PROBATION IN THEFT CASE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 5, 1 October 1926, Page 5

PROBATION IN THEFT CASE

SUPPRESSION OF NAME REFUSED "If the name of this young man is published he may not be able to regain his employment with the firm. I understand they are willing to take him back again if his identity remains unrevealed. On the other hand, should it appear in < the Press they may not feel so ready to reinstate him.” These remarks were made by Mr. F. B. Anyon in the Alagistrate’s Court yesterday, when applying to Mr. E. Page, S.M., for the suppression of the name: of Alexander Craig Ritchie, a storeman (aged 19), who appeared on a charge of stealing miscellaneous stationery valued in all at «£4 3s. 5d., the property of Collins Bros. Chief-Detective Ward stated that, accused had been employed for 2} years by his firm, an,d until the present case his conduct had been good.. The things which accused stole were passed over to the hands of a printer, whom accused alleged knew he was receiving stolen property. This, however, the printer had denied. "He told me that as he was a storeman with the firm he could obtain the goods at cost price and for that reason I purchased them," was the explanation that the printer gave. In asking for leniency, Mr. Anyon said that Ritchie had some time ago met with a serious motor-cycle accident, as the result of which he had not been well ever since. "At that time," continued council. "Ritchie made the acquaintance of the printer in question, and a-s the latter had been very kind to him, he took the goods and gave them as n present.” Accused was convicted and placed on probation for twelve months. --The application for the suppression of the name was refused.