STOLE FARE

NZ Truth, Issue 1210, 7 February 1929, Page 3

STOLE FARE

To See Dying Brother At Home (From "N.Z. Truth's" Brisbane Rep.) When a youth of 18 years came ■ before a police magistrate, he was charged with the thoft of £10 from ' his farmer employer. He stole, however, because his baby brother was dying. THE lad had received a letter from his mother, asking him to return to Brisbane immediately, on account of the baby's serious condition. Not having any money, the boy, John Francis Dooley, went to his employer's pocket,, extracted £10 m notes, rushed to Brisbane, and went home. ; ■ But his baby brother was dead when he arrived. • Without giving the police any bother, the lad pleaded guilty, when Detectivesergeant M. O'Driscoli presented him to Magistrate Berge. It appeared that Dooley was working on a farm near • Pittsworth. One day his employer 1 ,- James Stanley Anderson, left to go into Toowoomba. Later m the day, when he returned, Dooley was absent. A search revealed that a five-pound note, four singles, and two 10/- notes Avere missing also. A complaint was made to the police. Detective James located the youth at his mother's house, at Kangaroo Point, where the youngster freely admitted the theft. He returned to the detective six'£l notes, part of the stolen property. These he had hidden on a shelf m the kitchen. "He offered a pathetic excuse for the , misdeed," said Detective - sergeant O'Driscoll. , , ■ The officer then outlined the boy's story. The magistrate felt it his. duty to impose some penalty, so he fined the lad £5, to include restitution of £4 short of the stolen £10. llMlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillillUllllllllllll