“ONLY A JOKE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 958, 29 April 1930, Page 10

“ONLY A JOKE”

THEFT FROM BOOTMAKER’S SHOP PRISONER RESISTS ARREST Detected in the act of taking a pair ol boots and a cobbler’s hamm«r from a bootmaker’s shop in Hobson Street on April* It, William Preston protested it was ‘‘only a joke.” Nevertheless. he was arrested, and on appearing at the Police Court today he was convicted and ordered to comt up for sentence If called upon. Preston, a carter and labourer, aged -1, admitted stealing the boots and hammer, the property of Edward Reardon, and also with resisting a constable. According to Sub-Inspector Shanahan, Preston, on entering the shop, picked up a pair of boots left to be repaired and then transferred a cobbler's hammer to his pocket, but this act was noticed by the proprietor’s wife. A constable was called in, and accused became very hostile and refused to give any satisfactory explanation of his conduct, and finally had to be handcuffed. He resisted all the way to the Police Station. Accused was under the influence of liquor at the time, but not sufficiently not to know what he was doing. Mr. Sullivan stated accused claimed he had no intention of stealing the articles. Counsel appealed for leniency, stating that if accused was sent to gaol, he would “get years,” as he was now out on licence. He had been working at Arapuni, and had come to town to see his wife, with v, hom he had some domestic trouble, which, however, was now settled. The probation officer said he had had definite instructions tlip.t it accused was sent to gaol his licence would have to be cancelled. The officer said he would have to report '.he case, as the man had had more than one chance. On the charge of resisting the police accused was fined £5, in default one month’s gaol.