CLOTHES TAKEN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3296, 4 August 1943, Page 4

CLOTHES TAKEN

DRINK MAINLY TO BLAME - MAGISTRATE’S COMMENT RECENT INCIDENTS IN PAEROA X Commenting that accused evidently did not appreciate what he was doing Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Paeroa Court on Monday convicted William Thomas Rice, a battery employee of. Waikino, of the theft of a suit of clothes valued at £lo' 10s, the property of D. McWatters, a pair of sox and a bush singlet valued at ,12s 6d, the property of E. V. Slyfield, and a pair of’tan boots valued at £1 12s 6d, the property of J. Turnbull, all of Paeroa, and ordered accused to come up for sentence if called upon within the next six months. Constable J. L. Brown stated that accused had been involved in a motor car accident some time ago and as a result had been advised by his doctor not to taxe intoxicating liquor. Last Tuesday Rice had come t® Paeroa and consumed a quantity of beer which had made him more or less silly. Rice had been seen taking a suit of clothes from in front of a shop and wander off down the street, making no effort to conceal same. Further down the road he had taken a singled and a pair of sox. Later accused was accosted by Mr McWatters who repossessed the suit and reported the matter to the police. No Attempt To Evade Police Rice had made no attempt to evade the police and had gone back several times to Mr McWatter’s shop on Tuesday to see if the police had been contacted. Unfortunately the police had been called out of town on. another matter. After hanging around all afternoon Rice caught the last bus to Waikin® and on his way to the bus took the boots from Mr Turnbull’s shop. Rice left all the goods taken at the bus stop..

Next day Rice recalled the incidents and would have returned the goods but could not remember whera he had 1 left them. Rice had a good reputation in Waikino where he was employed at the battery.