PILFERING AT AWAROA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 535, 28 May 1920, Page 2

PILFERING AT AWAROA

SACK OF OATS STOLEN. ACCUSED CONVICTED AND FINED. It will be recollected by readers of this journal, that some months aoo, a complaint was made to the Raglan County Council that pilfering, on a large scale, was v%ry common at the Awaroa landing. At the last sitting of the Magistrates Court, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, b.M, , a chaise of stealing one sack of oats. valued at £2, the property of ha.

Fenton, was preferred against Sid' I ney Alex. Johnson, a farmer of Woodleigh, who pleaded guilty to the

offence. , «, Constable Thomson, stationed at Tuakau, sa'J the offence was cemir.'ted on May 9. On the follow ng baturday he received a telephone Mes-

sage to the effect that a sa'k of oats had been missed from the Awarpa landing. He saw the accuse, and ! asked him if he knew anything about the oats, but he denied any knowledge of the affair. He commenced to search the sheds on accuseds property and came across a sack of oat* btfanded Pulham, Mercer. Subsequently he found a sack with Mr. Fenton's brand on it. Accused then admitted the offence. He had carted the oats a distance of 10 miles, and from what he gathered he had emptied the oats from the original sack into another sack. He was a i*™*** fanning poor land, and he thougW he was in poor circumstances. Defendant said he did not intend to steal the oats. He had carted the sack away in mistake for a sack ot ..; chaff. The Magistrate: Do you mean to

say-you mistook a sack of oats for a sack of chaff. Defendant: Yes. The Magistrate: Nonsense. Anyone can tell the difference lin weight hi a sack of oats and a sack of chaff. Constable Thomson ««d the oa*. had been rdturned. Defendant "VHk a sinele man and had? seen * service. * The Magistrate said he would give the defendant a last chance. If he ever stole anything again he would go to gaol. ■,, A fine of £3 was imposed, tqgecher with costs £2 12s, in default one month's imprisonment with nard laDour.