STOLE WHILE DRUNK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 852, 21 December 1929, Page 13

STOLE WHILE DRUNK

FILLED POCKETS WITH LOOT GAOL FOR 14 DAYS Wandering into Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., yesterday while in a more or less drunken stupor, Archibald Kealey filled his pockets with odds and ends for which he had not paid. This morning at the Police Court he was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment. Kealey. a seaman, aged 39, was charged with stealing fancy goods to the value of £3 16s 3d. Mr. Barry pleaded guilty for him. Chief-Detective Hammond said that Kealey had taken his selection of the goods within reach in Whitcombe and Tombs, while the assistant was looking for some article for which he had asked. His thefts had included Christmas cards and tennis balls. Kealey had been convicted of theft in 1924, when he was admitted to probation for two years. He was a returned sol- I dier suffering from chronic rheuma- ! tism and, between them, he and his ' wife received a pension of £4 10s a j week. “He always seems to have j enough money for drink,” added the 1 chief-detective. Mr. Barry said that Kealey had j come to town to draw his pension, j With two friends he had been cele- I brating the approach of Christmas, j Counsel suggested a fine. Imposing the term of imprisonment, I the magistrate said that, had it not 1 been for accused’s health, he would | have been sentenced to three months’ ! imprisonment.