THEFT OF FIREWOOD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1922, Page 6

THEFT OF FIREWOOD.

CASE AT MAKAKA. f ONE MONTH’S IMPRISONMENT. At the Eltham Court yesterday, .before Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., Stanley Harwood was charged with stealing three cords of firewood at Makaka. tho property of Chas. Steiner, on November 27. Accused, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded guilty to stealing cne and a half cord’s, but denied, taking more. The charge was amended to one oi the theft of 1| cords of wood. Elizabeth Bishop, alias Elizabeth Dines, was also charged with stealing the wood but did not appear, and a Warrant was granted for her arrest. Charles Steiner said he had six cords of firewood stacked on a farm and gave no authority to anyone to remove it. One Jones took 1| cords and delivered it to witness, leaving 4| cords. Witness was later informed that nearly all of the wood had been taken. Robert Fischer, upon whose farm the wood was stacked, said he saw Harwood and Mrs. Dines removing the wood, between three and four cords being on Harwood's wagon. Harwood said he was short of money at the time and went on to Fischer’s farm, took 1| cords of wood and sold it,' intending to replace it. He later went to the owner of the wood and offered to pay a fair price for cords. He denied offering to pay the owner for three cords. Sergeant Henry said the accused did not bear a good reputation, and had previously been sentenced to imprisonment and six strokes of the birth for offences of a similar nature. The Magistrate sentenced Harwood to one month’s imprisonment.