TWO MONTHS’ GAOL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 80, 14 January 1944, Page 2

TWO MONTHS’ GAOL.

MAN GUILTY OF THEFT. TIMARU, This Day. Three charges, those of being an idle and disorderly person with insufficient means of support; of stealing an overcoat valued at £5, the property of Eric Raymond Wilson (Ashburton) on January 2; and of stealing a watch valued at £3, 'the property of John Bates, at Qrari, were preferred against Timothy O’Connor at the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr H. Morgan, S.M. Eric Raymond Wilson said he came to Timaru from Ashburton and left his overcoat in his car parked by the viaduct about mid-day. The car was unlocked, and when he returned about 12.30 the overcoat was missing. He reported the loss to the police. Detective S. W. Cunningham said he saw accused endeavouring to gain entrance to the Carlton Hotel on the afternoon of Sunday, January 2. He was carrying an overcoat. Witness told O’Connor to leave town. On his return to the police station he ascertained that an overcoat had been stolen, and the coat was later found in the ticket vestibule of the Timaru railway station.

Sergeant L. P. Ricketts gave evidence that accused had been wandering about Timaru for a fortnight. Complaints had been received about him, and he was arrested after he had been thrown out of an hotel. He would go into an hotel, order a drink, and then say that he did not have any money. He went to the Welcome Club, ordered a meal, and then said he did not have money to pay for it, and after he had left, the donation box was found missing. When arrested accused was in a state of intoxication, and was in such a filthy condition that he had to be undressed and washed. The watch stolen at Orari was also found in his possession. Accused said he had been working on a farm for the last 16 years at ■Ashton, and receiving a Avar pension of £2 5s a Aveek as well. He came to Timaru to see a relative, but found he Avas out of tOAvn. He l\ad injured his leg in the last Avar and also suffered from malaria.

Senior-Detective E. M. Thomas:, is it true that yoil have been ordered out of every hotel in Timaru except two, and that you Avoro previously convicted in Ashburton?

Accused: That Avas a mistake. “There seem to be a lot of other mistakes,” retorted Senior-Detective Thomas, Avho then read out a list of previous convictions.

The Magistrate said he would dismiss the charge of insufficient means of support, as accused Avas in receipt of a pension, and Avas being paid for working on a farm. HoAvever, for each of the theft charges accused Avould be sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour, the second sentence to take place immediately after the expiry of the first.