THEFT CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1930, Page 6

THEFT CHARGES

SEVERAL CHARGES,

By Telegraph. Per Press Ao.;uciation. i

AUCKLAND, Jul 1

Following Tils .arrest with another man on a charge of stealing an overcoat at Pukekohe,' Frederick Davis aged 38,- was charged with . stealing a cash box, containing money, cheques and blind, of ft total value of £6W, I'rdm a Wellington -firm of solicitors, Messrs .Levi and Jackson. The theft, of tin' cash box was committed .on April 29. Accused was attested in Newmarket following a coinplafllt to the 'Pukekolie police by ;V clothier, who discovered that a man’s overcoat was nissing from his shop. . He remembered seeing two men near his Itemises earlier in the day and suspected that they had been responsible for the disappearance of the coat. 'Hie .police were informed and it was thought possible that the men had left by a service bus' for Auckland, which departed shortly after, the coat was' stolen,A constable hoarded the bus in Newmarket and the two men were arrested as suspects:-'- ' ••' . ' Wy-'W '. \t the Police Court, the two. Davis ■ ’as' a. tunneller, and TM„r Valval,. aged 30, dentist, lor whom Mr Noble appeared, were charged with the theft of the overcoat, the property of. Alexander Gill. Sub-In-spector Shanahan stated- that possibly other 'charges would be brought .against the men, and applied for a remand, which was granted. Accused werp..each;-allowed .bail in .the sum of :--Q. . ........... After the session of the court detectives arrested Davis on the charge from Wellington and he was placed in custody. He will he charged in the °olice Court with the theft of the cash box and it is likely that he will ho remanded to arpoar in Wellington after the other theft charge has been dealt with.

ROTORUA CASES

ROTORUA, July 1

A case a rising from a series of robberies from houses - was concluded when M,v S. L, Paterson, S.M., sentenced Hope Williams to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour, to be followed- by reformative detention for two years. On other charges for which the maximum penalty was six months’ imprisonment accused was sentenced to. three months’ haid . lahour, the terms to be concurrent. On various other charges he was convicted.

Accused had pleaded guilty to about 30 thefts. It was stated that he eii+erecl houses while the occupants were moviug'abmit, choosing the hours d>e. r tween 7 and 8 p.m. . Daring and inrcnuity marked his operations. Some bmv.es were entered four times. Nine nf lb" charges were for thefts in 1930 end 20 for offences in 1929. A large amount of stolen property was. found in the possession of accused. It was stated that he was a hard-working Than' and was "employed as a iiiotoi'driver. He had a large 'family and recently, lost Ill's wife. ‘ :j ‘ ' The .magistrate, referring to the offences, said the' public must b e protected -against such depredations, which were''becoming too common.

THEFT CHANGES.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 1

Lionel Charles Burke aged 37 years pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate’s Court to charges of stealing on November 23, 1929, £3B 10s; on Decem'ber .12 ,1929, £3B 1.5 s and on December 17 1929.’£38 10s, the property of the Australian Now Zealand and Investments. Ltd. Accused had been employed bv the .Company as bond salesman, .but bad left the co.inpan*■ s employ. I t Fas'alleged that Burke had sold: 'bondsfto three' persons' named, and received' payment,: hut had net moifitmd the head office; with the re-. 7.|ui'fc; tliat the persons had not received "bonds. Burke’s defence, was that he posted the' cash to tbh Christchurch representative of the Company in un--1 registered, -tetters. Accused was com'Uijttcd.d'or trial, hail being fixed at witTyli surety of £2OO.