POSED AS DOCTOR

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 968, 10 May 1930, Page 1

POSED AS DOCTOR

FINED FOR THEFT OF BINOCULARS NOT LONG OUT OF GAOL When Albert James Barnes left a residence in Vincent Street, where he had represented himself to be a “Dr. Barton,” he took a pair of binoculars, valued at £lO, and belonging to Ernest William Mair, and neglected to pay his board. TN the Police Court this morning, 1 when Barnes was charged with theft, Chief-Detective Hammond said there were four or five convictions against accused. He had a conviction against him in Australia, and only last September had been sentenced to imprisonment for six months. Barnes had been staying at the same house as Mair and had greatly admired the binoculars. These had since been recovered. Barnes received only 10s 'on the binoculars. Barnes had been posing as a doctor. For the accused Mr. A. Smyth said there was really nothing he could say in extenuation of Barnes’s conduct. The accused had gained employment in the country since the theft, which had been on or about March 1, and was apparently giving satisfaction. Replying to a question by- Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., the probation officer, Mr. W. Campbell, did not think probation would be desirable, as Barnes had left prison so recently. “Why don’t you go straight?” the magistrate asked Barnes. “Will you do that if I give you a chance?” Accused: I am going to have a try at it. Mr. Hunt: Well, I shall hold imprisonment over your head. You will be fined £2, with 14 days to make payment, and you will make restitution. If you don’t do that you will get six months. THEFT ADMITTED A plea of guilty was entered by a South African, Ross de Villiers, aged 23, described as a dental mechanic, when charged this morning in the Police Court with stealing an electric cleaner valued at £2£ 10s from Electric Imports, Limited. “Another offender against the same firm has been remanded until Tuesday, and I ask that this man be stood down, too,” said Chief-Detective Hammond in asking for a remand, which was granted.