MISSING RUG

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1939, Page 8

MISSING RUG

CHARGE AGAINST MECHANIC. SUPPRESSION OF NAME. - Pleas cf not guilty were entered by a former Master ton mechanic in the Masterton Magistrate's Court today when he was charged with having stplen a rug valued at £2 and with receiving die rug knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained. Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., was on the Bench.

Senior-Sergeant G. A. Doggett said that complainant, a school teacher, left her motor-car in a Masterton garage during the Christmas , holidays. On her return she found that a rug and a set of tools were missing. Constable C. H. Reardon said that when interviewed accused denied knowing anything about the rug or the tools. When seen at his home accused showed witness a rug, which did not correspond with the one missing. Later in the day, however, witness returned tn accused's home and subsequently accused came to light with the rug. At the police station accused made a statement in which he said that he had purchased the rug from a fellow employee for ss. He stated definitely that he did not know the rug had been stolen when he purchased it. Witness said that the other man mentioned had been interviewed in Christchurch and had denied knowing anything about the. rug. The man, it was , only fair to state, had been convicted ■ recently for the theft of motor number plates and also for unlawfully converting a motor-car. Witness was not able to say whether accused purchased the rug from the other employee. Accused said he had a clear conscience and had purchased the rug as he had slated. Mr Lawry said he would accept accused’s story that lie brought the rug, but ho should have known that' at its price the rug must have been dishonestly obtained, Ho admitted accused to probation for a period of two years and made an orffi suppressing his name.