THEFT FROM SHOP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1938, Page 5

THEFT FROM SHOP

MAN OVERTAKEN IN STREET (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. How a man walked out of a boot shop with an odd shoe on was told in the Magistrates’ Court at Wellington on Saturday, when Walter Leonard Clarke, labourer, aged 43. pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of a pair of shoes from a shop at Courtenay Place. Mr A. M. Goulding, S.M., was on the beach. Sub-Inspector J. Dempsey said that on Friday afternoon accused went into the shop and asked for a pair of shoes. He was much under the influence of liquor. While he was being fitted the salesman noticed that he had a pair of brown shoes under his coat. When accused stood up the shoes fell to the floor and the salesman recognised them as a pair that had been hanging in the doorway. The price ticket was still attached. Accussed left hurriedly, wearing the shoe he had been trying on. He was overtaken by a constable, and when asked for an explanation said that the shoes had been given to him by a man ini the doorway of the shop. Mr R. Hardie Boys, who appeared for accused, said that his client had not been in any trouble during the past nine years. He was married and was at present on relief work. He was willing to take out a prohibition order. Accused was convicted and fined £3, in default seven days’ imprisonment.