POLICE COURT

Southland Times, Issue 18859, 26 June 1920, Page 2

POLICE COURT

YOUTHS IN TROUBLE THEFT AND VAGRANCY CHARGES. RIFLED GAS METERS. At the Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., two youths named Stephen Allan Haggerty and Arthur Redmond Murphy pleaded guilty to six charges of theft, two of wilful damage and one vagrancy. 'Khe charges' included four of theft from clothing in the dressing shed at Rugby Park between June 3 and June 8, one of theft from the gas meter and one of wilful damage to the gas meter at Rugby Park, and also one of theft from the gas meter in the News buildings and a charge of wilful damage to the meter. • The total amount alleged to have been stolen was £3 13s. Mr Eustace Russell appeared for the accused Haggerty, and Mr J. L. McG. Watson for Murphy. £ Semor-Scrgeant Eccles prosecuted, and stated that the two youths came to Invercargill from Winton in February, and had smee stayed at several boarding-houses in town At one hotel they owed £B, and at another Os each for board. When they left the last place at which they boarded their room was left in a very dirtv condition. Recently complaints had been received from footballers playing at Rugby Park, and on June 16 he instructed Constable Hood to assist Constable Thomson in an endeavour to find the culprits. On that day ma'che? were being played at the Park, and Constable Hood secreted himself in the bathroom. After a time Haggerty came in, hut presently he saw Constable Hood and apparently changed his intentions, going for a drink of water. When spoken to about the thefts which had been taking place from the footballers’ clothes, Haggerty tried to put the blame on to Murphy. When they were both confronted, however, they both frankly admitted having taken the property. On June 8 the accused went up to nlay billiards in a room in the News buildings and it was afterwards - found that the ret meter had been tampered with, end Murphy accused Haggerty of (eking off the knob. The offences, especially those with regard to football, were particularly mean. From what he could gather Murnhy had done about five weeks’ work and Haggerty about six weeks’ work since they came to Invercargill. During the rest of the time they had apparently lived by their wits and for eleven nigh's before their arrest had slept in railway carriage?. Constable Kerse had informed him that the parents of both hoys were highly respected residents of Winton. but (he characters of the hoys were not good. Haggerty had previously been before the court and was probably the leader. Mr Russell raid that he admitted ouito frankly that the case was a very difficult one tn deal with In reference to the previous charge against Haggerty, that had been a minor offence, and the accused had been admonished and discharged. That was over four years ago, and from that time Haggerty had behaved himself un'il the present trouble had arisen. On February 28 his father left with the band to take part in the Dunedin contest, and on returning found that his son had gone to Invercargill. Since February Haggerty had sought employment in the newspaper offices, on the trams, and at the goods sheds, but had only been able to secure temporary work. Hia father had no idea that his son was getting into financial difficulties, and if he had been aware of it would have taken him back to Winton. The meanest thieg was (he thefts from the clothes at Rugby Park, but both hoys had been quite frank. if they had not admitted having taken the money they would net then have been before the court unless the police had come across some further evidence. It was Haggerty’s first offence for four years, and it was unfortunate that his father had not heard anything about the son’s lack of employment. Tic would ask that if possible Haggerty be released on probation or he convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. If this was done the father would take charge of him and endeavour to reform him. Mr Watson, on behalf of the accused Murphy, stated he quite agreed with Mr Russeli that there was danger for young hoys coming to town and unable to get work. Murphy had previously borne a good character, and his mother had undertaken to do her best to make good the monev taken and to obtain work for the boy in the country. The Probation Officer would give the boy a good report and he thought that the accused should be given a chance. On all the charges except that of stealing 16s 6d from a gas meter, the accused were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, and on the charge referred to they were convicted and admitted to two years' probation They were also ordered to live, in the country' and to pay for the board which they had received and had failed to pay for.