WILL GO STRAIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 968, 10 May 1930, Page 10

WILL GO STRAIGHT

MEN CONVERTED DINGHY TO OWN USE S.M’S LENIENT VIEW A lenient view of the action of two men in converting a dinghy to their own use was taken in the Police Court this morning by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. Roy Martin, a seaman aged 27, and John James William Brooks, labourer and fisherman, aged 34, were charged with stealing a dinghy and a quantity of chain, valued at £6, the property of Maurice Ludwig, but Sub-Inspector Shanahan consented to the reduction of the oL.arge to one of converting the property. For the accused Mr. A. Smyth said their explanation of the affair was that they found the dinghy floating in the harbour. They took it in possession in the meantime and were using it while the owner was absent from Auckland in a launch. “Both these men have lists,” said Mr. Shanahan. “Their story of finding the boat floating hardly agrees with the story of a man who saw them take it from where it was tied up.” Mr. Smyth said the men were concerned in a fishing venture. They were doing better at that than they had done in working about the City. ‘‘Of course, their story of finding the boat is all nonsense,” said Mr. Hunt “I don’t want to put the men in gaol if they are trying to earn a living. They wanted the boat and took it, and I could send them up for three months But I shall fine them £2 each.” The accused assured the magistrate that they would “so straight.”