NOT A VAGRANT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 232, 2 October 1933, Page 8

NOT A VAGRANT.

MAN GIVES HIMSELF UP. UNUSUAL PROSECUTION. The unusual position of a man pleading guilty, and being convicted, on a chargc deeming him to be an idle and disorderly person, with insufficient means of support, when, except his own statement, there was no evidence to support it, was disclosed in the Police Court this morning. Thomas Mervyn Stevens, aged 29, salesman, pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant O'Brien r-rikl Stevens called at the detective office on September 23 and gave himself up, stating that he had been employed by a city firm selling slot machines, and had converted £20 belonging to the firm to his own use. The firm mentioned had been seen about the matter, but declined to take action against Stevens. Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M.: He is not charged with being a thief. Detective-Sergeant O'Sullivan: No, sir. Since his arrest, his people have sent him £7." The magistrate said 'there was no evidence against Stevens except his own statement. "You seein to have got the shelter of the police until you received word from your people," Mr. Wilson told Stevens. "However, your action has now earned for you a conviction on this charge. You will be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months."