"HONEST MISTAKE."

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18441, 23 July 1925, Page 15

"HONEST MISTAKE."

CONSTABLE CLAIMED WRONG BICYCLE. CTHSS ASSOCIATION lIUSIUM.) OAMARU, July. 22. A case possessing extraordinary features was heard in the Magistrate's Court to-day. Constable Yoycc some weeks ago missed his bicycle. He saw a machine in the 9treet, which he identified as his, and asked a resident who claimed it from whom he had procured it. The resident stated that he had found the body of the machine in a rubbish heap some years ago, and had assembled it. The number was missing, and the constable laid an information against the resident for theft. After the case for the prosecution had been heard, counsel for the defence asked for au adjournment to enable him to produce another bicycle, which had been found in a stable. When the second bicycle was produced Constable Voyce identified it as his. • Senior-Sergeant Shanahan then said that an honest mistake had been made, and he asked leave to wtihdraw the charge. The Magistrate said that there was no doubt an honest mistake had been made. It was unfortunate that the missing .bicycle should have belonged to a constable. No odium, in the circumstances, could attach to Constable Voyce. Counsel for the defence stated that there were features about the two bicycles which did not correspond. The Magistrate saidJie was satisfied, however, that an honest mistake had been made. He agreed to a withdrawal of the charge, and made an order that the publication of the name of the defendant be suppressed.