A TRADESMAN'S LAPSE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 49, 14 October 1914, Page 7

A TRADESMAN'S LAPSE.

THEFT OF COLLEGE MATERIAL. [[Feb Pkb*B AaiOdAyioN 1 Auckland, October 13. An unusual class of theft charge came before Mr Eraser, S.M., when John Auld, aged 46 years, a plumber with a prosperous business, who let twelve years has been instructor in the Technical College, was charged that on September 25th he stole 22s worth of block zinc from the college, and on October 12 committed a similar theft, He pleaded guilty. Chief-Detective McMahon said that accused was a man of substance, in addition to being a very fi.no tradesman, who received £IOO a year for hi’ ! services at the Technical College. Suspicion had, however, fallen on him. and a detective last night caught him practically red-handed stealing a block of zinc, of the sort used for making solder, which he carried away in a hand-bag. On behalf of accused. In stated that Auld had recently lost his wife, while one of his children had bee' taken seriously ill, and the result wa that he had given way suddenly to drink, which was the cause of his lapse. Accused was fined £lO on the first charge and £2O on the second.