STORY DISBELIEVED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 5, 7 January 1938, Page 8

STORY DISBELIEVED.

THEFT OF A GUITAR.

YOUNG MAN IMPRISONED.

When charged with the theft of a guitar valued at £12 10/ on the night of December 27, William Edward C<iin, aged 24. at present on sustenance, pleaded not guilty in the Police Court to-da v.

Evidence was given by two young men who had been playing" in an orchestra that the instrument was take;i from a dance hall. Several days later tbov saw accused in a restaurant and questioned him about !>eing at the dance on December 27. When lie admitted bei;i<r there they called a constable, who abn questioned Cain. Cain at first denied all knowledge of the guitar, but when :t was" suggested that he should go to the police station, he asked what would happen if he got the guitar. Accompanied by the constable and the two young men, he went to his room in Symonds Street and got the instrument, which was underneath his bed.

In evidence, Cain told the magistrate that as he was leaving the dance hail a Maori whom he did not know handed him the guitar and asked him to mind it for him. Cain denied that he stoie the instrument.

"Do you expect me to believe that story?" said the magistrate, who sentenced Cain to three months' imprisonment.