MEAN THEFT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18923, 11 February 1927, Page 3

MEAN THEFT.

STOLE FROM FRIENDS. BLUE-COAT BOY'S TROUBLES. Ah ex-member of one of England's most famous schools, pleaded guilty io stealing from liis friends, when Cecil John Edmonds appeared beforo Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the. Lower "Court yesterday. , Edmonds, whose age is twenty, and who comes from tho famous Blue-Cont .School, was charged with stealing, at Waikouaiti, clothing and money to the value of £l4 13s, the property of Mathew Georgo Young, nnd another. Chief-Detective W. E. Lewis said that Edmonds was at Waikouaiti "down and out," and two men who were living at a boardinghouse there took pity on him and he was given leave to stay in their room over a week end. When he left he tendered the landlady a ten-shilling note with the words, "I don't knowwhere tin; nest will come from." She would not take tho money from him, and the accused then bought .1 shirt, a tie, and a railway ticket. "VVhilo the men were at work he went back to the house and stole their money and personal belongings. Mr W. It. Luacellcs, who appeared for the accused, said that the young man had como out from England under tho public school immigration scheme. Ho was employed ini :i farm in the North Island, but had the misfortune to break three ribs, and had to seek lighter employment. He was then employed by a spring-cleaning firm, and when that work gave out he went to tho Duncdin Exhibition, where he was working ,at, a side-show. After ho left there he had had to rely on charity. The theft had been committed in a weak moment, when 110 was desperate. Counsel asked the Magistrate to allow the traditions of tho accused's school to help him before it was too Into altogether. His Worship: You arc entitled to be sent to gaol for such a mean-theft. I have 110 sympathy for you. Major Barnes, of the Salvation Army, asked that .tho young man might be put tinder the care of tho Army. Accused was ordered to como up for sentence if called upon within six months, and to refund the value of the goods stolon during that time. Ho will remain under the care of the Salvation Armv for three months.