CONVICTIONS FOR THEFT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1921, Page 6

CONVICTIONS FOR THEFT.

GROCERY STORE ENTERED. Charges of stealing various articles of groceries were brought against two men, Frank Williams (alias Percy Faulkner), and Joseph White, in the New Plymouth Afagistrate’s Court yesterday morning. The men had been in custody since Friday morning. The accused, who pleaded guilty, were charged with the theft of one roll of bacon, one bag of sugar, 51b tea, and one tin of biscuits, of the total value of £4 15s, the property of Robert A. Bent, storekeeper. In outlining the facts for the prosecution, Detect!ve-iSergeant Cooney said that AV"hite, who was the younger of the two, had previously been employed by Bent, and was familiar with the premises. On tne date of the offence (March 19) when the two accused went to the store, White went inside and took the goods, while Williams remained outside. He thought if White could be got away from the influence of Williams he would better behaved. The older man had quite a number. of previous convictions for offences committed in various parts of the North Island, and was last discharged from gaol in May of 1920. The magistrate (Mr. T. A. B. Bailey) convicted Williams and sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor, and ordered him to be detained thereafter for three years for reformative treatment.

White was convicted and put on probation for twelve months* ordered to report weekly to the probation officer, and to refund the value of the stolen articles within one month.