THEFT CHARGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 151, 12 April 1950, Page 6

THEFT CHARGE

ASHBURTON MAN GUILTY GAOLED FOR ONE MONTH While classing the theft as a very mean one,. Messrs J. F. Cleary and F. X. McDonnel, J’s.P. in the Magistrate’s Court at Ashburton this morning, took into consideration the fact that accused had not been in trouble-for seven years, and imposed a sentence of one month’s gaol on an Ashburton labourer who had pleaded guilty to theft at Ashton on April S.

Accused was William JThomas Crocker, aged 60, a labourer, of Ashburton, and, consenting to be' dealt with summarily, he pleaded guilty to a Charge that he stole £32 in money, two bottles of sherry valued at 15s, two bottles of brandy valued at £z JOS and 3 2-3 yards of tweed valued at £lO, to a total value of £45 ss, the property of William Charles Peters, of Ashton.

Senior-Sergeant C. H. Reardon, who prosecuted, stated that accused was arrestpd on Sunday, appeared before the court on Monday and was remanded in custody until to-day. On March 31 accused called on a man he knew, Mr Peters, of Ashton, and asked if ha could stay at the latter’s home to straighten himself up. Mr Peters agreed, and -they stayed together amicably until last Saturday, when the Ashton man went out for the day. Returning in the evening lie found Crocker missing, but thought he was out visiting neighbours. As accused did not return to the house, after lights at the neighbours went out, Mr Peters became suspicious and began a search of the house. • Mr Peters then found, first, that the sherry and brandy were missing, ado ed the Senior-Sergeant, and later that £32 had been removed from a wallet containing £SO odd. At 5 a.m. on Sunday the loss was reported to the police, and Constable Anderson began inquiries. Half an hour later he interviewed accused who admitted tn« theft, and handed over £l4 7s which he had in his possession. The balance of the money had gone in taxi fares and, generally, in a hectic time on the Saturday. Accused also had half n bottle of brandy left. Later it was found that the suit length was also missing from Mr Peters’ home, but this was recovered undamaged. Drink Largejy the Trouble Drink appeared largely the cause of the trouble, stated the Senior-Sergeant. Accused had been before the court on several occasions, for theft and other offences, the first time in 1915 and the last time in July, 1943. He wa> a widower and had worked about Ashburton for some time. It would be seen that he had not been in trouble for the past seven years. On the suggestion of the bench, accused then signed an order for the handing over of the money recovered to Mr Peters. Accused had nothing to say in regard to the charge. “This was a particularly mean theft,” said the bench. “You were given shelter and hospitality by a friend, and you betrayed the trust placed in you.- However, you have not been before a court for seven years, and we are taking that into consideration. We are sentencing you to .one month’s gaol, and you can considev yourself lucky in not receiving a heavier sentence.”