THEFT CHARGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 146, 2 April 1948, Page 2

THEFT CHARGE

YOUNG MAN COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE Pleading guilty to a charge of theft, Eden John Grainger, single, aged 22, a carpenter’s labourer, of Ashburton, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence by Messrs W. H. Hall and A. R. Graham, Justices of the Peace, in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yes* terday. Percy Sefton Green, 18 Sarah Street, said that he left his home at 1.30 p.m. on March 27. The doors and windows were closed. When he Returned at 5:30 p.m. the back door and the bathroom window were open. In his room a drawer had been opened and a box containing about £2 in silver had been rifled. A mixed collection of foreign coins and a string of pearls valued at £6 were missing. He had spoken to the accused at the Police Station and accused had said: “There can be little doubt about it; I must have taken the articles.” Sergeant J. N. Croxford said that he had taken a statement from Grainger, who said that he did hot need the money or the articles as he was in receipt of good pay. He attributed the cause of the theft to drink. L. B. Bates, a taxi driver, said that he had taken accused ae a fare to Sarah Street on the day. in question. The police case was conducted by Senior-Detective E. M. Thomas, who produced a number of coins and a necklace which had been in possession of the accused.