POLICE COURT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5394, 1 March 1929, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

TIIBFT OF TOOLS AND DOO.

Peter Hume appeared on Wednesday, before Messrs P. E. Brenan and G. P. Lamb, J’s.P., at the Paeroa Police Coiir.t and pleaded not guilty t 0 a charge of the of tools, a sheep dog, and a certain quantity of money advanced to him by a prospective employer. Evidence was given-that on November 22 last the ac.cused 1 called at Mi James H. Evans’ sawmill, Paeroa, looking fcir work. Upon his stating he was used to farm work, Mr Evans engaged him to work on his farm at Mangaiti. Putting the man up at his house for the night, Mr Evans the following, morning gave him money, tools, blankets, and clothes, together with a sheep dog to aid him with his work on the farm. He failed to turn up at Mangaiti, all inquiries to locate him being without success. Later a warrant was issued for his arrest, and after numerous inquiries had been made in the direction he had travelled, the accuse,d heard that he wanted and handed himself ewer to the police at Auckland bn February 16 and was remanded to appear at Paeroa.

Thq offender,'s excuse was that he went to the: Paeroa railway station with the tools and dog, and placing the tools in the luggage office, he re-> ceived a ticket for them, and a ticket to Mangaiti for the dog as well. As the train was not due to leave forabout an hour he walked up town leaving the dog tied to a post al the station. While in town he had some liquor and missed the; train he should have gone by. Returning to town again he had more liquor. Going once more to the station he let the dog, loose, thinking it would go home, and returned to Paerpa. From that time until he gave himself up the accused appeared to know little about how lie left Paeroa, dr where he had. been. The tools had all beqn recovered ex" cqpt a slasher, but the dog was still missing.

After having heard the evidence of Mr Evans and Mr Gaving, a railway clerk, and the accused’s statement, the justices convicted Hume and ordered him to come up for sentence within six months, and to pay costs amounting to £3 7s 6d.