CHARGE OF THEFT.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1923, Page 1

CHARGE OF THEFT.

A i the Magistrate's Court this liiornilivltiiv Mi'sms T. W. Dull' niul A. F. Heniamiii, Justices. lilt' police charg'd lUchsml Willetts with theft of hind qua rtcr of milt lon of u value of Ids from the shop ol Kl'ic dallies, hntclier ; and further with being found dninli on Saturday last. Delendrint pleaded not guilty and stated he was sat isfied lor the ease to (to on without counsel.

Leah Stephens ((live evidence that she was a widow rcsitliiijjc in 1' itzhorbort Street. On Friday night Willetts came to her ; ,tid asked her to accept a leu of mutton. She asked him where he had got it- and lie said lie had bought it. lint would not he at home lor the week end and if she did not take it would have to give it to the does. Wondered where lie had not il, hut he satisfied her he had bought it. Tt was the liitni quarter about llllhs weight, and was lint cut at all. She had conked it. Krie James deposed he was a butcher of Novell Street. On Thursday last left the shop at !» p.m. The wire nettint; in front of the window was fastened and doors locked. 1 here was a quantity of meat ill the shop, hut' a hind quarter of mutton was about the only small joint. Il wps solid and intact, had not been chopped. Next inurnitio; when he oof to the shop found the netting was ripped away, sufficiently for a man to tret. in. There was sand and sawdust on the window and bench as from p man's feet and the hind quarter of mutton was missing. \ allied at Ids. His shop had been broken in on two other occasions previously and meat stolen. He had sold no mutton unbacked. Sergt Kin<i gave evidence that pt 7 a.m. on Friday visited Janies' shop and found the wire netting torn down from the front- window and sand amt sawdust oil the counter. I' aim information received saw \\ il lot t s anil asked him where he hpd got the leg of mutton. He refused to answer. Point, ed out the serious nature of the question and thmi lie said he had got it front two men. hut he was not going to split and give them away.

Piebald Willetts said what the Sergt had stated wp> correct. Two men had come along tit his hut. 1 hey were broke. They had Hie leg of mu'ion which they said they had hough: Hr gave them 2s for it. Did not l-’.cw them from a bar of soap. The Pencil considered the -xpb'i" t-ion unsatisfactory, piul convicted defendant on both charges. On the charge • ' theft Willetts was sentenced to 1 1 days in Greymouth gaol, and on the charge of drunkenness was convicted and diselxa rged.