ALLEGED THEFTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1926, Page 8

ALLEGED THEFTS.

PLEA FOR PROBATION. UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., this day. The circumstances leading up to the appearance of a young man named Raymond Harding at the Magistrate's Court on ten charges of theft, were described by Senior-Detective Quirke as unfortunate. It was alleged that.he committed thefts at Paimerston North and Feilding. between February and April, of musical instruments received by him for sale on commission and converted to his own use to the total value of £12. The police evidence stated that Harding came io . Paimerston North in February and had for some time gone straight, that he then got into financial difficulties and had to sell his furniture, and that, as his wife and child were starving, he succumbed to the temptation to steal the goods. The Rev. H. Peat offered to take Harding under his guidance if the Court would admit him to probation, saying: "He is just a lad and has entered on the sea of matrimony without realising the grave responsibilities of such a step, and his education is being completed in Court this morning." The magistrate reserved his decision.