PILFERING SALVAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1794, 27 June 1906, Page 2

PILFERING SALVAGE.

FIREMAN SENT TO GAOL FOR

A MONTH,

There were many eomp'afnls of pilfer ing at the fire at Auckland, and two tnea were obarged at the Police Court

before Mr R. W. Dyer, S.M, with atealmg salvage,

A fireman named Cbas. Fenton pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of boot), value 20s, the property of J. R. Self. SabInspector Gordon said that defendant was ■« member of the Auckland Fire Brigade, and was on duty looking after the salvage. At 9.80 o’olook on Friday morning Mr Self fonnd him oomiDg out of the building with a pair of boots under bis aoat. He seized the bools and called in the police. Accused asked for a ohance. The case was one of breach of trust.

Aesused, in aniwer to a question from the magistrate, said that he did not know why he had stolen the boots. He was coming out of the office when he saw the boots and picked them up. He had been a member of the brigade for many years, and had never done anyhing like this before. He hacjl never previously' done anything wrong. 1 His Worship said that accused was paid to protect the property, and inst-ad of that he robbed those he was bound to prnteot. A fireman at a fire should proteot pro perty just as shou'd a constable ; it was almost as bad fir biro to tied as it was for a constable, I< \yi» a mean, contemptible act. Jf ths fire brigade were going to steal the publio would just as s :ou have their property burned as stolen, He concluded : " I give you a month’s hard labor.”

James Kenny, who had stolen several pairs of boots from the street, was let off with a £3 lino,