GOLF CLUB BEER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 April 1938, Page 7

GOLF CLUB BEER

THEFT FROM MAHUNGA PAVILION THREE MEN BEFORE COURT. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. Six bottles of beer were exhibit “A” in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court this morning when three young men, Lyle Reginald Thornton, William Clifford Symons and Leonard Royce Ford, appeared before Messrs H. E. Pither and C. E. Grey, J’s.P., on charges of breaking and entering the Mahunga Golf Club's pavilion at Akura on April 16 and the theft of 72 quart and 37 pint bottles of beer, 30 packets of cigarettes, and £l, the property of the club.

Detective-Sergeant W. Kane conducted the prosecution and Mr C. C. Marsack appeared for the three accused.

After the hearing of evidence, pleas of guilty were entered and the three accused were committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington ' for sentence. ■ ■

The secretary of the Mahunga Golf Club; Mr J. G. McFarlane, said everything was in order when the pavilion was locked up about 5.15 p.m. on April 15. When he arrived at the links the following morning he found that the front door had been forced open, apparently by using a jemmy. The padlocks were wrenched from two lockers. Over 100 bottles of beer, 15s worth of cigarettes, and about £1 from the Greens’ Improvement Fund were taken. The total value of the stolen property was £6 5s 6d. . To Mr Marsack, witness said he could not state definitely what was used to force the door open. To the Bench he said that there were'' coats and other articles in the pavilion, but with the exception of a scarf,' which was used to tie up a gate, nothing else was disturbed. There were no special marks on the beer bottles but they were similar to what had been stored in the pavilion. Constable C. H. Reardon described a visit to the Mahunga Golf Club .in company with Detective-Sergeant Kane and Constable Downs. On the links were found three broken beer bottles with the caps still attached. The box which had contained the money was lying broken open a few feet away. Later in the day they ..recovered a quantity of the beer at Ford’s place and Ford admitted That he had taken the beer, but refused to implicate others, stating that he would shoulder the blamp. When interviewed, Thornton immediately admitted that he was one of the three involved in the theft. In a statement made at the police station, Thornton said, that they ran out of beer at a party and it was agreed between Symons, Ford and himself to visit the Mahunga Golf Club pavilion, where they knew there was a quantity of beer. To Mr Marsack, witness said that Ford and Thornton had been perfectly frank and had given every assistance. Detective-Sergeant Kane said that in his statement Ford admitted responsibility, but refused to. name the other two men concerned. Witness said that when he interviewed Symons on April 17, accused said: "I heard you were looking for me last night.” . Later accused made a statement in which he said that when they ran short of beer at the party Thornton said he knew where they could get some. They made two trips to the pavilion to get the beer. ' Witness said the two accused he interviewed were quite frank and gave every assistance in clearing the matter up. The accused were committed for sentence. Bail was allowed in each case self £lOO and one surety of £lOO or two of £5O.