THEFT CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1932, Page 5

THEFT CHARGE

EMPLOYEES’ ATTEMPT. TO ROB LINEN MERCHANT. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) WELLINGTON, October 5. Richard William Patterson, aged 38, and Robert Hull, aged 41, salesmen employed by Mr Darcy Ford, linen merchant, were charged to-day with attempting to break and enter with intent, to commit theft. The story told was that Patterson occupied a flat over his employer’s shop, and that the men set out to cut a hole through the floor with the intention of entering the shop. Working during week-ends, a whole was made into the lavatory, the door of which was usually locked, hut- they i. >ok care to see that it was left open at last week-end, they being ready to make an entry. A nephew of Ford’s, •however, had occasion to visit the shop on Saturday afternoon; and lie locked the lavatory ’ door. Finding that they could not enter as they had intended, the men wrenched off some of the boards, of the ceiling of the shop, hut, finding that the space was not large enough to get through, they, tried to hide all of the evidence, and wait for a future occasion.

Ford, however, noticed some dust and small pieces of wood on the floor, and he investigated, subsequently putting the matter in the hands of the police. The men admitted the offence and they were committed for sentence-