FROM FATHER’S PURSE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1932, Page 7

FROM FATHER’S PURSE

' BOYS" 'SAL® OF £5 NOTES, i “TICKETS” AND “COUPONS.” *•■■■» WELLINGTON, Aug. 8. The story of how two £5 notes came to be sold for 6d in the suburbs or New Year’s Day was retold to Mr T. B. McNeill, S.M., in the police Court on. Saturday morning, when the youth ’ who made the purchase appeared to answer a charge of having .stolen £lO. ; The ease had been heard by Mr McNeill on Saturday of the previous week, and was adjourned in order to have ' the evidence of the two boys who had handed over the two' £5 notes to the accused,

The first witness, aged nine, said that on New Year’s Day the family left home in the morning on n picnic excursion. After leaving the house his father discovered that he had forgotten to bring a packet of cigarette.; and sent Witness back to the house for them, Detective-Sergeant Revell: Av.tl did you get the cigarettes,' Alan ?—“Yes.” What else did you got P—“l got two tickets.”', ■'Where did you* get the tickets?— “In father's purse.” The boy then explained that wher the other hoy offered to buy th( ‘ticket?” for 6d lie handed them oyer His fiiernd gave them to accused. The other boy, aged 10, then e” tered the witness-box. : Detect iv e- Serge ant Revell: What did you do with the ticket Alan gav< you?—“lt wasn't a ticket.” What was it then?—‘‘l was a eou port.” And what do you do with these coupons?•—“l 'save them up.” The hoy -said that when accuse'’ naked where he got the coupons Alai said he had found them at the hot tom of the steps. Counsel for the defendant said h had already submitted that a per son who bought articles honestly be lieving that they had been lost wn; not guilty of theft. His Worship said that he woul ' reserve his decision and give it h writing;, y Oh’ the application of counsel, n order was -again made suppressing th name of the accused.