MEAN THEFTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 230, 29 September 1942, Page 4

MEAN THEFTS

STOLE FROM WOMEN

SIX MONTHS FOR SALESMAN

In the Police Court this morning Melville Francis Fry. a salesman, aged 31. pleaded guilty to charges of stealing lon July 11, and on August 16. a three-stone diamond ring valued at £15.

Senior-Detective Walsh said Fry got m touch with a young woman in an apartment house and told her he could obtain for her wi'hout coupons cartons of silk stock.ngs. ne young woman only had 15/. and tnis she Fry, who undertook to bring her stockings. But since then she had not seen either the stockings or Fry.

On August 16. added Mr. Walsh, the accused stole the diamond engagement. ring from the room of a young woman who was employed in an Auckland private hotel. Frv took the ring to a leading firm of jewellers in Queen Street and sold it for I!.'-iO. after giving a false name. When arrested all he had left of this money was 10/. Fry had many previous convictions for offences which included theft, false pretences and vagrancy, and in addition to serving numerous prison terms he ha.i been fined and given the benefit of probat iop.

Appearing for accused. Mr. K. C. Aekins said Fry came out of prison last March and went to camp. On account of having a withered arm he was to be boarded out of the army. When he took the ring belonging to a giri whom he knew. Fry had no money but he had spent some of the money from the saie of the ring on the girl. Counsel pointed out that Fry made a clean breast of both offences when seen by the police and had not caused either of the young women inconvenience by having to appear in court to give evidence.

"Both these offences were deliberate and mean thefts. It is evident that this man has not profited by the way he has been treated in the past." said Mr. J. Morling, S.M., in sentencing Fry to six months' imprisonment on the second charge. On the first count Fry was convicted and discharged.