POLICE COURT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4654, 28 January 1924, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

ARRESTED FOR THEFT.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

A man. giving the name of John Chapman, was arraigned before Messrs W. Marshall and F. E. Flatt, J’s. I\, at the local court this morning and was charged with the theft of the sum of £6 from a man named Ami row Conlon on Saturday morning, 26‘h instant.

Sergeant J. O’Grady stated that Chapman had come to work on the sewerage contract in December last, but had since been put off. After contracting debts for board and lodging at the Paero v a Hotel defendant went to stay-at Davidson’s boardinghouse in Station Road, where be shared a room with Conlon. It appeared that on Friday evening last, when Conlon retired he had a single ami a five pound note folded together, which he placed in his right-hand trousers pocket. Before retiring he noticed that a brief-bag belonging to defendant was near the foot of his be I. Before leaving for work on Saturday morning Conlon went to transfer .the money into his working clothes and found it was missing. He also noticed that defendant’s bed had hot been slept in, and that the briefbag was gone from beside the bedThe proprietress was informed, and she advised the police. Conlon stated that he did not know how long defendant had been working. or how much money he had,, but he had assisted him to find employment and had olaned him old colthes to work in. Witness was sure that if defendant was willing to work he could find plenty to do. He had not loaned defendant money, but had helped him all he could to find work. Constable McClinchy stated that he had. received information from Mrs Davidson at 7.15 a.m. on Saturday last respecting the loss of £6 from a boarder in her house. From information received he notified the police at Morj-insville,. who arrested accused on the train at that town. A signed statement made by accused was then read in which he admitted the offence.

Constable McClinchy further stated that accused possessed £5 15s 5d when arrested. He had known accused for five weeks. On his arrival in 'Paeroa accused was living at the Paeroa Hotel, but the constable did not know if he was in regular employment. Accused was a married man. and his wife was employed on a farm at Huapia. He had expressed sorrow for his theft, and had stated that it was his intention to refund the £6, together, with the amount tlu« for beard to Mrs Davidson when he reached Frankton Junction. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed for sentence at the February sitting of the Supreme Court at Auckland.