CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24414, 27 September 1940, Page 4

CITY POLICE COURT

Thursday, September 26 (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) Drunkenness Charged with drunkenness, Lawrence Imrie was fined £l, in default 48 hours imprisonmentThefts from Goods ¥ard "Probation is out of the question in offences of this nature," remarked Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.. in the City Police Court yesterday, when imposing a sentence of one month s hard labour on William Thomas Moyle. aged 39, a railway shunter, who pleaded guilty to four charges of theft. The total value of the stolen goods was £lO 18s. 'The accused was in a position of trust, and he abused this trust over a considerable period. There is only one course to adopt," his Worship added.—The facts, as placed before the court by Detective-sergeant Hall, were that the accused, who was foreman of a shunting gang in the railway goods yard had been seen by a watchman removing a case of apples which was one of a shipment in transit between Papanui and Invercargill. A search of his home disclosed a tarpaulin belonging to the department, three cases of soap and two sacks of wheat, all of which he admitted having stolen from the yard.—Although the value of the goods is not great," Mr Hall said. " The thefts are regarded as serious. Goods in transit should be guarded by the staff instead of being pilfered-"—The term of imprisonment was imposed for the theft of the tarpaulin, and on each of the other three charges the accused was convicted and discharged.