A THEFT CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1922, Page 7

A THEFT CASE.

SENTENCE ON NATIVE SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT. After being found guilty of theft at Friday's sitting of the Supreme Court in New Plymouth, the Native, Rangi Elers, appeared for sentence before Mr. Justice Chapman on Saturday morning. The charge had 'been one of stealing £lO from the room of a lodger in the Opunake Hotel at Christmas time. On behalf of accused, Mr. A. A. Bennett said that testimonials given- by previous employers showed Elers to have been a hard-working man, and entirely trustworthy. He had been apparently unable to resist what appeared to be a sudden temptation when he saw the money. Unfortunately this was his second offence, and had to be regretted, 'but counsel asked His Honor to take into consideration the fact that Elers had been in custody since January 1, and to extend the clemency of the Court to accused. Tn reply to His Honor, the Crown Prosecutor said that Elers’ previous conviction was on April 21 last, at Wellington, for stealing £2l 7s 6d. He was granted a year’s probation on that occasion, so that, the term was not yet up. His Honor remarked that this was the second offence, and evidently probation had not done accused any good. “I must try some other method of reforming you,” said His Honor, in passing a sentence of air montha’ imprisonment with hard labor.