THEFT FROM EMPLOYER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 148, 24 June 1932, Page 3

THEFT FROM EMPLOYER.

YOUNG MAN IMPRISONED.

"INVENTIVE GENIUS" MISDIRECTED.

Richard Edward Walker was convicted at the Pukekohe Police Court yesterday afternoon and sentenced to three months' hard labour, to be followed by twelve months' reformative detention, for stealing articles valued at £12 IS/7 while employed on a farm at Ramarama owned by Mrs. D. M. Watkins, who was absent in Australia at the time.

The articles produced in Court were identified by Mrs. Watkins and her son as being their property, while accueed and his wife claimed that the articles belonged to them.

The magistrate, Mr. F. 11. Levicn, after hearing evidence for about three hours, said it was a peculiar ease, in which lie had to perform the duties of judge and jury. Accused had been before him previously, and it was .1 great pity that his "inventive genius" was not used to better advantage. Ft was a case of the credibility of the witnesses. Walker's attitude was tlie same on every occasion on which he had appeared. The magistrate said he hail no hesitation in believing the evidence of the witnesses for the prosecution. While accused was on the farm he was paid a good wage and was given numerous "extras." He was given the use of two bedrooms and other rooms in the house. The owner had locked up four rooms, and it was from these four that the thefts had been committed.

Attention was drawn to the fact that in 1928 accused v.#s convicted of theft at Pitkekohe and admitted to probation for three years; and at Helensvilie in 1931 was admitted to probation for a similar period.