A Theft Case.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1922, Page 1

A Theft Case.

"WESTPORT, August 8.

At the Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning D. Jacobs (Mr. A. <A. Wilson) pleaded “not guilty” to the charge of taking two pounds of butter from Mr B. MeDonagh’s store. Mr Wilson said the facts were admitted but evidence would be called to prove .that Jacobs was not in a conditions to know that he was doing wrong.

The Sergeant of Police said that tlie theft was a case of shop lifting. Jacobs ivas the proprietor of a fancy goods shop next Scanlon’s Hotel, and wag in a good way. On Friday evening he (Jacobs) went down to McDonagh’s shop. The front door was closed so he went round to the back nnd asked Mrs MeDonagh if she had any vegetables. He then put his hand on a box of butter and ho would take one. Mrs MeDonagh took the pound of butter to the back of the counter to wrap it up. and on glancing round suddenly saw him putting two pound? of butter in his He apparently know ho liad been detected for lie returned to see how the land lay. but nothing M-as said. Sergeant Ryan then gave an account of his visit to Jacob’s shop and to the finding of the four pounds of butter there. Asked to account for the presence of the four pounds Jacobs eventually admitted “lifting” two of them at MoDonagh’s store. Asked for an expression of opinion the Sergeant said ho had known Jacobs for a considerable time and there Mas nothing to indicate that he m- as a man of unsound mind. His actions, on the contrary, pointed to the fact that he wns perfectly sound in mind and acted with cunning throughout the piece Mr AYilson asked for Jacobs to bo alloued to come up for sentence M’heu called upon, instead of his being admitted to probation. On further consideration, the case Mas adjourned till 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday.