YOUNG MAN IN COURT

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 31, 31 October 1929, Page 12

YOUNG MAN IN COURT

INFLUENCE OF COMPANION Charges of breaking and entering a grocer’s store at 3 Holloway Road, and stealing goods valued at £5 Bs. 4d., and alternatively, with receiving goods from Lawrence Desmond Tanner, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained, were denied by a young man, George Albert Proudfoot, in the Supreme Court yesterday. The Chief Justice (Hon. M. Myers) was on the Bench. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey prosecuted, and Mr. W. Perry appeared for accused. Mr. Macassey stated that Tanner had pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and theft, and was awaiting sentence. The accused, it was alleged, had made a statement to the effect that he took no part in the actual breaking into the shop, but had kept watch about 50 yards away. With the exception of a few cigarettes, all the goods had been recovered, Tanner and accused having shftwn the police where they were hidden in a building in course of erection close to where they lived. Evidence was given by the accused, who said the suggestion to break into the shop had come from Tanner. Witness told Tanner that he would not go on with it, but later he was persuaded to accompany him. When about 50 yards from the store he became frightened and stopped. It was impossible from where he stood to give a warning of anyone approaching. He did not receive anything whatever taken by Tanner from the shop. The jury found Proudfoot guilty on the first charge, with a very strong recommendation to mercy, as he had been influenced by his companion. Tanner. Proudfoot was released on his own recognisance till Friday, when he will come up for sentence.