MEAN THEFTS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1932, Page 6

MEAN THEFTS

TRAVELLER SENT TO GAOL

r ßy Telegraph—Per Press Association)

CHRISTCHURCH, February 8

“I don’t think you have had a. meaner theft to deal with before,” snid the Chief-Detective to the Magistrate, Mr E. I), Mosley, to-day, referring to the case of Hugh Barnett, aged 39 years, a traveller, who was sentenced to J4' days’' hard labour, for the theft of 19s, the property of Victor Ernest Usherwood.

The police said that Barnett was it ravel ling for an Oil Company, at a salary of nearly £9 weekly. He lived in a fashionable neighbourhood, while Usbcrwood was a struggling bowserproprietor.

A total of £BO .had been missed from the bowser at various limes, and Barnett was caught by means of marked coins. He admitted that he had no need to steal. THREE YOUTHS IN COURT.

As the results of alleged attempted robbery at Opawa last evening, three youths appeared in the Children s Court to-day, charged with being lound in possession, by night, of a loaded pea-rjifte, with ini tent ! to 'break and enter a shop. They were remanded to appear on Saturday. MASTER MARINER'S THEFT. FINE OF £25 IMPOSED. AUCKLAND, February 4. Harold Fletcher Tomlinson, aged 50 years, a master mariner, ana n .form or assistant-Superintend'ent of Marine, of Auckland, was charged today with forging a receipt by altering it, and with theft on nine charges. No evidence was. offered on the forging charge, and three theft charges, which related back to 1928. Accused then pleaded guilty to the remaining charges. Detective-Ser-geant Kelly said that accused was a married man with two children. One of his duties was to make payments to sick seamen, on behalf of the Shipoi'ng Companies. He supplied the Companies with seamen’s claims, and the Companies paid him the money for distribution.

His offence Jay in the claiming of greater amount than the actual sum asked by the seamen, keeping the balance for himself, and altering the receipts. The thefts had been committed between 1928 and 1931, the total proved sum involved being £lO 11s, and the largest single sum involved £1 16s. Accused gave financial difficulty as his reason. He had been in the Government service for 26 years, his salary being £lB6 and overtime, and lie resigned when the thefts were discovered. Counsel said / that accused was broken in health by a progressive disease, and had already been severely punished by the cancellation of his master’s license, the loss of his position and of prospective superannuation. The Magistrate said that it seemed to he a series of petty thefts. He fined accused £25, or three months’ and ordered the restitution of £lO 11s, one day being allowed in which to pay.