THEFT FROM DRUNKEN MAN.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 317, 5 December 1929, Page 4

THEFT FROM DRUNKEN MAN.

EXCUSE NOT BELIEVED. Three Months’ Imprisonment. Pleas of not guilty were entered by Walter Leo Scott to charges of being an idle and disorderly person and to stealing the sum of £lB 10s, the property of one Robinson, of Mokai.

The accused elected to be dealt with summarily. After briefly outlining the case, Constable Murphy called L. Robinson, who said that he was an engineer residing at Mokai. He came into Putaruru two days prior to the court sitting, with £32 10s. He got a few things he required and had some drink, with the result that he was later arrested about four miles along the Lichfield road and placed in the lock-up. After his arrest he had nothing. Later he was taken to see the accused, who produced some money.

To Scott, the witness stated that he did not remember handing the money over to the accused, telling him he could spend a couple of pounds of it if he so desired. To the police, Robinson said that Scott produced £l4 10s. Constable Cotter gave evidence to the effect that when arrested Robinson was very drunk, but he stated at the time that he had been robbed. Later £2 was found on Scott, who said that he gave £2 10s to another man. This latter sum was afterwards given back to the police. In regard to the idle and disorderly charge Scott had been knocking about the town cadging. He had had a ticket to leave Putaruru, but had not used it.

To the constable, the defendant said that he had had a good few drinks, and both he and Robinson had been ordered out of the hotel. The defendant elected to give evidence on oath, stating that Robinson gave him the money, telling him he could use some of it, if he desired to do so, and return the rest in the morning. He did not like to produce the money when asked to do so by the police because it would make him look like a thiet. To Constable Cotter, Scott said that he put the money in the leg of his trousers for safety, and not because he did not want the police to find it. Scott, in reply to the Magistrate, said that he had had £9 5s when he le": Mckai two weeks ago. He had paid for his board and spent the rest in drink. A- conviction and sentence of three months’ imprisonment was imposed on the theft charge, the first count being dismissed.