HIS FIANCEE'S RING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 300, 17 December 1923, Page 7

HIS FIANCEE'S RING.

TOOK IT BACK.

"THE ROCKY PATH OF LOVE." NOVEL PPLICE COURT CASE. "It is not a case exactly like the story of the 'Merchant of Venice,' because here the man waß not willing to pay his ' pound of flesh. He wanted the girl to ' pay for him." This remark was passed * by Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., at the * Police Court this morning, after hearing - a rather novel case, in which a young ' man was charged with the theft of a dia- ' mond ring and string of beads, of a total ' value of £50, the property of a young I lady. On behalf of accused, Mr. Alan ' Moody entered a plea of not guilty. £ Accused elected summary jurisdiction. Detective Johnston deposed to having ' interviewed accused relative to the theft ' of the ring, and he had at first denied ' the offence. Later he admitted it, and J took the detective to his home, where "he unlocked a box and produced the ring ' and beads. < Senior-Detective Hammond: Of course. 1 sir, this young man was engaged to the ' girl, and he gave her the ring originally. ' '"This young man has a clean record ' sir," said Mr. Alan Moody, "and he has \ been engaged to the girl for some time.' He conceived the idea that he wanted J her to marry him sooner than ahc expected. Being inexperienced in matters 1 of this kind, and not realising that one ' cannot force a woman into matrimony. ' he foolishly endeavoured to force tho ' issue. When she would not marry him ' as quickly as he desired he foolishly con- ( ceived the idea of going to the girl'f home at Remuera and taking the ring ' he took the beads with the idea of haying them mended. In the meantime, I'• am informed, the engagement is unhappily broken off. I must admit that ' defendant foolishly wrote some anony- ' mous letters about the girl, and that he has been guilty of despicable conduct, < but he will now do anything and every- ' thing to regain, if not the girl's love, at ' least her esteem. ' The magistrate said it appeared to ; him a case of theft. The letters he had ' before him were not at all creditable to ' the young man. He had threatened to ' destroy the ring if she did not take a certain course. The girl had written a ! letter in which she asked that the young man should not be punished. Defendant had evidently taken advantage of her good nature. The spirit in which the girl had taken it was most commendable. . "Since the young man has stumbled on the rocky path of love, I suggest that you might treat him leniently," urged Mr. Alan Moody. "He might be given chance to rehabiliatato himself. It would be hard for such a young man if a conviction for theft were entered. There was the point that he had previously borne a good character — His Worship: You mean a good reputation. There is all the difference. Some men of good reputation are of bad character, and some men who have excellent characters unfortunately have bad reputations. These letters do not show very good character. \ There were the parents of the girl and the parents of the boy to be considered, as well as accused. It had been a stupid, foolish act, and the ends of justice would be met by not recording a conviction, said counsel. The. magistrate then made the remark reported at the top of this report. Accused would be convicted and placed on probation for two years.