A FOUND WATCH

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1930, Page 7

A FOUND WATCH

“If people find valuable articles tliere is an easy way to trace the owner, cither by informing the local constable or by advertising in the newspapers, When a person (indes a valuable gold watch in the street it is easy to take reasonable steps to find the owner, and failure to take those steps is a crime.” These remarks were made by Mr IT. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Auckland Police Court on Tuesday, when a married, woman, whose name was ordered to he suppressed, was charged with "tealing a gold watch, valued at £7, in June. 10.27. Accused stated'she had found the watch on the roadside. Chief Dole dive Hammond said complainant had been to Waiknmete Cemetery and Alien drove in a motor car to Henderson. When she left the cemetery the watch was on her wrist, but it was lost on the way. Complainant ad-ve-tised for it twice. The accused admitted .finding' the watch on the road. He!eelivc O’Sullivan said that when 1., accused was interviewed at her home she said : “Ibis is only jealousy, 1 know who told von. It was my r-in-law.” Rise admitted that she had made no inquiries to try to ascertain who the owner was. Mr Hall cp-nPon, who entered a plea of not guilty, said there was no compulsion on a verson to hand an article which was found, to the police. “All these (-''■as show that if a poison picks no an erti le on the road and keeps it he is not guilty of theft,” he said, quoting m-o'Tdoiits. “There is no onus on him to take 'tens to find the owner.” “We are getting too many cases where peoI)ie fird vain a Ides and (ho not return timm.” remarked the magistrate. After vi,• Hammond had mentioned leading ‘ os to show that the finder, should endeavour to trace the owner, the magistrate dismissed the case upon payment of costs.