POTATOES STOLEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 138, 12 June 1936, Page 16

POTATOES STOLEN.

WATERSIDER'S OFFENCE. FINE FOR PETTY THEET. A small quantity of potatoes, which filled his brief bag, brought Thomas Langdon, a waterside worker, to the Police Court on summons this morning. Langdon, for whom Mr. J. J. Sullivan appeared, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing 1/ worth of potatoes, the property of the Watchlin Line Shipping Company. ~ ~ A Senior Detective Hall said that on May 22 last Langdon was seen by Detective Mahood to walk away from shed 9 on the wharf with a brief bag. The detective accosted him and found potatoes in the bag. These, Langdon explained, he picked up from the floor of the shed. Inquiries made by Detective Mahood showed that some potatoes had fallen from bags when cargo was being worked on the s.s. Port Whangarei. Langdon, who had been a member of the Waterside Workers' Union for five years, had been convicted on a receiving charge 15 years ago, but apart from that nothing was known against him. Mr. Sullivan submitted that the case was not an ordinary one of theft or cargo broaching. When discharging operations on the . vessel had concluded, a tray was sent down to the ship's hold to bring up sweepings, such as straw, sticks, wheat and pieces of paper. This tray was deposited on the wharf. There were a few potatoes among the things on the tray, and, believing that it was nothing else but rubbish, Langdon pickcd out a few potatoes. The whole thing was done quite openly. Langdon had -a virtually unblemished character, his only one conviction being many years ago. Mr. McKean, S.M.: It is not so long ago, Mr. Sullivan, that it will not be taken into consideration. Counsel then called another waterside worker to prove, in mitigation of penalty, that the stuff on the tray was rubbish. This witness said the stuff on the tray had been on the wharf all the afternoon. "The value of the goods taken on this occasion was very small, but if such petty thefts are allowed to continue they are apt to be substantial," said the magistrate. Mr. Sullivan then pointed out that Langdon, having pleaded guilty, w-ou'.l be severely punished by reason of the fact that "he would for some time to come be struck off the rolls and would not be atye to earn a .'iving on the waterfront. A fine of £2 was imposed.