DANCE HALL THEFT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 138, 13 June 1934, Page 9

DANCE HALL THEFT.

CONVICTION AT PAEROA. LABOURER FINED £5 AND COSTS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) PAEROA, this day. Beforo Mr. F. W. Platts, 8.M., Robert Cunningham Smith, labourer, of Paeroa, aged 23, was charged with the theft from a dance hall of a leather overcoat, a silk scarf, a pair of leather gloves and a book, to the value of £t>, the property of Irvine Birse. A plea of not guilty was en to red. Constable Maiden reported that following complaints regarding theft from a dressing room, defendant was interviewed, and he stated that the coat was found by him in the car in which he travelled home from the dance. Walter Bellamy, farm hand, of Waitewheta, gave evidence that defendant had been wearing a coat similar to the one produced when working for witness' father. Defendant said his uncle in New Plymouth had given him the coat for overhauling his car. Constable Dalbeth said he interviewed Smith in May, and found him in possession of '-he coat, scarf and gloves. Defendant had nothing to say, but the Court was adverse to sending him to prison, and imposed a - fine of £5 and costs £1 6/, in default 14 days' imprisonment.