BICYCLE THIEVES SENTENCED

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21257, 31 August 1934, Page 6

BICYCLE THIEVES SENTENCED

! FIVE MORE CHARGES FOLK MEN' SENT TO PRISON Four more bicycle thieves appeared before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. One was sentenced to imprisonment for four months, and the others each to imprisonment for three months. One man had stolen two machines, and also faced a charge of false pretences. Henry Barrett (Mr D. W. Russell), a driver, aged 37, of Richardson street, Dunedin, was charged with the theft on August 6 of a bicycle valued at £4, the property of John Robert Baxter, and with the theft on August 3 of a bicycle valued at £2, the property of James Augustus Clements. Sub-Inspector J. Powell said that the first bicycle had been taken from a passage-way in a building in Gloucester street, and the second from the Returned Soldiers' Association. Accused had admitted the theft when interviewed. He had sold one bicycle for 2s 3d and the other for 4s 6d. Barrett was also charged that on July 30, with intent to defraud, he obtained 7s from Canon A. H. Norris by falsely representing that he had been recommended by Nurse Morton, of the Christcliurcli Public Hospital, to apply to Canon Norris for assistance. The sub-inspector said that on July 13 accused had approached Canon Norris and stated that he had been referred to him by Nurse Morton, of the hospital. He said he had been in hospital and had no means of subsistence. Canon Norris gave him an order for 7s for board and meals. Barrett had a long list of previous convictions. mainly for theft, and had made himself a nuisance to the hospital authorities. He was a peculiar sort of man, and he had given the police a great deal of trouble in locating him. He had 25 previous convictions. Mr Russell said he had been instructed that Barrett had not sold the bicycles, but only obtained advances on them. He had only recently come out of hospitrJ. and said he had been knocked down by a car in High street. He had also had a stroke live years ago. (On the charges of theft accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, and on the third charge lie was sentenced to imprisonment for seven days. Wheels Sold For stealing a bicycle valued at £l4 IBs, belonging to Thomas Johnston Morrow, Harold Price, a labourer, aged 27, of Edinburgh street, was sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard labour. Sub-Inspector Powell said that the ! bicycle had been stolen from outside 1 lie Radiant 11 all. and the owner had later seen the wheels on a bicycle which the accused was riding. When Price had been interviewed by the I police lie had said that the wheels had i been sold to him bv one of the pupils iat iiis wrestling school. Later, h<>\\ - | ever, he admitted the theft. It would i cost £lO for tlie bicycle to be restored to the condition it was in before it I was stolen. Price was married, with a familv, and was on relief work. i 1 Other Thieves Sentenced | William James McCain, a traveller, | aged 49, of Hereford street 'Mr D. IW. Russell), pleaded guilty to the t theft of. a bicycle valued at £7, belonging to Alan Handiside. 1 . Counsel said that the accused had : had his bicycle stolen on the day be- : fore the offence, which had been comi mittod while the accused was under j 1 he'influence of liquor. McCain was sentenced to three : month.-.' imprisonment with hard labour. | Nelson Lionel Thomas Eden, a labourer, aged 25. of Wairarapa road '.Mr R. A. Young), pleaded guilty to' a charge .jf stealing on August 18 a bicycle valued at £l4 10s, the property j of Wilfred Sumner. Sub-Inspector J. Powell said that' complainant had left his bicycle out- j side the Majestic Theatre, and when he returned it was missing. Accused admitted the theft when interviewed. He said that he had dismantled the bicycle and given the: handlebars and sacidle to a friend. He valued the niachine at £1 10s. lie was a married ; man. He had no previous convictions. | Mr Young srid that Eden was a relief worker. He had left his own bicycle outside the Majestic Theatre and on returning to find it gone lie had taken another. Eden was sentenced to three months' imprisonment.