Extensive Thefts.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1921, Page 2

Extensive Thefts.

in IJILRCRAPH--PKR I’ItESS ASSOCIATIONJ AUCKLAND, Aug. 29. An extensive jdan of deception was revealed at the Police Court to-day, v hen David William Oerter admitted 16 •barges of obtaining money and goods, of a total, value of over £162, by lalse nretences. Accused said he was working for the Technical College at Wellington until May last, when illness absorbed all bis savings. Coming to Auckland, lie . visited Helensville district ] <>siiig as a Post and Telegraph officer, and obtaining goods chargeable t ( , the department. Then he went to St Heliers as a Harbour Board official, tendering valueless cheques for launch hire, and obtaining the loan of a horse, saddle and bridle, which he sold. Other valueless cheques were tendered to various people in the eitfjf Accused vas committed for sentence. William Thomas Martin admitted defalcations from employers by whom lie had been employed as a butter salesan for nine months prior to July. He allegedly failed to account for £250 received from customers, admitting £27. He was committed for .sentence. Theodore Desmond Poulton, aged 23, pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial on charges of forgery of a cheque for £7 oil the National Bank at Auckland and for £SB 10s on the Bank of New Zealand at Whangarei. He opened an account at Auckland, and it is alleged be altered the amount of a cheque after the ledgerkeeper initialled it at AVhangarei. It was alleged he took a form from a fellow-lodgers cheque book, and forged the signature. Four youths, aged 16 to 18, admitted an extensive series of burglaries of city premises during July n»d August. The two elder toys, Boy Martin -end Harold Robert Conway, have appeared pteviouslv for trivial -offences, and the Magistrate ordered non-publication of the names of the others. The evidence showed 11 shops and factories were entered by night and day, and some more than once. The accuseds admitted more offences than they were charged with, though all were not concerned in every case. They were committed for sentence.

A youth of 18 admitted theft of clothing valued at £99 from the Kaiapoi Woollen Coy., and was committed for sentence. In a written statement, accused said he had disposed of practically all the stolen goods, in most cases selling to persons whose names were freely given. In almost every ease he asserted he told the purchasers that'the goods were stolen from his employers, and had obtained good prices. As it was the accused’s first appearance in Court, the Magistrate did not allow publication of his name.