JOKER FALLS IN.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1917, Page 4

JOKER FALLS IN.

The habit of meddling with other peoples umbrellas, though looked upon geuerc lly as a more or lest venial offence, is not always safe (aays the Auckland “ Star ”). Amaawhocame before Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., recently on a charge of theft of an umbrella, explained that it was really a pretended theft by way of a joke. He was drinking with several men in ah hotel, he said, when one of them who he did’nt know, left his umbrella on a hook. He shifted the umbrella, and, putting it behind a door, said nothing, when the man made a fuss about missing it, and called a policeman. Next day he took it from behind the door, and put it in another hotel near at hand, wish the intention of telliug the constable who had received the complaint ro that the owner might get it, but the information that he had put the umbrella there reached the constable first, and he was charged with theft. He admitted that the joke was on him, and made no complaint when he was fined £2 dor his fun.