POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 22463, 7 October 1936, Page 15

POLICE COURT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) THEFT OF BICYCLE. lan Williamson pleaded guilty to the theft on September 9 of a - bicycle valued at £2 10s, the property of John Michael Ryan. Chief-detective Young, who prosecuted, said that at 7.3 U p.m. on September 9 the complainant left his bicycle in a right of way next to the Public Baths in Moray Place. When he returned at midnight the cycle was missing. Detective Brown made inquiries, and on October 5 ho found that the bicycle had been left at a dealer’s for sale. The man who had left it was to return next day to find what price he could get for it, and the detective waited next day, and the accused came along. At first ho said he had had the bicycle for three years, and then ho said he got it from a man who had gone to Alexandra. Later ho admitted the theft. The accused was 20 years of age this week, and since he was 17 he had been employed on farms in the Roxburgh district. He had been out of work for five or six weeks, during which he had committed the offence. A search of the house revealed no other stolen property. Mr J. G. Warrington, who appeared for the accused, said that no one had suffered from the offence but the accused, who had lost his record and had spoilt his chance of getting work. Counsel asked that the accused be given a chance of probation if possible. The accused’s father had been on public works for four years, so that he had not had the opportunity of parental control. The accused was admitted to probation for a period of one year. GIVEN A CHANCE. “ You are only a youth, and appear to have entered wrong company,” said the Magistrate to Leslie Jack Gould (18), who appeared for sentence on a charge that he unlawfully converted to his own use, but not so as to be guilty of theft, a motor car, valued at £BS, the property of Robert Stewart. “ You will be given a chance,” added His Worship to the accused. “ See that you profit by it.” The accused was admitted to probation for one year. TOWN LIFE TOO MUCH FOR HIM. “ Ho seems to have succumbed to town life,” said Mr J. G. Warrington o.n behalf of Joseph Meek, who appeared for sentence on two charges—the theft, on or about August 2, at Ratanui, of two cheques of a total value of £8 15s 6d, the property of James Strachan, of the Blazer Firewood Company, Dunedin, and on

August 1 receiving from James Strachan the sum of £4 7s 9d in money on terms requiring him to account for it to Edward Thomas Frew, fraudulently omitting to account for it, thereby committing theft. Mr Warrington said the accused was a single man, 33 years of ago, and came to town for the football, staying here for a fortnight. He was not of monumental intelligence.

The Magistrate said the accused was the type of individual who readily got into bad company and would be preyed on during his visits to Dunedin. The accused was admitted to pro-

bation for two years on the first charge, restitution of £8 los 6d to be made, the accused to visit Dunedin only with the written consent of the probation officer, and his associates while hero to bo approved by the probation officer. On the second charge he was convicted and discharged.