SERIES OF THEFTS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1932, Page 3

SERIES OF THEFTS

TWO MEN BEFORE COURT.

GAOL AND PROBATION,

(Per Press Association — Cc'jyright. )

WELLINGTON, December 22

Peter Walker, aged! 31, and Alfred Cook, aged 21, .who committed a series of robberies at Miramar between June 1(1 and December, pleaded guilty before Mr Page, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court to a series of theft charges. Detective Sergeant Revel 1 said that inquiries made led to the arrest of the two accused. There were live charges of theft, involving £10"os against Cook alone. Cook was further charged, jointly with "Walker, with eight charges of theft ,and one charge of committing mischief. The total ,amount involved in all of the charees was £47 11s 2d. A certain amount of the stolen property had been, recovered, but €23 10s has still to be accounted for.

Tiie father of the younger of the. two accused, said that his. son had been out of work for eighteen months or two years. Witness had sent .him lo a camp near Rotorua, but owing to a'previous illness the boy had to leave, as he could not stand the,' cold. He had not been able to get work in Wellington, but an old friend had offered to give him employment on a gold mining claim in Southland, The Magistrate admitted Cook to probation for three years, and ordered him to make restitution at a rate to be fixed by the Probation Officer. The accused Walker was sentcched to nine months' imprisonment.