VICTIMS OF THIEF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 50, 28 February 1940, Page 8

VICTIMS OF THIEF.

ACHILLES SAILORS.

BELONGINGS RESTORED.

FIREMAN ARRESTED. Not long after two sailors from the Achilles reported to the police yesterday afternoon that their suitcases had been stolen Detective Jones had recovered them and arrested the culprit—Robert Morton (44), a ship's fireman. '

Morton came before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M.. in tHe Poliee Court to-day and pleaded guilty to charges of stealing an attache case and contents valued at £1 10/, belonging to Morris Maidment, and two suitcases and contents, of a total value of fl 19/, tne property of Ivor Reginald Burston.

Detective-Sergeant McHugh said the two complainants were sailors from the cruiser Achilles and came ashore on leave yesterday afternoon. They went to a city hotel and left their belongings in the passage, it being their intention to travel south by the express last night. Tlie cases were later missing. Morton had been in the hotel and picked up the cases and taken them to a house in Freeman's Bay. Visiting this house, Detective Jones recovered all three intact. Morton was in a drunken stupor and said another man had given the suitcases to him to look after. ""But later he admitted the offences. Morton had not been before the Court for theft for 10 vears.

"Owing to the theft one of the sailors was unable to leave bv train last night," added Mr. McHu«h.

Morton told the magistrate that he was drunk yesterday afternoon. "When I found the suitcases at home I asked the wife to ring up the 'demons,'" he said.

Remarking that liquor no doubt had much to do with the matter. Mr. Orr Walker convicted and ordered Morton to come up for sentence if called upon in 12 months. He was also ordered to take out a prohibition order against himself.