“PITY TO CONVICT”

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 52, 25 November 1930, Page 10

“PITY TO CONVICT”

Young Man Charged The unusual recommendation that a conviction be not entered on the charge, was made in the Police Court yesterday by the police in the case of William George Ritchie, aged 23, charged with being found unlawfully in a shed, the property of the Wellington City Council. “Do not ask him how he pleads,” said Sub-Inspector Lopdell to the clerk; then to Mr. T. B. McNeil, S.M.: “This man has a good record and nothing is known against him. He has been a considerable time out of work, although he has looked for it. He received a little assistance from his mother the other day. In the meantime he has been sleeping in an outhouse which the police have been visiting occasionally. He was found there at two o’clock this morning and he has been there previously. I do not know whether it is a case for a conviction. It would be a pity to convict him.” On the suggestion of the sub-inspector, the magistrate remanded accused for a week to see if he could get work in the meantime. Theft in Series Fergus Diekson Morgan, a young man. admitted stealing a vacuum cleaner, value £5, the property of George Frederick Campion. He was admitted to probation for three years. Sub-Inspector Ward, chief detective, said that on November 4 accused received the cleaner from Mr. Campion. He was to sell it for not less than £5 and to account for the proceeds, but as soon as he received it he pawned it for £l. On November 14 accused was before tlie Court on a number of similar charges—he had been a salesman for vacuum cleaners—and was admitted to probation for three years on condition that he mad restitution. The present charge was of that series and had the police known of it they would have preferred it with the other counts. A condition made was that accused pay £1 restitution. Loss of Memory “This man was remanded for a week because he was suffering from methylated spirits, and now lie lias had a complete lapse of memory,” said Sub-Inspector Lopslell of George Albert Wheatcroft Jamieson. aged 49. clerk, who was charged with being idle and disorderly In that he had insufficient lawful means of support. A further remand was granted.