HIS “FOGGY DAY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 835, 2 December 1929, Page 11

HIS “FOGGY DAY”

THEFT OF VEGETABLES FROM SHOP

A DRY-LAND SAILOR

Friday was a foggy day for me,” said John Henry Woods when charged at the Police Court this morning with theft. He admitted stealing a bundle of rhubarb valued at twopence. To a second charge of stealing a bag of potatoes valued at 2s 6d from Frederick Edmund Willoughby on Friday, Woods said that he had a vague recollection of passing over some money for them. The rhubarb was also the property of Willoughby. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said that Woods was seen coming out of a shop in Hobson Street on Saturday evening after picking up a bundle of rhubarb. The proprietor of the shop had seen the man enter a house, 5 Vincent Street, and later went there with a police sergeant. They found the rhubarb and a bag of potatoes that had been stolen from the same shop on the previous evening. Sergeant Brenchley corroborated the sub-inspector’s statement, adding that Woods had made an explanation urging that he had stolen the rhubarb for a bet. He had remarked: "It was a foolish thing to do; I'll pay for it.” It was established on the evidence of the proprietor of the shop, Willoughy, that accused had been in the ship shortly before the potatoes were missed. "Woods is a fireman off a ship,” said the sub-inspector. "He is living with some others in doubtful circumstances and appears to be in no hurry to find work.” On the second charge Woods was fined £2, in default seven days' imprisonment. He was convicted and discharged on the first count.