POLICE COURT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5095, 2 March 1927, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

DRUNKENNESS AND THEFT.

TERM OF IMPRISONMENT IMPOSED

A man named Ernest Tompkins, aged 38 years, appeared at the Paeroa Police Court this morning, before Messrs W. Marshall and G. P. Lamb, J’s.P., charged with drunkenness •’» Normanby Road yesterday afternoon. A second charge of the theft o’f a bottle»of schnapps, valued at 14s, from a local hotel was also preferred. Defendant pleaded guilty, and on the charge of theft elected to be dealt with summarily. Constable McClinchy stated that defendant, who was a married man, had been working on the construction of an oil company’s tank at Paeroa and had risen to the position of foreman. During the absence of the manager on bus'ness defendant had indulged in a drinking bent, and had lost his position. Witness had seen him during yesterday morning. He was then under the influence of liquor and was using filthy language. He was cautioned and advised to get out of Paeroa, In the afternoon 'he was arrested for drunkenness.

With reference to the theft of the bottle ci schnapps, Constable McClinchy said that defendant watched in's opportunity when there was a go'd crowd in the bar and picked trie liquor up from a shelf under the bar counter. The theft was a contemptible one, especially when it was considered that the harman in charge was held responsible and would be expected tc, make good the loss from his own pocket. In reply to the Bench defendant stated that he was very drunk at the time, and was sorry he had caused trouble. He pleaded for a chance to get out o'f the town and start afresh.

The Bench intimated that the theft charged could not be treated lightly A conviction was entered on the charge of drunkenness, while defendant was convicted and sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment with hard labour on the charge of theft.