STOLE FROM HIS FRIEND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 9, 12 January 1926, Page 7

STOLE FROM HIS FRIEND.

YOUNG MAN'S OFFENCES. THE MONTHS' GAOL. How a man repaid the kindness of a good friend, by stealing his property, was told in the Police Court this morning, when John Joseph Blake, aged about 20, a married man living apart fr»m his wife, was placed in the dock. He was charged, that on January 4, he stole a violin, case and bow, valued at £10, and ion January 8 a watch and chain, spectacles and ease, and 8/ in money, a total value of £12, the property of "Matthew Darlington. Detective Knight stated that accused had shared a room at 55, Symonds ■ Street, with Mr. Darlington. The latter went away for a holiday at Christmas time. During his absence accused took ■ the violin, with its case and bow, and pawned it for £2. Later he stole the other articles mentioned, pawning the watch and chain for £2. Interviewed yesterday Blake admitted committing the offences. "Darlington befriended him in every way," said the detective, "and he was also helped by other people at the boardinghouse." • Chief Detective Cummings said that Blake was before the Court on October 11, 1924, when he was convicted and discharged and ordered to make restitution, on a charge of theft. Accused was a french polisher by trade, and had a good position. Had he wanted to he c6uld have obtained employment during the holidays. Accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment on the first charge and ordered to come up for sentence within two years on the second. "A hold should be kept on him," remarked the Bench.