HAD HIS CHANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 90, 17 April 1931, Page 3

HAD HIS CHANCE

THEFT AT FEATHERSTON

'"This man had liis cliaiice last year. H« was gran.led probation on'a;'charge'.'of theft, but apparently was not altogether satisfactory," said Mr. E. Page, S.M., today, when, sentencing Archibald.- Daniel . O'Rilej', iigcd 25, to four, months' imprisonment for theft from the property, of ' Philip Henry Wilton. At 1.30 a.m., on 7th April, said SubInspector Lopdell, the accused, who lived in Featherston, went to Wilton's Garage and got in through the back door. Froiii the office he took a cash-box ■ containing £55, including, cheques. He clime to Wellington the same night, and cashed' two of the cheques, but he said he had destroyed the others. , On that afternoon he went to Frankton by train, and tliea to Eotorua, where he spent all the money he had. He was in Kotorua for two diiys, living among the Maoris, and on 10th April he gave himself, up to the police. ■ ' , . The accused.had been before the Court I before for theft from! his father-iii-law.. He had'a wife and two'children, and thp t constable's jeport from Featlierstou was - that after the theft the accused- had cleared out, leaving, his fahjily without food or . fuel, and when. the. constabla visited them they were starving.;. Mr. r W. K. Leicester, who appearedl forO'lliley, attributed liis trouble to drink. He Inid been ill and out -of: work for live weeks, and when he had committed the theft he had come to Wellington :Tvit}i th« object.-of getting clothes for his children.. He had started drinking, however, 'and' bad'got in with some Maoris; with whom he had gone to, Rotorua. - '■ : ' "The charge really'amounts, in effect to breaking and entering," remarked' th« Magistrate, in sentencing the accused". L