THEFT OF A WATCH.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 44, 21 August 1924, Page 2

THEFT OF A WATCH.

ACCUSED FINED £5. The theft of a Lever watch at Arapuni on Wednesday of last week was admitted by a young man, William G. B. Pope, before Messrs. R. Alcorn and J. Barr Brown, J.’sP., at a special sitting of the Putaruru Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Constable Murphy explained that accused and a mate, both carpenters, went to Arapuni to obtain employment there. However, it was noticed that the watch, by which the foreman kept the time and which was •hanging* in a shed, was missing* after the two had been in the shed. The police were informed, and, qn inquiring, found that accused had given the watch to his mate to raise some money on it in Putaruru the following day, accused owing* his companion a sum borrowed for board, etc. The police recovered the watch. Constable Murphy added that the trouble was apparently due to a drinking bout, as nothing was previously known ag*ainst accused, but at the time of the theft had been drinking* heavily for five days. A fine of £5 was imposed, payment to be made within a mqnth, in default one month’s imprisonment. The justices stressed that this represented a lenient view of the offence, but as this was evidently accused’s first lapse they wished to give him a chance to make good.