THEFT FROM HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 157, 6 July 1931, Page 8

THEFT FROM HOUSE.

MAN IN LORRY CHASED

"SUDDEN TEMPTATION."

At the Otahuhu Police Court this morning, before Mr. V. H. Levien, S.M., Henry White Hawthorne ■ and Albeit Hines were charged the "the.ft of a -wristlet watch valued at f 3 10/, the property of William Waller: Hawthorne pleaded guilty-and Hines not guilty. Counsel for Hawthorne said that he and Hines were bottle-gathering. They went to" Waller's home' and found the door, open. Hines went down the garden to look for- bottles. • Hawthorne entered the; house,', and, succumbing to sudden temptation, took the watch. Hawthorne was quite a decent fellow. He had been "up ao-ainst it" and had a family of six. W. Waller, an employee.at the Mangere speedway, said he came home about noon on July 3 and saw two men leaving his home. Going into his room, he infssed his watch. Hie mate took him on Ms motor cycle and chased the men, who were in their motor lorry, and stopped them hear the Mangere crossing. > Both denied being in the house, and when he threatened- to take them to the police station, Hawthorne pulled the watch from his pocket and slipped it into the pocket of Mr. Waller'-s mate. Mr.- Levien, in reply to a. plea for leniency, said the worst feature was the assertion of accused that he had nothing to do with it. "You are now convicted as a very common < thief. I will take the view that you have not been before the Court for dishonesty before and will tr,ea,t it as a first offence. This will .be your .final appearance before me on whatever offence that will be treated leniently." Hawthorne was placed on probation for two years and ordered to pay costs. The charge against Hines was dismiseed.