“HOTEL BARBER”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 766, 12 September 1929, Page 11

“HOTEL BARBER”

GAOLED ON SIX CHARGES OF THEFT STOLE FROM BOARDERS “He is the real Hotel barber,” i commented Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., j at the Police Court this morning, in sentencing Arthur John Roberts to six months’ imprisonment after his conviction on six charges of theft, Roberts, a motor-driver aged 24, pleaded guilty to six charges of theft, the articles mentioned on the chargesheet being of a total value of £3S ISs 6d, and the dates of the offences being all within the last month. Mr. Noble appeared for accused. Chief-Detective Hammond said that the articles had all been stolen from rooms in hotels and boarding houses during the night. They had been pledged under different names, and some of them had not yet been recovered. “Roberts has done one month for converting a car, but has not otherwise been before the court,” added the chief detective. “He has been out of work and is a cripple.” Mr. Noble asked for probation, pointing out that Roberts would be able to make restitution. “He was in a motor accident at Rotorua when he got a crack on the head that might have made a difference to him,” added counsel. “He was driving a lorry-load of Maoris to a tangi when the lorry 1 went over the bank.” i “If there had been one charge or two, even three, I might have considered probation,” said the magistrate—"but six! I shall halve the sentence though. X usually give six months on each of two charges.” Sentence of six months’ imprisonment was imposed.