THEFT OF OVERCOATS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 104, 26 January 1933, Page 6

THEFT OF OVERCOATS

Taken from Cars in City MAN GIVEN TWO MONTHS Foi- stealing overcoats from two unoccupied motor-cars parked in city streets William Henry Homes, a carpenter, aged 46, will spend the next two months in gaol. He appeared iu the Police Court yesterday before Mr. E. Page, S.M., and pleaded guilty to tbe two charges of theft as well as to a charge of drunkenness. According to Senior-Sergeant Dempsey, he had several previous convictions for stealing. Homes explained to the magistrate that he had been “the worse for liquor.” The police version of the first theft was that Homes had taken a woman’s overcoat from the front seat of a motorcar standing in Buckle Street. Two small boys saw him do this and watched him walk off to a convenience nearby. The boys told a constable, who returned with them to meet Homes at tbe door of the convenience. The coat was lying inside. The other coat was stolen iu much the same way from a car standing in the city. This time the coat was a leather one and at 2.30 in the afternoon Homes had been hawking it through the public bar of a hotel in Tory Street. The coat was recovered by the police late in the afternoon. The magistrate convicted Homes on all three charges, imposing a sentence of two months’ imprisonment for theft. On the remaining drunkenness charge he was convicted and discharged. Committed for Trial Charged before Messrs. A. Longmore and J. L. Arcus, J.P.’s, with breaking and entering a boarding-house at 231 The Terrace with the intent of committing theft, Aubrey Lester Andrew, salesman, aged 33, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. The keeper of the boarding house stated that at about 6 p.m. on January 17 she heard a noise in a bedroom and on entering it found accused. She struggled with him, but he got away. She then called the police. She identified accused at a subsequent identification parade. Detective Long gave evidence that in response to a communication he and acting-detective Smith. visited the house, where marks on a window of a bed-sitting room and wall showed that someone had entered the bedroom. They accosted accused in Cable Street on the following afternoon and he accompanied them to the detective oflice. Accused stated that during the time the offence was alleged to have taken place he was at the Working Men’s Club and the Public Library, where he had remained until about 7.30 p.m.

Mr. U. JB. Sievwriglit, who appeared for accused, submitted that there was insufficient evidence for a jury to convict.

In view of previous offences, Detective-Sergeant Revell, who prosecuted, objected to an application for bail, which was finally fixed at £2OO, on condition that accused reports daily to the police. Probation for Theft Shortage of money and the companionship of “a very bad thief” were blamed respectively by counsel and the prosecutor for the appearance of Otto Arthur C. 11. Kania (Mr. A. B. Slevwright) on four charges of theft. Counsel suggested, and the probation officer, Mr. T. P. Mills, agreed, that it was a case in which probation might be granted. The magistrate adopted this course, placing Kania on probation for two years on one of the charges and ordering him on the other three to come up for sentence within that period if called upon. Detective-Sergeant Revell shld that in September last Kania had been living at Palmerston North with a very bad thief named McCarthy. On September 10 he had attended the Congregational Church while a service was being conducted, and had stolen an overcoat, which he pawned in Wellington for 8/-. On subsequent dates in Wellington and Palmerston North he stole three bicycles, all of which were sold to dealers. “During this time,” said Mr. Revell, “he was associating with McCarthy, who has since been dealt with and sent to gaol for 18 months.” There was little doubt, Mr. Revell added, that accused’s companionship with McCarthy had led to the commission of tbe offences. Mr. Sievwriglit agreed with this, and informed the court that during the last few years Kania had had a hard struggle to support himself and bls invalid mother.

On a charge of using obscene language, El.leanor Newinau, aged 58 (Mr. A. B. Sievwright), was convicted and placed ou probation for 12 months. The magistrate laid down a condition that she should take out a prohibition order and abstain from intoxicating liquor during the period.