NUMEROUS THEFTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 190, 25 May 1934, Page 6

NUMEROUS THEFTS

CLOTHING AND MONEY TAKEN.

TWO YEARS' PROBATION GIVEN.

CASES HEARD IN COURT. A brief sitting of the Ashburton Magistrate's Court was held to-day, when Mr C. R. Qrr Walker, S.M., presided.

On remand from Tuesday, Charles Rudolph Davidson, aged 37 years, was charged: (1) That on or about May 1, at Lagmhor, ho did steal one pair ot shoes, valued at 15s, the property of Ronald Leonard; (2) on May 1, at Lagmhor, did steal one brown suit, one pair of braces, one electric torch, and 16s in money, to a total value of £7, the property of Maurice George Hampton; (3) on May 10, at Eiffelton, did steal a wallet valued, at 3s, containing 24s in money, the property of Douglas Patrick Kelly; (4) on May 10, at Eiffelton, did steal one pair of shoes and a pair of socks, valued at 2.5 s 6d, the property of Ronald Edward Bennison; (5) on May 19, at Willowby, did steal £3 7s 6d, the property of James Horace Papworth; (6) on March 31, at Ashburton, did steal one set of motor-cycle overalls, one pair of goloshes, one.pair, of gloves, one pair of goggles and one woollen scarf, valued at £4 9s 6d, the property of Norman Knox.

Accused pleaded guilty to all charges and elected ( to be dealt with summarily. Sergeant W. T. Kelly said that accused went to tlie wJiares of some of the men concerned while they were at their evening meal and took money and articles. He had been out of work for some time and had been living in a hut in the lower part of Tinwald. He had never been in trouble of this description before. Four years ago he had been involved in a serious motor accident, in which he sustained injuries to his head, and that, no doubt, had something to do with his having taken the articles mentioned. The Magistrate said it was a pity accused had extended the offences over a period. Still, he would like to give accused a chance. Sergeant Kelly stated that accused had taken £5 7s 6d in money, and when he was arrested he had £2 13s 3d in his possession. Practically all the articles stolen had been recovered. Accused was admitted to probation for two years, and he was ordered to make restitution of £2 14s 3d, as ordered by the Probation Officer. The Magistrate ordered the sum of £2 13s 3d which accused had with him when arrested to be apportioned among those who had lost money. Tax Not Deducted. L. Ma,ginness (Mr W. H. Woods) was charged with, having failed to deduct Tlie.levy from the wages of employees. It • '' For the Department, Mr A. C. Williams stated that the tax had never been deducted from the wages of three workmen. It was deducted in the case of a fourth man. The shortage was £25 lis 7d. Defendant had failed to reply to letters sent to him by the Department. . . Mr Woods entered a plea of guilty, and said the employees were working 15 miles from the homestead, and they drew sums from defendant on account of wages due to them. The deductions had since been made. The Magistrate said that when an employer paid wages even on account, the tax should be deducted. In the present case there was no suggestion that defendant had kept the money back. Defendant was fined £l, with. 12s costs. Civil Business. Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in each of tho following cases:— < Ashburton County Council (Mr R. Kennedy) v. Walker Brothers, £l6 12s, with £3 8s costs; C. M. Crabb (Mr L. A. Charles), v. J. Holland, £4 5s with £1 3s Gd costs.