THEFT CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1930, Page 3

THEFT CHARGES

—•— GREYMOUTH, April I. A complaint received on Saturday last by Constable J. L. Patterson that ■ two or throe rooms at the Royal Houi, Ala whe ni Quay, laid been rausa-cked and a number of watches .stolen, ied the Constable to recall having noticed } earlier in me day, a man acting in a peculiar manner, with a wristlet .'watch on his arm. He did not appear to be ’| usC'Ct to it. Later in the afternoon the Constable accosted this man, Haro a I i Henry Williams, and arrested him on | a charge of being drunk. When searched at the Police Station, he w;t, lournl to have several watches an.l articles of jewellery in liis possession. lhe.se had been identified by the owners. Williams appeared before Mr W. Meidnim, S.-ii., yesterday, charged that on 29th. March, he did steal (I) two watches, a watch chain, one medal, one sovereign case, and two Masonic badges, of a total value of £ll 12s, the property of George Durry; (2) one silver watch and one gold watch valued at £2 7s, the property of Rom Ellen Gallop; (3) one silver watch valued at £3 the property of Margaret Christine Gallop; (4) being found druiiK in a public place.

Accused pleaded guilty of everything. Detective 14. C. Murch stated that when accosted by Constable Patterson, lie had actually sold a watch to a youth named Frederick Schroeder for l.os (id. He was Rill in possession of that money. When .arrested lie had £4 12s 4d, and of thH sum 19s (kl belonged to the youth to whom lie sold the watch. The stolen p;operty had been recovered excepting one silver watch, which belonged to Durry and which was valued at £2. Accused lias several previous convictions. Asked by the Alagistrate whether he had anything to say, Williams replied that lie had been on a drinking bout tor a week, and could not remember anything relative to the thefts. The Magistrate remarked that tic reports showed accused to have a very had record. He bad previously servo*' sentences of two years and three years, and there were several smaller terms before those. He would be convi ted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. The return of the stolen properly to the owners, and accused to pay £2 to Durry for the watch missing, and Schroeder to he returned his !9s 6d was ordered by the S.M. On the charge of being found drunk, accused was convicted and discharged.