FAMILY IN TROUBLE

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 457, 14 March 1919, Page 2

FAMILY IN TROUBLE

Charaes of Theft Charges that at Pukekohe on diverse dates between the Ist and 6th inst. they did steal 70 sacks valued at £2 7s, the property of the Pukekohe Borough Council, were heard at the Pukekohe Magistrate's Court yesterday by Mr F. K. Hunt, S M. against Ernest George and Margare' Harlick, husband and wife, and five of their children, viz. Kathleen, aged 17, Harriet Mary, 14£ years, Ivy and Pearl (twins) 13 years and Henry 1G years. Sidney Clews, foreman of the Pukekohe Borough Council stated that 'he Borough Council had a quantity of sacks in store He estimated the number about 200. After receiving intimation that a local merchant hid received sacks, which were thought to have been dishonestly obtained, he made a count of the Council's sacks. He found the number then to be 146. He was again informed that a farther supply of sacks had been sold and another count was made, 17 sacks from 'he 146 missin?. The shed iu whi h the sacks woru kept had b?en locked and the kny " planted " but Harlick, who was employed on the nightsoil cart, knew where the key was. L. McDermott, store man for Messrs Frank Perkins a d Co. deposed that the first lot of socks they purchased were brought in by the defendant Kathleou, who, in rep'y to a question told him that >he sacks had been used in packing th- ir furniture on their removal fr mii On»hunga to Pukekohe On the second occasion Kathleen a d Ivy brought about 24 or 25 sacks He informed Mr Perkins that anoher lot of sacks had been brought in an-l Mr Perkins told him (wi'ness) to ring up the police as he noticed some local brands on the sacks. The faih«r, mother, and the boy, Henry, all-on oath, denied stealing the -sacks, and maintained that thev harl' been from On«hunga. F 8. Shell, probation officer, of Auckland, ' gave evidence, stating that he knew the family very well. Harlick vt» addicted to drink, and had been wfore the Court at Onehunga several times, and had had a prohibition order taken out against him. He had found Mrs Harlick, the boy, and eldest girl, very honest, but he could not say that of the others The twins, Pearl and Ivy, had been committed to the St. Joseph'! school, Wellington, for theft, but had been out on license Bincf» last July

Sergeant Cowan described the family home in Pukekohe as disgraceful. His Worship said he would give Harlick a chance, provided he sented to a prohibition order issed against li'm. On Harlick consenting, he was convicted, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. The Magistrate ordered the twine, Pearl and Ivy, to be returned to St. Joseph's sehoo', Wellington, and he deferred th# charge against Kathleen and Harriett for three months, in order to see whether they behaved them* selves The charge against the mother and boy was dismissed, His Worship remarking that he would give them the benefit of the doubt. Harlick was also ordered to refund to Mr Perkins 25s 2d, the sum received for the sacks sold.