DEAR MILK Kerr's Quart of Dire Trouble

NZ Truth, Issue 1212, 21 February 1929, Page 8

DEAR MILK Kerr's Quart of Dire Trouble

HAD NO DEFENCE

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Hastings Rep.) It "was only a paltry sixpence worth of milk, but it let Authur Kerr into a whole billy-ful of trouble. When he was charged at the Magistrate's Court m Hastings with stealing the milk, he told Mr. Mowlem, S.M., that he was hot guilty. WILLIAM TAYLOR is a milkman m "' Hustings, and he told the court that on December 8 last, when doing: his morning rounds, he left a full can of milk at a street corner for one of his assistants to pick up. Not far from the can, he saw Arthur Kerr with a quart billy m his hand, and thinking that it might mean an early cull for breakfast milk, he eased up. ' Whon he came up to Kerr. the latter turned away, so no business resulted. ! Taylor went on his way, but a few yards further down the street he happened to look round, and saw Kerr helping himself to the contents of the can. Taylor intervened, but when he caught up with Kerr, there was no billy to be seen. An explanation was requested, and at last Kerr admitted that he had hidden the billy m some long grass near by, and there it was found. When further pressed as to what right he had to help himself, Kerr said he had taken the milk, but was waiting for the boy to return so that he could pay him. This ' story did not. go down with Taylor, so he asked Kerr his name. The roply was "Robertson," but he x'efused to say where he lived, so the case was put into the hands of the police. With such convincing evidence to face, it was no wonder that Mr. Helleur, who appeared for Kerr, threw m the towel. ■ He advised his client to alter his plea to one of guilty, and asked the magistrate to dismiss the case as trivial under the J.P. Act. This, however, the magistrate refused to do, and for his sixpence worth of milk, Kerr had to face the publicity and a fine of £ 1 with 13 shillings costs. * iiHiiiiiniiiiniiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii'.iiiiiiuiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiit