of yesterday morning so much so that one of the men reached up and removed it. Constable Ward was on duty in the vicinity, aud, following up the men, ho arrested them. The sequel was heard in the Magistrate's Court to-day, when Frederick Wilshire, aged 20, aha Robert Hookes. aged 34, pleaded guilty to a charge of having stolen an electric light bulb, valued at Us, belonging to Fanny E.t_ Martin. Sub-Inspector Lander said that about 1.15 o'clock yesterday morning Constable Ward noticed one of the accused climb on to the ledge of a shop window and reach up to the verandah. On making an inspection the constable found that an electric light bulb was missing from its fitting. Ho hired a taxi and caught the men. At first the accused, in answer to Constable Ward's question, said that the constable must have been mistaken, but subsequently they stated that they took the globe for a joke, and indicated where it had been left., along the street. The globe was recovered. "The chances are that had the constable not noticed tho act tho bulb would have been lost to tho owner," added Mr. Lander. "Tho men are both stewards on the Rotorua."

Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., asked whether the theft was the result of a drunken escapade.

"There is no suggestion that' they were in a drunken condition," replied the subinspector. Hookes said that1 he and his companion were having an argument on voltages, and the globe was taken "on the spur of the moment."

Each of the accused was fined £1 10s and ordered to pay taxi hire, in. default 24 hours' imprisonment.