MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 235, 22 February 1913, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THEFT 01' DI!ES< SUIT. \t the .Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. A. Crook". S.M.. Harold Koads was brought up. on remand, charged with Hi,, ihet'l of a dress suit and dinner jiickit. valued at CLi. the property of Mr. -I. I'. Larking. Senior-Sergeant lladdrell pro-eellted. in reply to the usual question, accused elected to he dealt, with summarily, and pleaded ".uiltv. lie expressed contrition for his Tap-e and stated that he was willing to make good the amount on time pavmeiit. <ergt.' lladdrell explained that the chiilie- had heen recovered, and were not damaged, though accused had worn them a few limes. Mr. Larking was a (lovernmeiit surveyor, and left his clothes at a local hoti.].'wlii!e he was out in the field. Accused 'was employed as a waiter, and when hi' entered the service had no dress suit, hut appeared in these acconntrenicnts a few days later. Xo notice was taken at the time, hut the theft was noticed later, when air. Larking sent for the clothes. Accused was in the hospital, and his hox was searche.l and the clothes found, lie at once owned up. Accused had been two years in the Dominion and was off the Ir.tinine ship Conway. Accused: The' Arethusa. The Tdasistrnle said that, taking into consideration the fact that the theft had been made openly, and no attempt made to dispose of the clothes, hut that accused had merely used them, he was disposed to deal leniently with him. He would not send him to prison, hut would convict him and fine him the sum of £2. ir default one month's imprisonment. Accused a-ked for two hours in which to find the money.