JAIL FOR THEFTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 109, 1 February 1940, Page 7

JAIL FOR THEFTS

Articles Taken From The Exhibition The numerous charges against accused indicated systematic thieving, said Mr. Luxford, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, when George Edward Simpson, labourer and attendant, aged 50, appeared on five charges of the theft of articles at. the Centennial Exhibition. Simpson pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two months' hard labour on one charge and convicted and discharged on the others. Detective-Se rgeant AV. McLennan, who prosecuted, said Simpson was employed at the Exhibition from October, 1939, to January 23, when he was arrested in connexion with the thefts. Simpson had keys to the Exhibition, and about 7 o’clock in the morning was in the habit of going there when no one was about and taking tlie articles from stalls. Some of the articles were found in his possession, some with hi,-s wife, and some with people to whom he had given them. He was receiving £6 a week and his wife was earning £2/10/-. Innocent people had been suspected in numerous cases and the offences were ver.v difficult to detect. Simpson was in a position of trust.