CHURCH FURNITURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 84, 9 April 1925, Page 8

CHURCH FURNITURE.

SOLD FOR £7 10/.

ASSISTANT-PASTOR'S OFFENCE MARRIED ON THE PROCEEDS. Evidently George Leo Gussy, a young man who pleaded guilty at the Police Court this morning to stealing practically all the furniture from the Church of the Assembly of Cod, had not seen or read the sth Chapter of the Ephesians verse 28, which states: "Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." The charge to which Gussy pleaded guilty was as follows: Theft of 4 tables, 12 chairs, 1 organ, 2 harmoniums, 2 banner poles, 1 stepladder, a doormat, 12 cushions, 2 tea urns, plates, spoons, 3G cups and saucers, knives, a wine decanter, primus stove, kettle, couch, 2 night dresses, 2 pot plants, electric light bulbs, wine glasses, several girls' dresses (half made), several yards of calico and other material, also a teapot, "of a total value of £50. Had Assisted the Pastor. Senior-Sergeant Edwards said that Gussy was assistant pastor of the Church of the Assembly of God—in fact he often took the services. Accused had cleared the whole church in Union Street, Freeman's Bay, of its furnishings, and had got married on the proceeds. In a statement made to a constable Gussy said that he was a cleaner, residing at 38, Cook Street. On Friday, March 20, he went to a furniture mart in Newton and asked the manager to send a van to the church to collect the furniture, stet'ngat the same time that the church was "closing up." When the van arrived accused was offered £7 10/ for "the lot," and was paid £5 on the spot. Later ho called at the furniture mart and collected the other £2 10/.

Accused was quite sure that there was no other persons concerned in the theft, and that he had got the £7 10/ himself. A few days after effecting the sale of the furniture accused was married in the Registrar's Office. 1 Accused had nothing to say. Senior-Sergeant Edwards stated that Gussy had one previous conviction for theft. Accused was remanded for sentence until April 16, for inquiries to be made.