GAOL FOR SALESMAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 758, 3 September 1929, Page 10

GAOL FOR SALESMAN

THEFT OF BATTERIES “PROBATION WOULD BE A FARCE” (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, Monday. | Found guilty of stealing two batter- ; ies and committing fraud. Harolc ' Thomas Watson, 34. battery salesman was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment by Mr. Justice Ostler today. Bertram Harding Andrews, manage] of the Electric Construction Company Ltd.. Hamilton, said that accused hue ■ been employed by the company fron I February, 1928, to June 1, 1929. Prioi to Watson’s departure a check of tla* ; batteries showed that five wore missing. Watson said they had beei rented out. A further check of th* stock showed that seven batteries valued at £49 12s were unaccounted for. One of the missing batteries was found on a truck owned by Williarr Laxon, continued the witness. Anothei battery had been sold to Frederic! Waters, who produced a docket showing that he had paid Watson £ 4 11s for it. The firm’s duplicate of thu docket showed that the sale referrec to a lamp valued at 2s 6d. Corroborative evidence was given by a number of other witnesses. Accused did not give evidence. The jury returned a verdict ol guilty with a strong recommendatior to mercy. Mr. Tompkin asked that prisoner be placed on probation ; His Honour. sentencing prisoner said that in June, 1927, prisoner was found guilty of theft and was placed cm probation for three years. He was then treated with lightness. Six months later it was disclosed that lit had committed four other thefts. Extraordinary leniency was then given, for he was again placed on probation for three years. Xow while still on probation and when occupying a position of trust he again committed theft. His Honour said he did not like sentencing prisoners and he always liked to carry out the recommendation of a jury, but it would be making the criminal law a farce if he acceded to counsel’s request and again admitted prisoner to probation.