NEWSPAPERS STOLEN

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 59, 2 December 1933, Page 24

NEWSPAPERS STOLEN

Taken from City Doorways

Disappearance of parcels of "The Dominion” left in city doorways in the early mornings led to the appearance in the Police Court of John William Leslie, described as a seaman aud newspaper seller, aged 71, charged with the theft of 14 papers, valued at 2/4, the property of the Wellington Publishing Co, Ltd. Leslie, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was fined £5 by Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M, and given one week in which to pay the money..

Senior-Sergeant J. Dempsey said that following the disapeparance of newspapers from doorways, the delivery agent of “The Dominion” kept watch, and at about ten minutes to seven - o’clock that morning saw accused pick' up a parcel containing 14 pUpers from‘a stationer’s doorway. He had been twice before the Court previously in respect to the theft of newspapers.

“I am very disinclined to send a man of the age of 71 to prison for theft of this nature, but I understand much the same thing happened about a year, ago,” the magistrate said. “However, I propose to fine you instead of sending you to prison. But I want you to understand this will be your last chance so far as I am concerned. If there are any other charges brought ■ against you for dishonesty, you will most certainly go to prison.”

During the course of a discussion upon the question of standing time for cars in the main streets at a meeting of the Hastings Borough Council mention was made of the criticism passed by members of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce recently on the point. One member of the council drew attention to the statement of the acting-ehair-man of tlie chamber meeting to the effect that he had left his car standing in the street for three hours. “He happens to be my banker, and it's not likely that I’ll have another chance to get one back on him. I suggest that a prosecution be made in this instance,” he said amid laughter.